These discussion questions will make up 30% of the test. The remaining 70% will come from the material covered on the weekly chapter quizzes.

What were some factors that led to hominid bipedalism?

Paleolithic to the Neolithic

How did climate affect hominid development?
How and why did Homo sapiens expand out of Africa?
How and when did Homo sapiens populate the Americas?
What was a hunter-gatherer existence like?
Why did Homo sapiens start to prefer agriculture?
How did agriculture start to change human relationships?

Mesopotamia and Egypt

EXPLAIN WHY THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS WERE SIGNIFICANT FOR ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIANS.

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CIVILIZATIONS THAT WERE FOUND IN ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA.
WHAT DOES THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH TELL SCHOLARS ABOUT MESOPOTAMIAN VALUES, VIEWS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND CONCEPTIONS OF THE AFTERLIFE?

Indus to India

1.How did the geography of South Asia (India) impact its history?

2.What are the limits of our knowledge of Harappan Civilization?

3.Describe the varna and caste systems.

Ancient China

1. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, how did Zhou kings justify overthrowing the Shang Dynasty, and how did they govern newly-conquered lands?

2. During the Warring States Period, how did the nature of warfare change, and how did the demands of that changing warfare reshape Zhou feudal states?

3, Why was the Qin Dynasty so important to the history of China? What did the First Emperor of Qin accomplish?

World Religions

1. What are some of the significant characteristics of Judaism that are historically important and influential?

2. How is Buddhism a reaction to Brahmanism?

3. Why was Christianity appealing to a Roman audience?