History 151 (Jolly) Fall 1998
Test #2 Study Guide

The test consists of two parts, an essay and a set of document significance or "identifications." On the essay, you will have a choice of two questions, drawn from the list of seven below. On the identifications, you will be able to choose three to write on, out of a choice of five drawn from the list of nineteen documents listed here in the study guide.

The essay is worth 70 points, and the identifications 10 points each. You should spend approximately 45 minutes on your essay, including 10-15 minutes to outline and develop your arguments, and no more than 30 minutes on your three identifications. Plan your time ahead, and leave some at the end to reread and make minor adjustments.

Essay (70 points)

This portion of the exam covers lectures 9/15-10/15 "Empires and Religions" and Traditions and Encounters Part II: The Formation of Classical Societies, 500- B.C.E. to 500 C.E. (chapters 6-11). The main themes are: philosophy and religion; empires and politics; cross-cultural interactions. Each essay question below involves one or two of these themes. To prepare for the exam, follow the guidelines in the first test study guide (mind map, matrix, outline).

Two of the following questions will appear on the test, from which you will choose one to write your essay:

  1. How does the study of religions help us understand worldviews in classical societies? Discuss using examples of religious beliefs from Southwest Asia, South Asia, and the Mediterranean.
  2. Compare "religion" and "philosophy:" in what ways do they overlap and in what ways do they differ? Discuss using examples from China, the Greeks, and India.
  3. How are political systems affected by religions and philosophies? Discuss using examples from the Greeks and Romans, the Chinese, and India.
  4. How do various cultures explain the existence of bad things in the world? Compare creation stories and other myths, using examples from at least three of the following: Hinduism, Mayan beliefs, Daoism, Sumerian beliefs, Hebrews, and Zoroastrians.
  5. How and why do religions spread outside their originating culture? Compare Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.
  6. Why do empires fall? Examine the conditions that lead to the collapse of empires, using examples from Southwest Asia, the Mediterranean, China and India.
  7. What impact do cross-cultural interactions have on the peoples involved? Examine contacts created by or through conquest, trade, and religion in classical societies.

Identification/Significance of documents (30 points)

Five of the following documents will appear on the test. You choose three to answer. For each, briefly identify who/what, where, and when. Then write a paragraph explaining why it is significant: what does it show us about that culture or people? what trends or ideas is it evidence of? Relate it to the larger themes of the class.

Study and test-taking hints: Study each document in its cultural context by checking where it is in the Readings book and then consider the textbook and lecture material to which it relates. Jot down information ideas starting with the most specific (who, what, when, where), and moving to more general ideas (what it is evidence of), and its significance (larger course themes). Think of these layers as concentric circles radiating out from the item. When you write your answer on the test, move outward from the most specific to the most general statements you can make about the item.

DO NOT SKIP ONE OF THE THREE: keep in mind that an "F" answer (wrong or very incomplete) is 1-5 points out of the 10 possible. If you write nothing, we have no choice but to give you 0 points, almost a "double F." Always write something. And don't forget those dates--even if they are "circa" (around).

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kjolly@hawaii.edu 10/05/98