Deck 6: E: Commonalities and Variations Africa, the Americas, and Pacific Oceania

Question 1

Comparative Analysis: Compare the development of Axum and Meroë in northeastern Africa with the development of the Maya and Teotihuacán in Mesoamerica.

Answer 1

•Economic factors: crops grown,amount of trade,type of trade
•Political factors: political systems that were in place
•Scale: the relative size of urban centers and of the states more generally
•Monumentality: the size and sort of monuments produced by the state

Question 2

Drawing from the examples provided in Chapter 6 of the textbook,explain why certain societies are categorized as civilizations while others are excluded.

Answer 2

A good answer should offer a definition of civilization,identify which societies fit the definition,and discuss the features of societies not considered civilizations.
•Characteristics of civilization:
oUnified territorial states
oCities
oIntensive and productive agriculture
oEconomic specialization
oSocial stratification
oCulture (language,religion,art)
•Societies considered civilizations:
oMeroë
oAxum
oNiger River valley
oMaya
oTeotihuacán
oChavín
oMoche
oWari
oTiwanaku
•Societies not considered civilizations:
oBantu-speaking peoples
oAncestral PueblooMound Builders

Question 3

Personal Reflection: The civilizations and cultures covered in Chapter 6 of the textbook are often left out of public school education.Which of these cultures was the most surprising to you,and why?

Answer 3

Personal reflections have no "correct" answer,but a strong answer should include details about the culture of choice and some reflection about the prejudices of American education.

Question 4

Comparative Analysis: Discuss the importance of ritual or ceremonial centers in the development of American civilizations.