Wright State University
Hist 101 - Western World:  Ancient and Medieval Europe
C. Oldstone-Moore

Study Guide For Exam I

The exam will consist of 70 multiple choice questions and a short essay.

I.  Multiple choice questions (70 questions --- 70 points) 

The questions will be drawn from the lectures and textbook.  They will focus on the key themes, events and persons of the course.  Some questions will refer to art or music examples shown or played in class.

Link to a list of names that appear in the lecture outlines. If you know who the people are and why they are important, you are well on your way.

Link to a list of places that appear in the lecture outlines. Be prepared to identify these places on a map.

Sample Questions:

Image no. 2 is
     A. Temple of Jerusalem
     B. Ziggurat at Ur
     C. Parthenon
     D. Ark of the Covenant

Point A on the map indicates
     A. Jerusalem
     B. Ur
     C. Athens
     D. Sparta

  The quote above is from
     A. II Samuel
     B. Plato’s Apology
     C. Thucydides’s “History”
     D. Hammurabi’s Code

  Mesopotamians believed that humans were created to
     A. Rule the earth
     B. Serve as slaves to the gods
     C. Fight the gods
     D. Live like the gods

 Which was not one of David's sins?
     A. adultery
     B. profaning the sabbath
     C. bearing false witness
     D. murder

 Which best describes Greek religion?
         A. Greeks paid little attention to gods or religion
         B. Greeks, like Mesopotamians, believed humans were slaves of gods
         C. Greeks thought gods were like humans and humans like gods
         D. Greeks thought the gods were distant and unfathomable

 One reason that Athenians condemned Socrates to death was
         A. Socrates led a rebellion against Athens
         B. Socrates declared that the laws had no power over him
         C. Socrates irritated Athenians by saying he could not find anyone who was truly wise
         D. Socrates had no followers

II. Short Essay (1 question --- 30 points)

Two of the following essays will be chosen at random.  You will be asked to write on one of them.  Essays will be graded on the extent of knowledge of the events, people and themes of the course.  Content is more important than writing style.  If you forgot something that you later want to add at the end, put it in.  The more the merrier.  The essay is designed to have you show me what you do know, not what you don't know.

1. Explain how the story of David and Bathsheba exemplifies the key themes of the Hebrew religious revolution.

2. Describe three ideals of the Greek intellectual revolution, and explain how Socrates exemplifies these elements in his life and teaching.

3. Write about three significant points of comparison (or contrast) between Greek and Hebrew ideas about religion and/or other cultural ideals.

4. Briefly explain how Julius Caesar rose to become dictator of Rome. Be as specific as possible in explaining his personal traits and his actions.

5. Write an essay that describes three lasting contributions of Roman civilization to our own civilization today.