Post-Classical Africa Part II

Based on your understanding of the reading and the videos, take bulleted notes on the following:

• The role of women in Sub-Saharan African society.  Compare/contrast to at least ONE society we've already studied.
• The impact of global trade on African slavery.
• Examples of/reasons for religious diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Post Classical Africa Part I

Based on your understanding of the reading and the videos, take bulleted notes on the following:

• How the Sub-Saharan African population gradually increased during the Bantu migration.
• How Bantu-speaking people organized themselves socially and politically.
• How Islam spread to Africa.
• Compare and contrast Ghana and Mali politically and economically.
• How Zimbabwe and the Swahili city-states gained their wealth.

The Islamic World Part II: Economy and Culture

Based on your understanding of the reading and the videos, take bulleted notes on the following:

• The role of technology and trade
• Muslim influence on Spanish culture
• The role of Arab scholars in preserving knowledge
• How Islam spreads beyond the Arab world
• The class structure in the early Muslim world
• The role of women in the Muslim world
• The origins of Sufism

The Early Islamic World Part I: Roots and Beliefs

Based on your understanding of the reading and videos, take bulleted notes on the following:

• Why Mecca was significant, even before Islam was founded.
• How the leaders of Mecca responded to Muhammad’s teachings.
• The five pillars of Islam, as stated in the Qu'ran.
• The causes and consequences of the Shia/Sunni split
• Compare/contrast the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates
• Internal and external struggles in the early Islamic World

The Byzantine Empire

Based on your understanding of the reading and the videos, take bulleted notes on the following:

• Continuity and change between the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire (economic, political, social)
• Relationships between the Byzantine Empire and surrounding societies
• Role of religion in the Byzantine Empire

Classical American Civilizations

Based on your understanding of the reading and the videos, take notes with the following question in mind:

• The other societies we studied in period 2 eventually became major empires. Are the classical American empires the exception?  (If you are struggling with this, remember the Conrad-Demarest model for empires) Consider the following as you take notes:
• Trading networks
• Religion
• Political structure

Classical India

Based on your understanding of the reading and the video, take bulleted notes on the following:

• How Chandragupta unified India and created an empire.
• How Asoka incorporated Buddhism into the Mauryan empire.
• Why India was not usually politically unified in its ancient past.