Regir G.

Asis
Social Studies 2-A

-GREECE-

1. Compare and contrast the characteristics of Athens and Sparta based on the
following: geography, culture, and political ideologies.
-.Athens and Sparta, two ancient Greek cities, diverged significantly in various
aspects. Geographically, Athens, situated along the coast, engaged in trade and
cultural exchange with other regions, fostering a cosmopolitan environment. In
contrast, Sparta, characterized by isolation, prioritized military strength, shaping its
identity as a formidable military city. Athens celebrated intellectual pursuits, embracing
art, philosophy, and renowned figures like Socrates, exemplified by the construction
of the grand Parthenon. Meanwhile, Sparta's focus on military discipline
overshadowed artistic and intellectual endeavors, reflecting a distinct cultural
emphasis. Politically, Athens pioneered democracy, granting citizens the power to
participate in decision-making, promoting inclusivity. Conversely, Sparta adhered to
an oligarchic system, where a select few held authority, emphasizing a strict social
hierarchy and military prowess. These fundamental differences in geography, culture,
and political ideologies underscore the unique character and contrasting values of
Athens and Sparta in ancient Greece.

2. Explain the role of Alexander the Great in the spread of Greek influences.
Afterwards, define the strengths and weaknesses of his empire.
-Alexander the Great was a really important person in history. He traveled to lots of
places and brought Greek ideas and culture with him. People started speaking Greek
and making Greek-style art and buildings in many different places. Alexander also built
important cities that were both military bases and places where different cultures
mixed together. This made Greek civilization really famous and important for a long
time. Even though Alexander's empire was really strong and had a lot of good things,
it also had some problems. One problem was that it was really big and hard to control,
which made it difficult to make decisions and talk to everyone. Another problem was
that there were a lot of different cultures in the empire, which caused some arguments
and made it hard for everyone to get along. Lastly, when Alexander died, there wasn't
a plan for who would take over, which made the problems even worse. Eventually, the
empire broke apart into smaller kingdoms, each with its own culture influenced by the
Greeks.

3. Choose on and briefly explain his philosophy: Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato.
-Socrates was a really important philosopher in the Western world. He believed that it
was really important to try and be wise and good. He had a special way of talking to
people called Socratic irony, where he would ask them lots of questions to help them
think more deeply. Even though he didn't write anything down himself, his ideas were
passed down by his student Plato. Socrates thought that by asking lots of questions
and thinking about things, we can become better people. His ideas are still really
important today because they show us that asking questions and thinking deeply can
help us find the truth and be good people.

-ROMAN REPUBLIC & EMPIRE-

1. What advantages did Rome’s location offer? What did the early Romans borrow
from the Greeks?
-Rome was in a really good spot that helped it become successful. It had access to
really good land for growing food, which was important because lots of people lived
there. It was in the middle of Italy, so it was easy for people to trade and share ideas
with other places. The hills around Rome made it harder for enemies to attack, which
helped the Roman army. The early Romans really liked what the Greeks were doing,
so they borrowed a lot from them. They took their ideas for art, buildings, thinking, and
even gods. The Romans changed some things to make them fit better for themselves.
There were also these other people called the Etruscans who also influenced the early
Romans and helped shape their culture. All of this mixing and borrowing from different
groups made Rome very special and important in history.
2. Briefly explain the conflict between the Patricians and Plebians.
-Long ago in ancient Rome, there were two groups of people who didn't get along.
One group, called the Patricians, were rich and important, and they had all the power
and special treatment. The other group, called the Plebeians, were regular people who
wanted to be treated fairly and have a say in how things were run. They fought for their
rights and eventually, the Plebeians got some of what they wanted. They made a set
of rules called the Twelve Tables that helped make things more fair. As time went on,
people started to get along better and Rome became a more inclusive place where
everyone had a chance to be part of society.
3. Research about the 12 Tables of Rome and choose two laws. Briefly explain and
relate how it still influence present laws.
-The Twelve Tables of Rome, form the foundation of Roman law and hold historical
significance as one of the earliest written legal codes. Two notable laws, Lex Canuleia
and Lex Poetelia Papiria, shaped Roman legal principles. Lex Canuleia allowed
intermarriage between patricians and plebeians, promoting social cohesion, while Lex
Poetelia Papiria abolished debt slavery, emphasizing fairness. Today, the echoes of
these principles resonate in the Philippine legal system, seen in family law reforms
promoting social equality and measures addressing debt-related issues. The enduring
influence of the Twelve Tables underscores their enduring impact on contemporary
legal frameworks.
4. Give and explain at least two causes why Rome transition from Republic to Empire.
-The shift from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire was propelled by a
convergence of influential factors. Initially, internal discord and political instability
within the Republic set the stage for the emergence of a singular ruler. The endeavors
of the Gracchi Brothers to institute land reforms, coupled with subsequent political
assassinations, heightened class tensions and established an environment conducive
to autocratic governance. Simultaneously, the Republic witnessed a transformation
driven by military expansion and the acquisition of extensive territories. This expansion
shifted the loyalty of the army towards individual generals rather than the state,
fostering a culture where military intervention in politics became prevalent. Julius
Caesar's bold act of crossing the Rubicon stands out as a pivotal moment, symbolizing
the Republic's decline as authority gravitated towards military leaders, ultimately
culminating in the formation of the Roman Empire.
5. Give and explain at least two causes regarding the decline of Rome.
-The decline of Rome stemmed from both internal and external factors. Internally, the
empire grappled with economic decline, political corruption, and social discord.
Economic instability and excessive taxation strained the populace, while corruption
within the political system bred inefficiency and distrust. Social unrest further
exacerbated the internal decay, leading to a weakened sense of civic duty. Externally,
the relentless onslaught of barbarian invasions, exposed the empire's military
vulnerabilities. The combination of internal decay and external pressures culminated
in the fall of Rome, marking the end of an era and illustrating the intricate interplay of
factors that contributed to its decline.

MIDDLE AGES

1. Explain the political system of Feudalism during the Middle Age.

-Feudalism was a way of organizing society in the Middle Ages. It was like a big puzzle
that affected how people lived in Europe from the 9th to the 15th century. Kings gave
land to important people called nobles, and in return, the nobles had to promise to be
loyal and help the king in battles. The regular people who worked on the land were
called peasants, and they were really important because they grew food and helped
the economy. Feudalism made sure that each area had its own leaders and kept things
stable. The Church also supported the kings and made their rule seem right. But as
time went on, things changed and people started to have one big leader instead of lots
of little ones. This was a big change in European history.
2. Explain the economic system of Manorialism during the Middle Ages.
-During the Middle Ages, there was a system called manorialism that was really
important in Europe. It was all about how people lived and worked on big estates called
manors. The manor was like its own little world, with a lord in charge who owned a lot
of land. The lord would give some of the land to peasants, who would work on it and
give some of what they grew to the lord. The people who worked on the land were
called serfs, and they couldn't leave because they were tied to the land. This system
made everything run smoothly, but it also meant that the lord had a lot of power and
the peasants relied on the manor for everything they needed. It was a big part of how
people lived back then.
3. Middle Ages eventually achieved its height. Briefly describe the characteristics of
high Middle Ages in terms of: politics, church power, technology, and economic activity
-The High Middle Ages, flourishing from the longest century, witnessed a dynamic
evolution in various facets of European society. Politically, feudalism became
entrenched, with monarchs consolidating power through vassal relationships, creating
a structured hierarchy. The Catholic Church, at its zenith, wielded immense influence,
shaping not just spiritual but also political and social landscapes. In terms of
technology, innovations like the heavy plow transformed agriculture, fueling population
growth by enabling more efficient food production. This period also saw the
widespread adoption of windmills, contributing to advancements in various industries.
Economically, the rise of medieval towns and increased trade fostered a burgeoning
middle class, altering traditional socio-economic structures. The High Middle Ages
thus stand as a concrete era where political, religious, technological, and economic
developments converged to define the medieval European landscape.

CIVILIZATIONS BEYOND EUROPE

1. Choose one civilization (Islamic/Byzantine, India, China, Japan, Mesoamerica) and

describe it in terms of:
A. Geography
B. Culture
C. Political System
D. Religion

MESOAMERICA

Mesoamerica is a special place with lots of interesting history and things to see. It is
located in the middle of North and South America, stretching from Mexico to Honduras
and El Salvador. The land in Mesoamerica is very diverse, with mountains, rainforests,
and flat areas by the coast. Because of the different types of land, people had to come
up with clever ways to grow food, like the Aztecs who made special systems to water
their crops. The people who lived in Mesoamerica also had cool art, smart ideas, and
were good at getting along with others. The Maya were really good at writing, studying
the stars, and math. They made beautiful things like carved stones and special courts
for playing a game. The society had different groups of people like priests, warriors,
and farmers, and they all worked together. Other Mesoamerican civilizations had
different ways of running their government. The Aztecs had a big empire with one
leader chosen from a special group. Teotihuacan had a city with big pyramids and a
less organized government. The Maya had their own city-states that worked together
sometimes but also fought each other. Religion was very important to the people who
lived in ancient Mesoamerica. It affected everything they did, like how they lived, how
they were ruled, and even how their buildings looked. The Aztecs believed in many
gods, like Huitzilopochtli and Quetzalcoatl, and they had special ceremonies where
they would sacrifice people. The Maya also believed in many gods connected to the
stars and the sky, and they had big temples where they would do religious activities.
The Mesoamerican people were very connected to nature and believed in spiritual
things. They had different ways of practicing their religion. Overall, Mesoamerica
shows how smart ancient civilizations were. The region had different types of land and
a lot of different cultures. They had complicated ways of running their governments
and strong beliefs in their religion. This all makes Mesoamerica really interesting for
historians and archaeologists because it shows us how people lived a long time ago
in the Americas before Christopher Columbus arrived.