In the Backroom Jon Shank
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- Society & Culture
All about Ancient World History. From Early-man to the Renaissance.
Covering the VA WH1 SOLs 1-15
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Episode 17 - The Middle East, Islam, and Africa
The revelations of Muhammad form the basis of the Islamic religion, a monotheistic faith. Muhammad and his followers spread Islam.
Islamic traditions and practices developed over centuries and created a distinctive culture.
Major historical turning points marked the spread and influence of Islamic civilization.
In the first three centuries after Muhammad’s death, Muslim rule expanded rapidly, overcoming geographic barriers, facilitated by weakened political empires.
Political unity and the Arabic language facilitated trade and stimulated intellectual activity.
Early Islamic civilization was characterized by achievements in science and the arts that transformed the Islamic world and had a major global impact. -
Episode 16 - Byzantines and Russia
The capital of the Eastern Roman Empire was established at Constantinople to provide political, economic, and military advantages. We also discuss the connection to Russia.
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Episode 15 - Roman Empire
The Roman Republic, in the face of changing social and economic conditions, succumbed to civil war and was replaced by an imperial regime, the Roman Empire.
Over a 300-year period, the western part of the Roman Empire steadily declined because of internal and external problems. -
Episode 14 - Roman Republic
Although women, most aliens (non-Romans living in the Republic), and slaves were excluded from the governing process, the Roman Republic made major strides in the development of representative democracy, which became a model for modern democracy.
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Episode 13 - Early Christianity
The followers of Jesus spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, presenting a powerful challenge to Roman polytheism.
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Episode 12 - Greek/Roman Gods
WH1 SOL 5b and 6b
-Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was integral to culture, politics, and art in ancient Greece.
-Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from ancient Greek mythology.
-Men, women, and slaves all had clearly defined roles in Greek society.