the aggregate of past events from the beginning of recorded human history and extending as far as the Early Middle Ages or the Postclassical Era. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with Sumerian Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC.
Greece Part Conflict and Glory
Persian Wars -Persian Empire attacked Athens in 490 B.C. -Defeated at Marathon -The Greek victory at Plataea ended the invasion -Athenian leader who embraced direct democracy Citizens voted on every government action
Peloponnesian War -Fight between Athens & Sparta -The war lasted for 27 years -Many atrocities (war crimes) on both sides -Sparta eventually allied with the Persians, and Athens capitulated (gave up) Only lost after their navy was destroyed
Golden Age of Greece -Greek culture revived after the war Sparta -Plato despised democracy thought philosopher kings should help citizens by regulating their lives -Greeks invented theater (as we know it) also tragedy & comedy -Greek art expressed balance & harmony -Advanced depiction of human form, especially in statues -Parthenon was most famous building temple dedicated to Athena
The Enlightenment
-The scientific revolution changed the way Europeans viewed the world -The power of reason to discover “natural laws” seemed infinite -Belief in using reason & research to study all aspects of life *Four major principles 1. There is an order to the world 2. Human reason has the power to understand all things 3. Individuals have natural rights 4. Society will progressively improve
John Locke -English philosopher who had a more optimistic opinion of people -He believed that people had natural rights -Life, liberty, & property
Montesquieu -Studied forms of government throughout history -Best way to protect natural rights is to divide government into three branches -Executive (King or President to enforce law) -Legislative (Assembly that passes law) -Judicial (Judges interpret law)
Rise of Totalitarians
Great Depression -Started in the U.S. with a stock market crash in 1929. -Europeans started to hate Enlightenment ideals (Natural Rights & Capitalism) after World War I. -During the Depression people believed in communism or fascism.
Totalitarian -A government that controls your entire life -Suppress all opposition -Secret police -Concentration camps or execution if you resist -4 totalitarian nations in 1930s: Soviet Union, Italy, Germany, & Japan
World History Globalization
-Globalization -The movement of goods, people, and ideas around the world AKA…. -Technology has made global contact much easier -Movement of ideas made much easier by the internet and social media -Movement of goods leads to outsourcing -Make goods overseas & ship them here -More cost effective -Foreign workers willing to work for less in U.S., that leads to downsizing – companies fire workers in manufacturing jobs
-Movement of people -In the U.S., new immigrant groups arrived from Asia, Latin America, and Africa
Anti-Americanism -Many around the world hated American power and dominance -Americans seen as arrogant, crass (rude), materialistic, and warlike -However, the American military (and our guarantee of protection) benefits others allowed nations in Europe & Asia to spend money on their economies & populations instead of tanks or ships
Terrorism in the Global World -Terrorism- Use of violence in order to achieve a political, religious, or ideological aim
European Union -After World War 2, France and Germany integrated their economies -Wanted to make a future war impossible