China

1. In exploring Chinese culture, what do you think the impact of Confucian ideas has been on Chinese society?
2. The Art of War and the 36 Strategies were important in the past, but how might they be used in settings of negotiating business deals or sports today?
3. What are the possible implications had China not withdrawn the treasure fleet during the early Ming Dynasty? What might have happened if Zheng He and the fleet continued to explore and dominate the world's oceans?
4. Why was the terracotta army made for the first Emperor?
   

Discussion: One way to think of culture change is to compare and contrast some behaviors and structure from the past to those in the recent past or the present. How did ancient Chinese beliefs and philosophies shape and govern society? Can you find examples of this in today's world?

Egypt

1. Pyramids were temples for the dead. Why did the Egyptians spend so much effort on defining death and building these tombs?
2. Why did the Pharaoh get invented in the Black Land according to Brian Fagan?
3. The Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphs. How were these used?
4. What is the role of religion in Egyptian society? How did those beliefs then shape the conduct of every day Egyptians.
   
   

Discussion: How does religion influence societies today?

1. India was to rise as a civilization emphasizing trade and commerce. Why would India be successful in this venture and trade with Sumer initially and South East Asia and Africa later?
2. The first cities of India were densely packed with people and well planned. Why do you think this is the case looking at places such as Mohenjo Daro?
   

Discussion: In looking at the urban planning in early cities of India as a reflection of the allocation of space within a society, what does this tell you about Indian society? What does this tell you when you look at the world we are shaping for ourselves in Arizona? We live in a world that is sprawled over many square miles and still expanding.

1. What are the first cities in the world like?
2. What is the importance of writing and why was writing needed in the Sumerian world?
3. Provide three examples of the Code of Hammurabi.
4. Why was law important?
   
   

Discussion: What is the relationship among agriculture, surplus, the development of different trade economies, and trade networks? Consider how surplus of food along with a lack of resources impacted Mesopotamian civilization and created a demand to interact with others. Apply this to today. How does the nature of distribution of resources and capacities to establish trade connections affect us today?

1. How would you react when someone tells you that Atlantis really exists?
2. Why does it appear that ancestors are important on Malta and at Stonehenge?
3. What process can you identify from your review of Stonehenge regarding stratification (development of social/class structures/differences in status)? What evidence could archaeologists use to identify social/class differences among populations? What of this is evident at Stonehenge?
4. How does a society respond to growing population? Provide some examples from the things we have explored.
   

Discussion: We are faced with a growing population today but now on a global scale. How are societies dealing with this or how are we dealing with this problem on a global scale? Or are we?

1. Is Africa really that different from the rest of the Old World in development?
2. Why was the legacy of Great Zimbabwe denied for so long?

Why would areas of Africa such as Timbuktu or the eastern Swahili Coast rise in influence?

Discussion: Africa can be looked upon as a marginal area of the Old World, why do you think that is both in the past and even today?

1. Why was it far more common for people to create a pantheon of gods (polytheistic) rather than having one god (monotheistic)?
2. What is the impact of pilgrimage on society in India where in Hindu belief you can have thousands of gods and sacred places?
3. Why do you think ancient Tibet was so violent and driven to raid neighbors?

Tibet changes into a peaceful kingdom based on altruism. How does a society make such a dramatic change? It is this a change that is directed by leaders or by the people who the leaders are to serve?

Discussion: Our exploration of Angkor Wat as well as what we see in the Pharaohs of Egypt illustrates the power of a God-King. Consider this: How does the Dali Lama as the ocean of wisdom different from the more typical God-King? Why do you think god-kings have been so much a thread in societies in the past?