These are essential questions that you need to be able to answer by the end of Lesson 2.

1. Lesson 2 Essential Questions

2. Which artifacts give us the most important information about prehistoric times? Which hominid groups should we consider the most representative examples of early human communities? What myths are true and untrue about early human communities? Can the achievement of the Neolithic Age be considered more or less revolutionary than those of the Industrial Revolution?

3. Should we consider the invention of agriculture the beginning of human civilization? What aspects comprise a "successful" civilization? How did the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers influence every aspect of Mesopotamian civilization? Was Hammurabi's Code just?

4. Which of the early Mesopotamian civilizations contributed most to other ancient civilizations? Are worship practices, such as those practiced in ancient Sumer and Egypt uncivilized? Is the pyramid the most important of Egyptian inventions? Which pharaoh was most important to the success of Egyptian civilization?

5. Which artifacts best reflect Egyptian culture? How much power should priests, priestesses, and other religious officials be given in a civilization? Which of the three "kingdoms" of Egypt is most important to know about? Can the Bible be considered an authoritative historical document?

6. What was the most important factors in the preservation of Judaism? Is a large empire doomed to fail? Did King Darius govern Persia effectively? Why did Persia fall?

7. How consistent was King Asoka in ruling by Buddhist principles? What characteristics define a "golden age"? Is the historic legacy of the caste system threatening the existence of democracy in present-day India? Why did Buddhism eventually fade out in India yet spread so widely to other parts of the world?

8. How similar were the Gupta and Mauryan Empires? As with the case with Siddhartha Guatama and King Asoka, is it contingent on the powerful members of society to effect positive change? Was China's geography more a blessing or a curse? What makes a dynasty great?

9. How do ancient Chinese religious and philosophical traditions compare to those of the Egyptians, Hebrews, and Indians? In the case of the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties, is it the case that the longer these dynasties reigned, the better they were for China? Why have not more countries built a Great Wall? How does the Silk Road compare to other important trade routes for gold, salt, and spices?