lecture review points Flashcards
How are water management systems and social organization interconnected?
Control of irrigation systems required organized labor and planning, fostering centralized authority.
How did calendars develop?
Calendars developed from astronomical observations to regulate agricultural cycles.
What promoted bureaucracy and legal codes in water distribution?
The need to coordinate water distribution promoted bureaucracy and legal codes.
How did rulers legitimize their power?
Rulers legitimized power through claims of divine insight or cosmic order.
What role did mathematics play in ancient civilizations?
Used for practical tasks: land measurement, trade, and construction.
How was mathematics essential for irrigation planning?
Essential for irrigation planning and maintaining calendars.
What did mathematics enable in ancient civilizations?
Enabled astronomical observations and early timekeeping.
How did mathematics help in accounting systems?
Helped develop early accounting systems and legal codes.
How is natural philosophy intertwined with religion?
Deeply intertwined: explanations of nature often had spiritual or divine foundations.
Who were often scholars in ancient civilizations?
Priests were often scholars, especially in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
What role did religious institutions play in knowledge preservation?
Religious institutions preserved and sponsored knowledge.
In what context were medicine and astronomy pursued?
Medicine and astronomy were pursued within religious contexts.
Why did natural philosophy develop in the Greek world?
Greek city-states encouraged debate and inquiry; less theocratic control.
What promoted exchange of ideas in ancient Greece?
Proximity to diverse cultures (Phoenicians, Egyptians) promoted exchange.
What enabled elites to study nature in ancient Greece?
Wealth and leisure enabled elites to study nature.
How did written language support learning in ancient Greece?
Written language and institutions (Academy, Lyceum) supported learning.
What were the principal concerns of Greek natural philosophers?
Origin and composition of matter (e.g., water, atoms).
What did Greek natural philosophers study regarding the universe?
The structure of the universe and celestial motion.
What philosophical areas did Greek philosophers explore?
Ethics and metaphysics (Socrates, Plato).
What methods did Aristotle focus on?
Classification and observation (Aristotle).
How did Greek science spread throughout the world?
Spread through conquests of Alexander the Great and Hellenistic empires.
What was the role of the Museum of Alexandria?
The Museum of Alexandria was a research center with vast libraries.
How did the Museum of Alexandria support scholars?
It supported scholars in astronomy, mathematics, medicine.
What did the Museum of Alexandria do with knowledge?
Knowledge preserved, copied, and translated into other languages.