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.

 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. 

 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. 

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.

The followers of Jesus spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, presenting a powerful challenge to Roman polytheism.

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.

SOL 5.e and f -Pericles extended democracy; most adult males had an equal voice. Pericles had Athens rebuilt after destruction in the Persian Wars; the Parthenon is an example of this reconstruction during the Golden Age. -Alexander the Great’s conquests, which stretched to western India, spread Greek influence in Egypt and the Near East. -Athenian culture during the classical era became one of the foundation stones of Western civilization.

-The Greeks defeated the Persian empire and preserved their political independence. -Competition between Sparta and Athens for control of Greece helped cause the Peloponnesian War. -The expansion of Greek civilization through trade and colonization led to the spread of Hellenic culture across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

This episode we will be talking about SOL WH1 5.c -Classical Athens developed the most democratic system of government the world had ever seen, although not everyone could participate in decision making. It became an inspiration for modern democracies. -Contrasting philosophies of government divided the Greek city-states of Athens (democracy) and Sparta (oligarchy).

This episode we will be talking about SOL WH1 5.a -The physical geography of the Aegean Basin shaped the economic, social, and political development of Greek civilization. -Classical Greek civilizations emerged after the river valley civilizations. -Greece became the first major civilization of Europe. -We also discuss governments of Athens and Sparta. -Mr. Shank shares some of his experiences in Greece.