World History Homework Two Answers - Student Twelve

DuncanB World History Homework Two

1. One of the most useful tactics that Alexander the Great employed was the phalanx troop formation. In this arrangement, perfected by his father Philip, the soldiers were arranged in a large square or rectangle. The soldiers in the front line carried long spears parallel to the ground; the ones behind them carried their spears vertically to deflect some missiles. The effect was devastating on enemy cavalry charges—Alexander even used it with success against Indian elephants.

Superb analysis, may include as a model answer.

2. In Greece, the terrain is mountainous and rocky, which makes forming a large empire difficult—armies have difficult time controlling such large sections of territory. Without one big ruler bossing them all around, it was easier for them to develop and maintain their own form of government.

Terrific, may use as a model answer.

3. Before the Phoenician alphabet, all written languages used symbols which represented syllables. However, the huge trading empire run by the Phoenicians required a simple form of written communication, which they developed, using 22 symbols representing sounds.

Good.

4. Greece was the first Western nation to develop geometry. They used this science extensively on their numerous sculptures and buildings, such as the Colossus at Rhodes. Around 300 B.C., a Greek mathematician and geometer named Euclid published his textbook the Elements, which is still used today to teach geometry.

Superb, may use as a model answer.

5. One of the best of Aesop’s fables is one where a Fox spies a wild boar sharpening his tusks against a tree, even though there are no enemies in sight. The Fox asks the boar why he is doing that, as there are no enemies around. The boar replies that he must be ready for the enemies should they come. I personally like this fable because it illustrates the fact that having a strong defense is the best guarantee against war.

Terrific again.

6. I admire Plato because he was the first to conceive the idea of a republican society in his book The Republic. He recognized the fact that informed voting by representatives is better than actual voting on every issue by the people.

Excellent, may use as a model answer.

7. The Hittites were an Aryan people group who lived in the southern Turkey area. They had very advanced warfare techniques, including chariots (several of King David’s military advisors were Hittites) and conquered Babylon in the 1600’s B.C. Despite archeological findings, we still know very little about them.

Good.

H1. Jesus probably did teach in Greek. The manuscripts of the Gospels that have been found are in Greek, and the few Aramaic words that appear were probably said by Jesus for emphasis. Greek was a fairly widespread language in Israel at the time, although he probably knew both languages.

Excellent, with a good explanation for Jesus's use of Aramaic.

H2. Athens, all alone against the Persians for much of the wars, was completely inferior numerically in men. For this reason, they did not attempt to defend Athens in 480 B.C. with huge numbers of men; the Greek leader, Themistocles, merely left a small force behind to defend the citadel and placed much of his manpower on the Greek fleet of 300 ships, in Salamis Bay. When the Persian fleet, four times the size of the Athenian navy, entered the bay, their huge numbers of ships worked against them in the bay’s narrow mouth—the ships in the van, attacked by the far more skilled Greek captains, began to retreat, while the ones in the rear pressed forward, causing chaos. Nearly 600 Persian ships were sunk. The only undamaged squadron was that commanded by the wily warrior queen of Casia, who attacked a Persian ship, deceiving the Greeks, and fled.

Well done.

H3. I like the Greek mathematics. The mathematician Archimedes was discovered pi, estimating it within 0.1 of its actual value. He used his mathematical knowledge to defend his home city of Syracuse against Roman invaders, with devices such as catapults, huge crossbows, and perhaps even a huge mirror to set Roman ships on fire with solar energy.

Terrific. I enjoy the mathematics also. It has been helpful in advancing knowledge.

Perfect answers! Looks like two may qualify for the model answers. 100/100. Congratulations!