1. How did bipedalism and language mark turning points in the development of hominids? How did they distinguish hominids from other mammals? Discuss some of the advantages that bipedalism and language gave to hominids?
2. The "agricultural revolution" allowed humans to live in densely populated cities for the first time in history. Why? Comparing with rural villages and/or hunter-gathering societies, how did urban societies differ? What was the nature of the relations between urban areas and rural areas in Afro-Eurasian societies from around 3,500 BCE?
3. What role did technological development play in the emergence of Afro-Eurasian societies? Think about things like irrigation, metallurgy, sewer systems, and writing.
4. What is a territorial state? Where and when did territorial states form? What factors encouraged the formation of territorial states? How were territorial states-particularly in North Africa and Southwest Asia-able to survive as new states emerged? Can you give an example of states that did not survive?