World History up to 1500: The Near East Q&A

Question: What methods did Near Eastern kingdoms, city-states, and empires use to gather intelligence about their neighbors, rivals, and vassals?

Answer: City-states, kingdoms, and empires in the ancient Near East commonly used spies and ambassadors to gain intelligence. Ambassadors had official standing and helped maintain peaceful relationships but also gathered information about other kingdoms. Spies had less official standing but a potentially more dangerous job. Merchants, sailors, artisans, and even refugees were recruited by states to provide information.

Question: How did Egypt maintain its influence in Canaan during the New Kingdom?
Answer: New Kingdom Egyptian pharaohs used warfare, alliances, hostage-taking, and peace treaties to maintain their influence in Canaan. They also used marriages between rulers to preserve peace and sometimes increase their territorial control.
"What are some similarities between Christianity and Zoroastrianism?",both religions recognize that there are forces of good and evil and predict a final judgment after the forces of good have been victorious.

Question: How did the Babylonian exile affect the faith of the Judeans?
Answer: The Babylonian exile encouraged some Judeans to reinterpret their traditions and assemble their written sources into what became the core of the Hebrew Bible. This reinterpretation led to a strengthened view of their monotheism and relationship with their god.