World History 1 Midterm

Surplus

A situation in which quantity supplied is greater than quantity demanded

Agriculture

farming

Selective breeding

The process of selecting a few organisms with desired traits to serve as parents of the next generation

Domestication of animals

the taming of animals and plants for human use, such as work or as food (dog)

Domestication of Plants

Domesticating plants for human use, one of the first steps to a full-fledged agricultural economy.

Migration

Form of relocation diffusion involving permanent move to a new location.

Push and Pull Factors

Conditions that draw people to another location (pull factors) or cause people to leave their homelands and migrate to another region (push factors) (ex: Lack of food/surplus of food)

Otzi

name of the iceman found in the Otztal Alps, Tuscany

(Died between 40-50 years old)

How did archeologists know that Otzi the iceman was from the Neolithic Age?

He had

- Plant "medicine"

- A bronze axe

- A sheep and goat leather

- A process called carbon-dating

- Seeds

Survival in the mountains

Otzi ran down from the mountains in order to get away from the person that killed him. He ran down from an altitude of 2500m then 24hours late he was at 1200m and then 3000m. He found plants to eat and also is said to might have made a fire.

Carbon Dating

a scientific method used to determine the age of an artifact.

Hominids

Homo Sapiens

Homo Habilis

Homo Erectus

Neanderthal

Australopithecus

What other Hominid are Homeo Sapiens said to have lived while they were alive?

Neanderthal

Which Hominids lived together then became extinct when Homo Sapiens came into the picture?

Homo Habilis & Homo Erectus

What does Homo Sapien mean?

Thinking Man/Modern Man

Artifact

an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.

Archeology

the study of material evidence of past human life

Olduvai Gorge

Archeological site in Africa where Otzi was found

Tools from the Neolithic era

Axes

Knives

Blades and Diggers

Arrows and Spearheads

Leaf shaped flint

Weapons used in the Neolithic era.

Javelin Heads - Spears

Cognitive Revolution

The shift away from strict behaviorism, characterized by renewed interest in fundamental problems of consciousness and internal mental processes.

Collective Learning

The ability to share, preserve, and build upon ideas over time.

Flint Knapping

process of chipping away or applying pressure to create a rough grooved edge

How did Language affect migration and trading?

Having different languages created a barrier between the different languages

Out of Africa Theory

also called the replacement theory; this theory refers to when Homo sapiens began spreading out of Africa to other parts of the world about 100,000 years ago and replacing populations of earlier hominids in Europe and Asia

Foraging

Behavior associated with recognizing, searching for, capturing, and consuming food.

Nomads

people who wander from place to place (No permanent home)

Specialization

A focus on a particular activity or area of study

Craftsmanship

- not made by machine, finely made by hand

- takes skills to make

Social Class

a group of people with similar backgrounds, incomes, and ways of living

Who is Khufu?

son of Sneferu, built the first pyramid at Giza called the Great Pyramid, and the second king of the 4th dynasty

Who is Sneferu?

He built the Bent Pyramid and was a pharaoh of the 4th dynasty, he built multiple pyramids, and he was the first pharaoh to build his pyramid with stone.

Who is Djoser?

Built the Step Pyramid which was the first pyramid and was the pharaoh of the 3rd dynasty - also his reign was marked a significant period in architectural and building advancements.

What is a cataract?

a shallow stretch of turbulent waters formed where flowing waters encounter resistant rock layers.

What is the Nile River?

longest river in the world

Who was Narmer?

1st king of 1st dynasty who unified Upper and Lower Egypt.

What is mummification?

to preserve a body by embalming it and wrapping it in cloth

What is a sled in ancient egypt?

A structure used for transporting heavy obelisks over sand

What is the Mediterranean sea?

The largest inland sea located north of Africa; welcomed travel and trade

What is a temple?

A place of worship

What is a tomb?

Grave; burying place

Theories of construction

- Jean-Pierre Houdin

- Ramp Theory

- A notch

Who is Jean-Pierre Houdin?

He's an architect and researcher who had a theory about the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. He proposed that the pyramid was built from the inside out using an internal spiral ramp.

What is the Ramp theory on the Pyramids?

A common explanation for how the ancient Egyptian pyramids were built and that it was by workers dragging stones across the desert and then up a series of ramps.

Definition of sediments

a naturally occurring material that the ancient Egyptians used to create stones.

The afterlife

Ancient Egyptians believed that souls were immortal and, in a realm, free of disease and death in the underworld.

How was limestone used in Ancient Egypt?

Ancient Egyptians used limestone as a main building stone for pyramids.

Where is Mesopotamia located, and why is it often referred to as the "cradle of civilization"?

Mesopotamia is located in the Middle East, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It's called the "cradle of civilization" because it's one of the earliest known civilizations.

How did the geography of Mesopotamia influence the development of its civilization?

The fertile land between the rivers supported agriculture and settlement.

What were some of the prominent city-states in Mesopotamia, and what were their key characteristics?

Prominent city-states in Mesopotamia include Ur, Uruk, and Babylon.

How did the Akkadian Empire, led by Sargon the Great, contribute to the history of Mesopotamia?

The Akkadian Empire, led by Sargon the Great, was one of the first empires in history, unifying several city-states.

What is cuneiform writing, and why was it significant in Mesopotamia?

Cuneiform is a wedge-shaped writing system on clay tablets and the oldest for of writing.

How did the invention of writing impact Mesopotamian society?

It was significant as one of the earliest forms of writing, facilitating record-keeping, communication, and administrative tasks.

Who was Hammurabi, and what is the significance of Hammurabi's Code in Mesopotamian history?

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty. Hammurabi's Code is one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, addressing various aspects of daily life and emphasizing the concept of "an eye for an eye."

Describe the religious beliefs of the Mesopotamians, and how did they express these beliefs in their daily lives?

Mesopotamians practiced polytheistic religions with gods like Anu and Enlil. Ziggurats were massive, stepped temples dedicated to the gods, serving as religious centers and symbols of the city's prosperity.

How were the massive stones used in the construction of the pyramids quarried and transported?

The exact construction techniques remain debated, but theories include the use of ramps, levers, and counterweights. The stones were likely quarried nearby and transported on sledges.

What was the primary purpose of building the Great Pyramids, and how did it relate to the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptians?

The primary purpose was as tombs for pharaohs, serving as a bridge between earthly life and the afterlife. The pyramids represented the pharaoh's divine status and ensured their journey to the afterlife.

Describe the architectural features of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. What makes it an engineering marvel?

The Great Pyramid of Khufu has a square base, originally 146.6 meters per side, and a height of 146.6 meters. It's composed of massive limestone and granite blocks. The precision in construction and alignment with cardinal points is remarkable.

What do we know about the labor force involved in the construction of the pyramids, and how were they organized?

The labor force likely included a combination of skilled workers, laborers, and possibly temporary workers. Recent evidence suggests that the workforce was not composed of slaves but rather skilled and well-fed laborers.

Discuss the cultural and historical legacy of the Great Pyramids. How have they influenced later civilizations?

The pyramids left a lasting legacy in Egyptian culture and history, symbolizing the grandeur of ancient Egypt. Unsolved mysteries include the exact construction methods and the purpose of certain architectural features, fueling ongoing debates among archaeologists and historians.

What caused scoop marks in granite?

Dolerite pounders were used by ancient Egyptians to create divots in the stone.

What was the story of Adam and Eve?

This story is based on the belief of the Abrahamic Religions and it is said that God created the first man and woman and placed them in the Garden of Eden. He let them have anything they wanted except for the fruit tree of good and evil.

What was the story of the Hero Twins?

This story is from the Mayan Culture and was about the life of two twins. When a Mayan princess gave birth to the two twins the twins learned of their fathers death. And so, in order to bring back their father, they had to travel to the underworld and pass all the tests given to them. And so, they did.

What was the story of The World Turtle?

This story is from the Native Americans and it says that the Earth was created as soil is piled on the back of a great sea turtle that continues to grow until it is carrying the entire world. It also started out with a woman that gave birth to twins but she was stressed and started to sink. Then, the gods decided to get earth and have her a soft spot to land on and they put it on a turtle's back.

How are all these stories related?

In all of these stories, there is a person who goes through a trial or a hardship in their life.

Adam and Eve: The man and woman being tested by the tree of good and evil.

Hero Twins: Tested by the underworld

World Turtle: Tested by the stress of carrying a child and finding a solution to helping the woman land.