social studies 2201

unit 2 chap 4.0-4.4

Innovation

When an existing object or method is made more effective or efficient

Invention

Entirely new object or method is introduced

Prehistory

Period in human history before the development of writing

Ancient Era

Period of human history from 3000 BCE - 476 CE

Middle Ages

Period of human history from 500 CE - 1500 CE

Modern Era

Period of human history from 1500 CE to present time

Paleolithic Era

The period from about 2.5 million years ago to 8,000 BCE, also known as the Old Stone Age

Neolithic Era

The period of human history from 8000 BCE to 3000 BCE.

Artifacts

Human-made objects that can reveal aspects of culture.

Culture

A people‘s unique way of life and involve shared ways of doing things in common.

Hominid

Creatures that walk upright.

Technology

Ways of applying knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet needs.

Lithic

A word meaning “stone”, often referring to stone tools.

Common Era (CE)

The time period that refers to dates after the year 0.

Before the Common Era (BCE)

The time period that refers to dates before the year 0.

Before present (BP)

A time reference used to refer to dates many thousands or millions of years in the past.

Agriculture

The growing of crops

Neolithic Revolution

The change in human life characterized by development of agriculture and permanent settlement.

Slash-and-burn

An early farming method that increased yields through use of ashes.

Domestication

The taming of animals to provide a steady source of protein.

Catal Huyuk

A example of a Neolithic settlement in what is today Turkey. It has few roads and people get about on rooftops.

Granary

Building used to store crops and grain.

Civilization

A complex culture with five characteristics, which developed first in ancient Sumer.

Specialization

The development of skills in a particular kind of work, which increases efficiency.

Artisan

Workers who make goods by hand.

Institution

A long-lasting pattern of organization in a community.

Scribe

These were professional record keepers in ancient Sumer.

Cuneiform

An early writing system that used wedge-shaped symbols.

Bronze Age

A period beginning in ancient Sumer characterized by items being made of copper and tin melted together.

Ziggurat

A massive temple in the Sumerian city of Ur that served as the centre of religion and government.

Phoencians

Ancient civilization found in the eastern Mediterranean that made well-designed merchant ships that carry more cargo for trade and travel farther.

Gauloi

Boat developed by the Phoenicians that was wide, had a great amount of storage space, and was equipped with a sail.

Aqueduct

A navigable channel constructed on arches to move water from one place to another, first developed by the Romans.

Stirrup

An invention that made fighting from horseback more effective, resulting in the creation of mounted knights in Western europe.

Feudalism

A social and political structure in which a vassal held land from a king or great lord in exchange for military service.

Printing press

An innovation of the late Middle Ages that dramatically increased the rate of book copying.

Johannes Gutenberg

A German blacksmith who used movable type to create the first printing press.

Smallpox vaccine

An innovation that used a mild version of a viral infection to create the first protection against serious viral infections.

Edward Jenner

A country doctor in England during the 18th century who developed the first vaccine.

Steam Engine

Developed in the 1700s, was fueled by coal, and created great amounts of energy. It was first used to remove water from coal mines.