World History 1 - The Paleolithic Era, The Neolithic Era, and Ancient Civilizations

Paleolithic Era

The period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans and nomadic groups with simple tools.

Neolithic Era

The switch from nomadic lifestyles to a settled agricultural lifestyle

River Valley Civilizations

a type of civilization that developed near or around a major river and considered the earliest known large human civilizations

domesticated animals

Adapting animals for human use: Milk, meat, wool, and labor

cuneiform

A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge shaped stylus and clay tablets.

Bronze Age

a period of human culture between the Stone Age and the Iron Age, characterized by the use of weapons and implements made of bronze

Code of Ur-Nammu

Possibly the world's most ancient law code, which proclaimed the king as a messenger of justice

Code of Hammurabi

the set of laws drawn up by a Babylonian king dating to the 18th century BC, the earliest legal code known in its entirety

Zhou Dynasty

(1050BC-400BC) Longest dynasty in Chinese history. Established a new political order with king at the highest level, then lords and warriors and then peasants.

Mandate of Heaven

a political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source

ziggurat

A rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound erected by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians

pastoralism

A type of agricultural activity based on nomadic animal husbandry or the raising of livestock to provide food, clothing, and shelter.

Akkadian Empire

began in 2350 BCE when Sargon - King of Akkad - began conquering Sumerian cities. The empire was the first to unite city-states under a single ruler and ruled for 200 years.

Hittite Empire

An empire in Asia minor that had been in conflict with Egypt until a treaty was established, demonstrated an interesting ability to assimilated other cultures into their own; they were the first known users of smelted iron weapons. The empire ended because of internal problems and attack by the sea people in Gaza.