Topic 2- Civilizations and Peoples of the Fertile Crescent

Fertile Crescent

A region of the Middle East that stretches in a large, crescent-shaped curve from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea

Mesopotamia

A wide flat plain in present day Iraq

irrigate

supply water to crops

city-state

An independent state that included a city and its surrounding territory

barter

A trading system in which people exchange goods directly without using money

polytheism

The belief in more than one god

ziggurat

Temples that were pyramid-shaped brick towers

cuneiform

A system of writing that uses triangular-shaped symbols to stand for words, ideas, or sounds

empire

A state containing several countries or territories

ally

An independent state that works with other states to achieve a shared military or political goal

cultural trait

An idea or way of doing things that is common in a certain culture

Hammurabi's Code

A set of laws that governed life in the Babylon empire

rule of law

The idea that all members of a society must obey the law

cavalry

soldiers who fight while riding horses

standing army

a permanent army of professional soldiers

tribute

payment made to show loyalty to a stronger power

currency

money that is used as a medium of exchange, usually bills or coins

stele

A curved stone slab or pillar that stands on end

import

good or service sold within a country that is produced in another country

export

A good or service produced within a country and sold outside the country's borders

navigation

art of steering a ship from place to place

colony

an area ruled by a distant country

cultural diffusion

the spreading of cultural traits from one region to another

alphabet

a small set of letters of symbols, each of which stands for a single sound

montheism

the belief that there is only one God

ethics

ideas of right and wrong

Torah

First five books of the Hebrew Bible

covenant

A binding agreement

Exodus

escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt

commandment

an order to do something

prohet

a person believed to be chosen by God as messenger to bring truth to the people

rabbi

Jewish religious teacher and leader

Talmud

collection of oral teachings and commentaries about the Hebrew Bible and Jewish law

righteousness

acting or living in a way that is ethically right and obeys God's laws

justice

fairness or fair treatment for everyone

Sabbath

weekly day of rest

judge

a leader who rallied the Israelites to defend their land

exile

to force someone to live in another country

Diaspora

a community of Jews living outside of their ancient homeland

synagogue

a meeting place for Jews to study and pray