Pre-Collage Quiz Governments

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key political features, governments, major cities, and leadership structures of early civilizations including Sumer, Egypt, Shang China, the Indus Valley, the Olmec, and Norte Chico.

Theocracy

A system where the government was ruled by religious leaders or religious beliefs.

Sumer

An early civilization that had a decentralized government with independent city-states, each with its own government.

Egypt

A civilization that had a centralized government ruled by pharaohs, a bureaucracy led by a vizier, and a dynasty of rulers from the same family.

Pharaohs

The rulers of Egypt who headed a centralized government.

Vizier

The chief government official who led the bureaucracy in ancient Egypt.

Mandate of Heaven

A political and spiritual concept held by Shang China.

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

Major cities of the Indus Valley civilization.

Dynasty

A sequence of rulers from the same family, characteristic of both Egypt and Shang China.

Theocracy

Government ruled by religious leaders or religious beliefs.

Centralized government

Power concentrated in a single central authority.

Decentralized government

Power divided among independent local states or regions.

Bureaucracy

System of non-elected officials who manage state administration.

Chiefdom

System of government led by local chiefs.

Dynasty

A sequence of rulers from the same family.

Government type of Sumer

Decentralized (independent city-states).

Government type of Egypt

Centralized (ruled by pharaohs).

Government type of Shang China

Shared power (kings, local princes, and nobles).

Government type of Indus Valley

Uncertain.

Government type of Olmec

Centralized and theocratic.

Government type of Norte Chico

Decentralized (cooperative chiefdoms).

Sumer

Civilization with a decentralized government of independent city-states.

Egypt

Civilization with a centralized government ruled by pharaohs.

Pharaohs

Centralized rulers of ancient Egypt.

Centralized

Power is concentrated in one main ruler or government.

Decentralized

Power is spread among different rulers or local governments.

Theocratic

Government is connected to religion or religious authority.

City-state

An independent city with its own government and surrounding land.

Dynasty

A series of rulers from the same family.

Bureaucracy

A system of government officials who help run a state.

Government type of Sumer

Decentralized

Government type of Egypt

Centralized

Government type of Shang China

Shared power

Government type of Indus Valley

Uncertain

Government type of Olmec

Centralized and theocratic

Government type of Norte Chico

Decentralized