World History Chapters 1-2

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are sources created at about the same time as the event being studied, often by people involved in the event.

What are examples of primary sources?

Artifacts, artworks, government records, diaries, letters, speeches, and newspaper articles.

What are secondary sources?

Secondary sources are created after the event by people not involved in the event.

What are examples of secondary sources?

History books, textbooks, encyclopedias, and publications like The Student’s Friend.

What does BC stand for?

Before Christ.

What does AD stand for?

Anno Domini, which means 'in the year of our Lord'.

What are BCE and CE?

BCE stands for Before the Common Era and CE stands for Common Era, used to avoid references to Christ.

What divides the Earth into hemispheres?

The equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

What are the three main climate zones of the Earth?

The tropics, temperate zones, and arctic/antarctic regions.

What is the Big Bang theory?

The theory that the universe began with an event resembling an explosion.

What did astronomers estimate as the age of the universe?

About 14 billion years.

What are the seven continents?

Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, North America, and South America.

What is plate tectonics?

The theory that the Earth's surface is composed of about a dozen plates of solid material that move on a bed of magma.

Where did scientists believe human life began?

In the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa.

Who was Australopithecus?

An extinct member of the hominid family that lived in Africa from about 4 to 1 million years ago.

What is culture?

The knowledge and achievements passed on from one generation to another, forming the way of life shared by a group.

What was Homo erectus known for?

Homo erectus was the first hominid to hunt large animals and the first to leave Africa.

What does Homo sapiens mean?

Wise human; it refers to modern humans.

What began the agricultural revolution?

The discovery of planting and harvesting wild wheat and domesticating animals about 12,000 years ago.

What is civilization?

A complex society characterized by permanent settlements, job specialization, government, and writing.

What is the significance of the Nile River for ancient Egypt?

The Nile provided irrigation, fertile soil, and transportation, making it essential for agriculture and civilization.

What was the purpose of the pyramids in ancient Egypt?

They were built as monumental tombs for pharaohs for the afterlife.

What is hieroglyphics?

The ancient Egyptian writing system that used pictures to represent words or syllables.

What is the Sahara Desert known for?

It is the largest dry desert in the world, expanding from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.

What is the Great Rift Valley?

A valley in eastern Africa where tectonic plates are spreading apart, exposing fossil remains.

Who were the Babylonians?

An ancient civilization in Mesopotamia known for the Code of Hammurabi and their advance in law and governance.

What did the Code of Hammurabi emphasize?

It emphasized the rule of law, stating that the law applied to everyone equally.

What is Mesopotamia often referred to as?

The 'cradle of civilization' where early complex societies developed.