Early Civilizations

surplus

Extra food key to growing a civilization

Civilization

a highly complex social order

Cultural Diffusion

the spread of ideas, customs, technology

Polytheism

belief in many gods

Monotheism

belief of one God

Empire

large territory controlled by a leader

Pictograph/Pictogram

the first writing, more drawings instead of words

scribe

specifically trained people who could read and write

artisan

skilled craft people who made luxury goods

hierarchy

social class system with few powerful people

social mobility

the ability to move up or down in social hierarchy