Resource Allocation and World History Quiz Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical definitions, government types, natural resources, and excerpts from the Resource Allocation Quiz.

Neolithic Period

The historical era between 9,000–4,000 B.C.E. when early humans formed small farming villages to raise crops and defend themselves from outside attackers.

Mesopotamia

The historical region in the Middle East located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq.

Nile River

A river flowing from south to north around which ancient Egyptian civilization developed.

Republic

A political system in which representatives govern the state.

Monarchy

A government system where one person has control and power is passed down through a bloodline.

Democracy

A political system in which the government cannot govern without the consent of the people.

Aristocracy

A form of government in which a few wealthy people are in control.

Theocracy

A government led through religious law under the leadership of priests or religious leaders.

Totalitarian

A government system in which those in control have unlimited power and usually gain control through military support.

Sumer

The original river civilization.

Spartan Helot

A member of the unfree or enslaved population in ancient Sparta.

Writing

The key developmental achievement that marks the difference between history and prehistory.

Macedonia

The kingdom that took over the Greek city-states when they were unable to unite.

Polytheism

The belief in or worship of more than one god.

Monotheism

The belief in or worship of a single god.

Classical Trade Routes Map

An ancient network of overland and maritime trade routes that connected regions including Rome and Han China.

Jared Diamond

Author of 'Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race' (1999), who argued that the rise of agriculture negatively impacted human health through poor nutrition, risk of starvation, and spread of infectious disease.

Lawrence Keeley

A researcher at the University of Illinois who calculated that typical hunter-gatherer societies experienced a warfare death rate of 0.5% of the population per year.

Renewable Resource

A natural resource that can replenish naturally over time, such as timber or water.

Non-Renewable Resource

A resource that exists in finite amounts and cannot be replenished on human timescales, such as coal, oil, or natural gas.