Ancient Civilizations and Early Human Society

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers terminology and concepts from early human history, the Neolithic Revolution, and the four major river valley civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus River, and China, as well as the origins of Judaism.

Anthropologists

Scientists who study the origins, customs, and beliefs of humankind.

Great Rift Valley

A region in East Africa believed by most anthropologists to be the birthplace of humankind.

Homo sapiens

Human beings as we know them today, who first appeared sometime between $400,000$ and $200,000$ years ago during the last Ice Age.

Culture

A people's way of life, including language, clothing, homes, family organization, system of government, religion, and methods of obtaining food.

Stone Age cultures

Early societies named by historians for their use of tools made of stone.

Neolithic Revolution

A turning point about $10,000$ years ago when people shifted from being hunters and gatherers to producers of food through agriculture and animal domestication.

Civilization

A form of human culture characterized by city living, complex social institutions, the use of writing, and skills in science and technology.

Mesopotamia

A Greek term meaning "land between two rivers," referring to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present-day Iraq.

Theocracy

A society or system of government in which religious leaders govern.

Ziggurats

Stepped-pyramids made of square levels of mud bricks and crushed reeds, built by the Mesopotamians.

Bronze

A material made by melting tin and copper together, used for tools and weapons.

Cuneiform

The world's earliest known writing system, consisting of three-dimensional symbol marks made by a stylus into clay tablets.

Code of Hammurabi

The earliest written law code, developed by the Babylonians to ensure justice and protect the weak, though punishments varied by social class.

Nile River

The world's longest river, located in Northeast Africa, which provided fertile soil and the foundation for Egyptian civilization.

Pharaoh

The absolute ruler and king of ancient Egypt, who was considered a god and held inherited power.

Monarchy

A system of government in which political power is inherited from a parent.

Hieroglyphics

An early form of Egyptian writing based on picture symbols, used on temples, pyramids, and papyrus.

Harrappans

The people of the Indus River Valley civilization known for advanced urban planning, public sewers, and the creation of cotton cloth.

Huang He

Also known as the Yellow River, it is the site where China's first civilization emerged around $4,500$ B.C.

Shang Dynasty

A ruling family that took power in China around $1,700$ B.C., known for bronze work, silk textiles, and a system of writing using pictographs (characters).

Judaism

The monotheistic religion of the ancient Hebrews (Israelites), founded on the worship of one universal God.

Monotheism

The belief in only one God, which became the basis for religions including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Ten Commandments

A set of laws presented by Moses to the Hebrews that forbade immoral behavior and commanded the worship of one God.