Study Guide Pre-AP World History Adamo Unit 2, Part 2 (Sections 5,6,7) TOPIC: Origins and Development of Ancient Afro-Eurasian States and Societies 2.

Neolithic Farming

Farming primarily conducted on hillsides with stone tools, limiting productivity.

Bronze Tools

Tools made of bronze that enabled more productive farming in nutrient-rich river valleys.

Agricultural Surpluses

Excess production of food that supports population growth and economic specialization.

Sedentary Communities

Communities that settled in one place, often developing advanced irrigation and agriculture.

Civilizations

Emergent societies in regions like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Indus Valley using bronze for tools and weapons.

Social Hierarchies

Structured societal ranks that arose from the dominance of elites wielding bronze weapons.

Tributary Systems

Economic structures where elites gained power through tribute collected from farmers and laborers.

City-States

Independent cities that became powerful through tribute systems and alliances.

Divine Rule

A political system in which a leader claims a connection to divine authority, such as the pharaohs of Egypt.

Cuneiform

A writing system developed in Mesopotamia for record keeping and law codification.

Animism

The belief in spiritual connections with nature, prevalent among early hunter-gatherer societies.

Monotheism

The belief in a single god, as seen in religions like Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

Specialized Labor

The division of labor in society leading to roles such as artisans, merchants, and scribes.

Coercive Labor Systems

Systems that exploit worker labor to benefit elite classes.

Patriarchal Societies

Societal structures where males hold primary power and authority, often at the expense of women's rights.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese political and religious doctrine used to justify the rule of the king or emperor.

Irrigation Systems

Water management techniques developed by sedentary communities to enhance agricultural productivity.

Numeracy

The ability to use and understand numbers, which developed to support trade and taxation.

Iron Age Developments

Technological advancements and new conflicts that arose with the introduction of iron.

Religious Rituals

Ceremonies conducted to affirm religious beliefs and the legitimacy of political leadership.