Overview of River Valley Civilizations

Hittites

Conquerors who adopted Mesopotamian culture and technology.

Sumer

First civilization in the Mesopotamian River valley.

Cuneiform

First writing system developed by the Sumerians.

Ashurbanipal

Assyrian king who built the first library.

Phoenicians

Mediterranean traders known for their alphabet.

Talmud

Text discussing Jewish law, ethics, and history.

Diaspora

Scattering of Jewish people throughout history.

Nile River Valley

Fertile farmland along the Nile River.

Predictable flooding

Regular inundation of the Nile aiding agriculture.

Natural Barriers

Deserts protecting Egypt from invasions.

Old Kingdom

Period from 2660-2180 BCE in Egypt.

Narmer (Menes)

Unified Upper and Lower Egypt.

Theocracy

Government where pharaohs are considered gods.

Imhotep

Vizier who initiated pyramid construction.

Pyramids

Tombs for mummified pharaohs.

Mummification

Process to preserve bodies for afterlife.

Judgment of the Dead

Heart weighed against feather for afterlife entry.

Egyptian Calendar

Created using astronomy and Nile flooding.

Hieroglyphics

Writing system used in ancient Egypt.

Rosetta Stone

Key to translating Egyptian scripts.

Middle Kingdom

Period from 2040-1640 BCE marked by prosperity.

Hyksos

Asiatic rulers who invaded Egypt.

Chariots

Military vehicles used by Hyksos.

New Kingdom

Period from 1570-1075 BCE of Egyptian zenith.

Valley of the Kings

Burial site for pharaohs after pyramids.

Hatshepsut

Female pharaoh who promoted trade.

Akhenaton

Pharaoh who introduced monotheism.

Tutankhamen

Boy pharaoh who restored polytheism.

Indus River Valley

Region of early Indian civilization.

Mohenjo-Daro

Major city in the Indus Valley.

Harappa

Another significant city in the Indus Valley.

Monsoons

Seasonal winds affecting Indian climate.

Shang Dynasty

First Chinese dynasty from 1650-1027 BC.

Oracle Bones

Used by Shang to communicate with ancestors.

Zhou Dynasty

Dynasty from 1027 BC-256 BC with feudalism.

Mandate of Heaven

Divine right to rule in Zhou Dynasty.

Civilization

Society with cities, specialized workers, and institutions.

City-states

Independent cities with their own rulers in Sumer.

Ziggurats

Large temples built by the Sumerians for worship.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods, practiced by Sumerians.

Land of No Return

Sumerian afterlife where souls serve the gods.

Sargon of Akkad

First emperor who united Akkadian city-states.

Hammurabi

Babylonian king who created the first law code.

Eye for an eye

Principle of proportional punishment in Hammurabi's code.

Assyrians

Brutal warriors known for conquering Mesopotamia.

Neo-Babylonians

Revival of Babylonian power and culture.

Hanging Gardens

One of the Seven Wonders, built by Nebuchadnezzar.

Ethical monotheism

Belief in one God grounded in morality.

Torah

Holy text of Judaism, first five books of Moses.

Exodus

Moses leads Jews out of slavery in Egypt.