Science and Technology – Vocabulary Flashcards (Video Notes)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering major concepts, peoples, inventions, and events from the notes on science, technology, and history.

Stone Age

Prehistoric period beginning with the dawn of human civilization and ending with the discovery of metal smelting; divided into Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.

Paleolithic Age

Old Stone Age (2.5 million–8,000 B.C.) when humans lived as hunters and gatherers and used simple stone tools; cave art appeared.

Mesolithic Age

Middle Stone Age (10,000–6,000 B.C.) when humans developed needles and thread, controlled fires, and began language and migration.

Neolithic Age

New Stone Age (8,000–6,000 B.C.) when Homo sapiens learned pottery, polished stone tools, and moved to farming and animal husbandry.

Stone tools

Tools made from stone used for hunting, agriculture, and food preparation.

Fire

Controlled use of fire by early humans, crucial for survival and environmental control.

The wheel

Early wheel use for transport and tasks; originally tied to pottery, later enabling wheeled vehicles.

Flint knapping

Technique to shape stones for tool making.

Atlatl

A spear-throwing tool that increases throwing distance and power.

Bow and arrow

Hunting weapon system enabling longer-range targeting.

Clothing

Apparel made from animal pelts or woven textiles for protection and warmth.

Boat

Primitive watercraft used for hunting and travel; early boats were basic and not for long-distance voyages.

Pottery

Ceramic vessels developed in the Neolithic for storage, cooking, and transport.

Mesopotamia (Cradle of Civilization)

Region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; birthplace of Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilizations; known for irrigation and urban centers.

Fertile Crescent

Geographic arc in the Middle East rich in agriculture, stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean.

Sumerians

Early Mesopotamian civilization known for the wheel, plow, sailboat, cuneiform, Epic of Gilgamesh, lunar calendar, base-60 numbering, and ziggurats.

Babylonians

Mesopotamian civilization known for Hammurabi’s Code, the Hanging Gardens, lunar calendar, sundials, and water clocks.

Assyrians

Mesopotamian civilization noted for military prowess and imperial organization.

Persians

Ancient Iranian empire that contributed to early governance and culture in Mesopotamia.

Cuneiform

One of the earliest writing systems developed by the Sumerians on clay tablets.

Epic of Gilgamesh

World’s oldest known literary epic from Sumer, documenting heroism and survival.

Ziggurats

Tiered temple complexes in Sumerian and Mesopotamian cities.

Uruk City

One of the first true cities in the world, built with sun-baked bricks.

Ur

Ancient Mesopotamian city featured the Great Ziggurat of Ur.

Irrigation

Water management system enabling year-round farming in Mesopotamia.

Dikes

Flood-control embankments used to protect fields from river floods.

Hammurabi

Babylonian king who codified a comprehensive law code—the Code of Hammurabi.

Code of Hammurabi

Early law code establishing presumed rights and punishments; based on the idea of justice.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Fabled terraced gardens attributed to Nebuchadnezzar II, irrigated via waterways.

Tower of Babel

Biblical tower associated with Mesopotamian ambition and divine confusion.

Sumerian lunar calendar

Calendar based on lunar cycles developed by Sumerians for timekeeping and trade.

Sumerian base-60 system

Sexagesimal numeric system used by Sumerians for trade and calculation.

Sumerian ziggurats

Massive temple complexes central to Sumerian cities.

Sumerian Wheel

Early wheel used in pottery and transport.

Mohenjo-Daro

Major city of the Indus Valley Civilization known for advanced urban planning.

Indus Valley Civilization

Bronze-age civilization in the Indus River basin with grid cities and drainage systems.

Mohenjo-Daro drainage

Sophisticated drainage and water storage system in Indus cities.

Mohenjo-Daro writing system

Indus script with 250–500 characters (undecoded).

Indus Valley bricks and houses

Well-organized baked-brick houses and urban infrastructure.

Hieroglyphics

Ancient Egyptian system of writing using symbolic pictures.

Papyrus

Early writing material made from papyrus reed; easier to store than clay tablets.

Ink

Ancient ink made from soot and other compounds for writing on surfaces.

Great Sphinx of Giza

20-meter limestone statue symbolizing a guardian figure in Egypt.

Pyramids

Royal tombs in Egypt reflecting beliefs about the afterlife and ruler legitimacy.

Mummification

Egyptian method of preserving the dead for the afterlife.

Djoser

Pharaoh of the Old Kingdom associated with the Step Pyramid.

Imhotep

Egyptian physician and architect who designed the Step Pyramid.

Ancient Egypt inventions (example items)

Papyrus, ink, hieroglyphics—foundational writing and record-keeping tools.

Abacus

Counting device used in ancient China for arithmetic.

Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese practice of relieving pain and improving health by needling or pressure.

Paper

Paper invented in China, enabling easier record-keeping and literature.

Movable printing press

Early movable-type printing technology in 960 CE, enabling wider book distribution.

Porcelain

Hard, white ceramic from China with a refined glaze and durable quality.

Silk

Luxurious textile produced by silkworms; Silk Road connected China to Europe.

Gunpowder

Mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter; originally used for fireworks.

Tea production

Tea processing innovations that spread global consumption.

Great Wall of China

Extensive defensive structure built to protect and control borders.

Indus Valley writing system

Indus script with 250–500 glyphs; not yet deciphered.

Greek Philosophers

Philosophers who laid foundations of Western thought: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.

Socrates

Classical Greek philosopher who questioned assumptions about life and knowledge.

Plato

Greek philosopher who founded the Academy and explored forms and ethics.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who systematized logic, science, and ethics.

Pythagoras

Greek philosopher famous for the Pythagorean theorem and mathematical ideas.

Thales of Miletus

Early Western philosopher and mathematician known for eclipse prediction.

Hippocrates

Father of Western Medicine; emphasized diet, lifestyle, and ethics in medicine.

Alarm clock (Ctesibius)

Ancient Greek device using water clock (clepsydra) and bells for timekeeping.

Clepsydra

Water clock used to measure time in ancient Greece.

Odometer (Archimedes)

Device to measure distance traveled by a vehicle; precursor to modern odometers.

Greek Water Mill

Water-powered grinding mills; early energy conversion.

Aegean/Greek Civilization

Civilization known for political, artistic, philosophical, and scientific achievements; democratic influences.

Greek Philosophers’ big three

Plato, Aristotle, Socrates—central figures in Western philosophy.

Abacus (China)

Counting device used in ancient China for arithmetic calculations.

Acupuncture (China)

Traditional practice of stimulating points on the body to relieve ailments.

Paper (China)

Invention transforming writing and record-keeping.

Movable printing press (China)

Early form of movable type that spread literature.

Porcelain (China)

Fine ceramic material used for vessels and art.

Silk (China)

Premium fabric integral to the Silk Road trade network.

Gunpowder (China)

Explosive mixture first used for fireworks and later military applications.

Tea production (China)

Tea processing methods that made tea globally popular.

Great Wall of China (China)

Largest defensive structure; built over centuries to deter invasions.

Aqua Appia

First Roman aqueduct, supplying water to Rome (Roman engineering).

Acta Diurna

First proto-newspaper in Rome; daily public records.

Concrete

Durable building material used in Roman architecture.

Codex

Book form of writing; Romans popularized bound pages.

Roman numerals

Roman system of numeration for trade and communication.

Colosseum

Largest ancient Roman amphitheater; symbol of Roman architecture.

Pantheon

Roman temple architecture renowned for its dome.

Olmec Civilization

Earliest major Mesoamerican civilization; calendar-like inscriptions and colossal monuments.

Chinampa

Aztec technique of rectangular floating fields for farming.

Maya hieroglyphics

Writing system with around 1,000 characters used by the Maya.

Quipus

Inca knot-and-string system used for record-keeping.

Tlatoani

Aztec ruler/king.

Long Count

Maya calendar system measuring days in cycles.

Inca Civilization (Incan Empire)

Largest Andean empire; centralized government; Quechua language; quipus; emperor son of the Sun god.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire with capital at Constantinople; continuation after the fall of Rome.

House of Wisdom

Abbasid-era center in Baghdad for translations and scientific work.

Golden Age of Islamic Science

Period of major scientific advances in the Islamic world (8th–13th centuries).

Ibn Al-Haytham (Alhazen)

Father of Modern Optics; refined refraction and dispersion of light.

Avicenna (Ibn Sina)

Physician and philosopher; Canon of Medicine; important medical encyclopedia.

Al-Zahrawi (Alhazi)**

Father of Surgery; produced medical writings and surgical innovations.