Study Guide: Unit 2 - River Valley Civilizations

What are the 5 characteristics of a civilization?

Advanced cities, special workers, complex institutions, record keeping, advanced technology.

What is the writing system of Mesopotamia called?

Cuneiform.

What is a theocracy?

A government with religious leaders.

What is a city-state?

A self-governing entity that includes a city and the surrounding lands.

What were the 3 challenges faced by Sumerians?

Hard to defend, limited natural resources.

What is polytheism?

A system of religion that believes in more than one god.

What was the purpose of a Ziggurat?

Used for religion, to honor gods, etc.

What are examples of advanced technology in Mesopotamia?

Plow, wheel, sail, irrigation, math & geometry based on 60.

What was the role of priests in Mesopotamia?

To communicate with the gods.

Which rivers were important to Mesopotamian civilization?

Tigris and Euphrates.

What is irrigation?

A system used to bring water to fields to grow crops.

What is silt?

Fertile soil.

What is Hammurabi's Code?

The first written code of laws.

What is the famous written work from Mesopotamia?

Epic of Gilgamesh.

Who were Egyptian leaders called?

Pharaohs.

What is Egyptian writing called?

Hieroglyphics.

What was King Menes known for?

Uniting Upper and Lower Egypt.

What is a dynasty?

A series of rulers from the same family.

What advancements did Egyptians achieve?

Mummification, surgery, medicine, 365-day calendar.

How does flooding in Egypt differ from flooding in Mesopotamia?

Egypt: predictable; Mesopotamia: unpredictable.

Which river was important to Egyptians?

Nile River.

Why is our knowledge of the Indus River civilizations limited?

Their writing was hard to decipher.

What are some natural barriers that isolated the Indus River Valley?

Himalayan Mountains, Hindu Kush Mountains, Indian Ocean.

Describe the advancements of Indus River Valley cities.

Well-planned cities, sewage systems, plumbing, separate housing.

What are the two major cities of the Indus River Valley?

Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

What allows India to be considered a sub-continent?

Its location below the rest of Asia.

Which rivers are important to the Indian people?

Indus and Ganges.

What does it imply that very few weapons have been found in the Indus River Valley?

They were peaceful and did not experience conflict.

What resulted in Chinese civilizations remaining isolated?

Mountains, deserts, seas, and distance.

What were oracle bones used for?

To consult the gods.

Why did very few Chinese learn writing?

It was complex and very long.

What mountain range is a natural barrier between India and China?

Himalayan Mountains.

Which rivers were important to early Chinese civilization?

Yangtze and Huang He (Yellow).

What soil does the Huang-He River get its name from?

Loess.

Which dynasty was the first to leave written records?

Shang dynasty.

What is the Mandate of Heaven?

The belief that a ruling dynasty has been blessed from the gods to rule the people.

What is the Dynastic Cycle?

The pattern of the rise and fall of dynasties.

What major trade item comes from the cocoon of a worm?

Silk.

What religion did Hebrews bring about?

Monotheistic religion called Judaism.

What are the sacred scriptures of Judaism called?

The Torah.

What did King David achieve in Israel?

Made Jerusalem the capital city.

What were the Phoenicians skilled at?

Ship-building, a phonetic alphabet, and using purple dye.

What did the Phoenicians have due to being considered sea people?

More contact with other civilizations.