CCP Wld. Civ. - Q1 Obj Exam Terms

Mesopotamia

A historical region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as the cradle of civilization. (Fertile Crescent)

Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

River valleys in Mesopotamia; cradle of civilization.

Cuneiform

Ancient Mesopotamian writing system using wedge-shaped marks.

Sumer & Sumerians

Sumerians emerged as the first civilization we know of.

Ur

An important Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia, known for its advanced urban development.

Sexagesimal

A base-60 numeral system used by the ancient Sumerians.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of a god or gods, often intertwining religion and politics.

Protoliterate

Refers to the time period where writing began, thus leading to an explosion of technology (Science and medicine) and knowledge.

Akkad & Akkadians

Founded by Sargon the Great, the Akkadian Empire was one of the world's first empires.

Ziggurat 

Sumerian, Structure composed of step-like terraces with a flat top, Used for everything and was the center of culture

Ishtar

Goddess of war in Mesopotamian culture

Lugal

“Important Man” —Later—> “Monarch”

Ensi

High Priest and Governor of the Sumerians

Lugal-Zagesi

Last king of Sumerians

Sargon

Founded Akkadian Empire, created the first empire known to history. Invaded and captured Sumer conquering the last Sumerian king Lugal-zagesi.

Hammurabi

King of Babylon, developed Hammurabi’s Code, the first written code of law.

Gilgamesh

A legendary king of Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia, known for his epic adventures and quest for immortality, which are detailed in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Hittites & Hittisilus

Indo-European speaking, Based in Anatolia, Hittites are the first people to use iron and forge iron weapons (HID IRON INVENTION). Hittites are MASTERS at scythe chariot warfare. Hattusilus I is the first Hittite ruler.

Kassites

Indo-European speaking, Zagros Mountains, Kurigalzu I builds Dur-Kurigalzu the capital of the Kassite Empire, contributions to Babylonian culture. Created the Kudurru

Kurigalzu I

Kurigalzu I builds Dur-Kurigalzu the capital of the Kassite Empire.

Kudurru

A Kassite stone marker that defined land boundaries and recorded transactions.

Mitannians

The first hegemonic (dominant politically) empire.

Hieroglyphics

Ancient Egyptian writing, used for formal and important writing, was commonly carved on stone

Hieratic

Short, informal handwritten form of Egyptian writing, commonly on paper, not stone

Osiris

God of the underworld and vegetation; portrayed as green

Isis

Chief goddess in Egyptian religion

Ka

Egyptian spiritual essence or life force that exists as a separate entity from the body, often associated with the afterlife. (soul)

Maat

Justice, order, truth. What the ka was measured against to determine if you went on to the afterlife or not

Upper Egypt

Lower on the map geographically

Lower Egypt

Higher on the map geographically

Nile River

The river that makes up and supplies the Egyptian civilization

Menes/Narmar

The unifier of upper and lower Egypt, using the Nile as a linking highway, established Memphis as the capital

Djoser

The pharaoh known for commissioning the Step Pyramid at Saqqara,

Imhotep

Architect of the first step pyramid

Red Pyramid

First smooth-sided pyramid; developed by Snefuru

Step Pyramid

First pyramid designed by Imhotep, under the reign of Djoser

Snefuru

The pharaoh who commissioned the building of the Red Pyramid, which was smooth, not stepped

Khufu

The pharaoh known for building the Great Pyramid of Giza

First Intermediate Period

The Nile floods ceased, famine caused by droughts, civil wars against a weakened throne, and outside invaders caused a period of chaos. Outside invasions follow instability

Lack of money →All spent on building pyramids

Middle Kingdom

 Period of large-scale drainage and irrigation projects used to create new farmland i.e., more FOOD

Second Intermediate Period

Marked by the invasion of the Semitic-speaking Hyksos; long haired people from the east, through chariot warfare. Hyksos worship Seth instead of Osiris.

Hyksos

Hyksos; long haired people from the east, through chariot warfare. Hyksos worship Seth instead of Osiris.

New Kingdom

Characterized by vast expansion, conquest, and imperialism, 

Pepi II

Longest ruling monarch in world history

Ahmose I

The pharaoh who drives the Hyksos out of Egypt

Hatshepsut

Longest reigning female in Egyptian history. Portrayed herself as a man, wearing a beard and men's clothes. Got away with being pharaoh because everything was peaceful, no wars, droughts, famine, plague

Thutmose III

"Napoleon of Egypt” had 19 military campaigns in 17 years

Akhenaten

A pharaoh known for being the first ruler to introduce monotheistic worship; of the sun god Aten. Moved the capital from Thebes to Amarna

Aten

City built by Akhenaten to worship the sun god Aten

Tutankhamun

Tut is famous for his untouched tomb

Ramses II

Responsible for the world's first peace treaty with the Hittites, referred to in history as Ramses the Great! He is the most prolific builder of Ancient Egypt

Merneptah

Known for the first historical mention of "Israel" in his inscriptions. Considered the first pharaoh of the decline of the strong Egyptian monarchy

Ramses III

The last great pharaoh of the New Kingdom, known for defending Egypt against the Sea Peoples

Third Intermediate Period

Time of political chaos. Egypt splits into Upper and Lower Egypt. The power of the great pharaoh has declined. The capital was moved to Tanis. Long-distance trade has died. The sea-people.

Sea Peoples

The Sea People helped bring the Bronze Age society to an end. They are famous for their invasion of Egypt during the New Kingdom, which led to the Third Intermediate Period. Leftover people from various civilizations 

Phoenicians

Lived along the coast and became the Mediterranean’s greatest traders. They are made up of a confederation of city-states; Are master sailors

Phoenician Alphabet

A writing system developed by the Phoenicians, which was adopted by the Greeks

Byblos

A Phoenician city where the words bible, book, and library derive from

Tyre

A Phoenician city known for setting up the colony of Carthage

Ugarit

A Phoenician city known for developing the Phoenician Alphabet

Aramaeans

Played a significant role in the development of the Aramaic language, which became widely spoken in the Near East.

Israel & Judah

Ancient kingdoms, known for their religious and cultural identities that emerged in the Levant.

Solomon

Rule resulted in division of Israel into 2 parts: Israel and Judah

Hebrews / Israelites

Ancient Semitic peoples who established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, known for their covenant with Yahweh.

Yahweh & Mosaic Covenant

The title used for the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible, representing a monotheistic belief. The Mosaic Covenant is an agreement between Yahweh (God) and the Israelites that included laws and commandments, outlining the requirements for the people to follow in exchange for divine favor.

David

King of Israelites, first known ruler of Israelites. He establishes Jerusalem, his obsession with women gets the best of him

Josiah

A godly monarch who reestablished the law of the lord, which directed monotheism upon the Hebrews

Shoshenq I

A Pharaoh known for plundering the Temple of Solomon and possibly stealing the ark of the covenant

Assyrians

Located in northern Mesopotamia, known for:

1. First group of people to use all iron weapons 

2. Dispersal of conquered people 

3. Demanding Tribute

Tukulti-Ninurta I

Defeated the Hittites and the Kassites. Destroyed the city of Babylon. Broke the “rules” of war by desecrating temples to Marduk

Tiglath-Pileser I

Established Assyria as a major power in the region. He was the first to cultivate fear of himself into his own people as well as his enemies.

Ashurnasirpal II

Ruled by terror and fear, began demanding tribute payments. Tribute allowed for a new palace to be built at Kalhu.

Shalmaneser III

Known for putting down a revolt by 12 different kings means the continuation of the tribute payments. Revolts become more prevalent

Tiglath-Pileser III

1. Expansion of the empire by annexing nearby kingdoms.

2. Siege warfare: including scaling walls and impaling the defeated on spikes!

3. Resettling conquered people in new areas. This prevented uprisings because there were no natural alliances among the resettled people. EX: Israelites (Dispersing Enemies)

4. Capture of Babylon at the end of his reign.

Sargon II

Builds a new capital, Dur-Sharrukin. It is quickly abandoned after his death.

Dur-Sharrukin

The Assyrian capital built by Sargon II, quickly abandoned after his death, but it later became a very valuable archaeological find.

Sennacherib

Under Sennacherib, the Assyrian capital moved to Nineveh.

Esarhaddon

The Assyrian king, who was not violent, was not a monster. He was an Assyrian ruler who tried a different ruling approach

Ashurbanipal

The last great king of the Assyrian Empire

Niniveh

Final capital of the Assyrian Empire

Chaldaeans

Sometimes referred to as Babylonians, formed by Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II

A Chaldaean ruler of Babylon who wins battle of Carchemish: The Battle of Carchemish was the last stand of the Assyrians , Rebuilt city of Babylon, Built new ziggurat (tower of babel), Built gate of Ishtar, ends “Babylonian captivity” of Israelites

Babylonian Captivity

A period during which the Jewish people were exiled in Babylon

Nabonidus

The last king of the Babylonian Empire, who worshipped the moon god Sin instead of Marduk

Croesus & Lydians 

Last king of the Lydians popular phrase “as rich as Croesus”, the Lydians are considered the inventors of coinage

Persians

An ancient civilization known for its vast empire, famous for the royal road, and Zoroastrianism.

Cyrus II (The Great)

He was the founder of the Persian Empire, known for his policies of tolerance and innovation. Known for defeating the Lydians and capturing Babylon, as well as beginning the Jewish diaspora.

Cambyses II

Known for conquering Egypt under the Persian Empire 

Darius I

Overcame 9 other kings, known for:

1. Establishing Satrapies (Provinces)

2. Eyes and ears of the king

3. Created the early postal system

4. Established the “Royal Road”

5. Built the Royal audience hall

Arta

Persian equivalent to Maat; represented justice, order, and truth in a person

Zoroaster

Ancient Persian prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism.

Ahuramazda & Ahriman

The two opposing deities in Zoroastrianism, where Ahuramazda represents good and Ahriman represents evil.

Satraps

Provincial governors in the Persian Empire, responsible for local administration and maintaining order.

Royal Road

The 1600-mile road developed by the Persians that facilitated trade and communication across the empire.

Homo-habilus

“Handy man”; first to use simple stone tools.

Homo-erectus

“Upright man”; could use fire and make tools; first hominid to leave Africa. First to conduct burial practices, could use fire found in nature

Neanderthal

Lived in Europe, left paintings in caves, first to practice burial practices.

A. robustus

Australopithecus robustus; plant-eating with flatter teeth.

A. africanus

Australopithecus africanus; had sharper teeth.

Homo-sapiens

“Thinking Man”; Large brains