Chapters 1-2 (?) botten world history

vocabulary terms for mr botten's world history for the first vocab test

Archealogy

the study of past societies through an analysis of the items people left behind

Anthropology

the study of human life and culture based on artifacts and human fossils

Homo sapiens sapiens

"wise, wise humans," a species that appeared in Africa between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago; they were the first anatomically modern humans

Out of africa theory

also called the replacement theory; this theory refers to when Homo sapiens sapiens began spreading out of Africa to other parts of the world about 100,000 years ago and replacing populations of earlier hominids in Europe and Asia

Revolution

a sudden, complete change

systematic agriculture

the keeping of animals and the growing of food on a regular basis

Artisan

a skilled worker who makes products such as weapons and jewelry

Civilization

a complex culture in which large numbers of people share a number of common elements such as social structure, religion, and art

culture

the way of life a people follows

city-state

a state with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside

Polytheistic

Belief in many gods

Ziggurat

a massive stepped tower on which was built a temple dedicated to the chief god or goddess of a Sumerian city

Theocracy

A government established by divine authority

cuneiform

"wedge-shaped," a system of writing developed by the Sumerians using a reed stylus to create wedge-shaped impressions on a clay tablet

Bureaucracy

an administrative organization that relies on nonelective officials and regular procedures

Hieroglyphics

"priest-carvings" or "sacred writings," a complex system of writing that used both pictures and more abstract forms; used by the ancient Egyptians and Mayans

pastoral nomad

a person who domesticates animals for food and clothing and moves along regular migratory routes to provide a steady source of nourishment for those animals

domesticated

adapted to life with and to the advantage of humans

monotheistic

believing in one god