6th Grade History Test 1

Nomad

A person who moves from place to place, often following animals or looking for food and water.

Irrigation

A system for bringing water to crops from rivers or other water sources.

Dynasty

A series of rulers from the same family.

Domesticate

To tame and raise plants or animals for human use.

Scribe

A person whose job was to read and write, often for government, religion, or business.

Agriculture

The practice of growing crops and raising animals for food.

Technology

Tools, inventions, and methods that help people solve problems or make work easier.

Civilization

A complex society with organized government, cities, jobs, religion, and writing.

River Valley Civilization

An early civilization that developed near a major river because rivers provided water, fertile soil, transportation, and resources.

Fertile

Able to produce many crops; good for farming.

Flooding

When water from a river rises and covers nearby land.

Sumerians

The people who established the first known civilization in Mesopotamia.

Cuneiform

The writing system developed by the Sumerians using wedge-shaped marks.

Mesopotamia

A region whose name means "land between the rivers," referring to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Fertile Crescent

A fertile region of the Middle East where several early civilizations developed.

Ziggurat

A large, stepped temple structure built by the people of Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi's Code

A famous set of laws created by the Babylonian king Hammurabi.

Flood Control

Methods used to control or manage river flooding and protect people and crops.

Bronze

A strong metal made by combining copper and tin, used to make tools and weapons.

Pharaoh

The title given to the rulers of ancient Egypt.

Hieroglyphics

The writing system used by ancient Egyptians, made up of pictures and symbols.

Papyrus

A plant that ancient Egyptians used to make a paper-like writing material.

Mummification

The process of preserving a dead body so it would not decay quickly.

Pyramid

A large stone structure built by ancient Egyptians, often as a tomb for a pharaoh.

Nile River

The major river that supported the development of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Indus River

A major river around which the Indus Valley Civilization developed.

Mohenjo-daro

An ancient city known for its organized streets, buildings, drainage system, and plumbing.

Indus Valley Civilization

An ancient civilization that developed around the Indus River.

Caste System

A social system in ancient India that divided people into different social groups and often determined their jobs and social roles.

Karma

The belief that a person's actions affect what happens to them in the future.

Reincarnation

The belief that after death, a person's soul is born again into another life.

Huang He (Yellow River)

A major river in northern China that supported farming and the development of civilization.

Yangtze River

A major river in China that provided water and fertile land for farming.

Mandate of Heaven

The Chinese belief that a ruler had the right to govern because they had the approval of heaven.

Silk

A valuable material produced from silkworms that became an important Chinese export.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes that connected China with other regions and allowed goods, ideas, and cultures to spread.