World Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China - Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China, including geography, religion, politics, economy, and technology.

Neolithic Revolution

The shift from hunting and gathering to farming and permanent settlements, producing surplus food and enabling complex river-valley civilizations.

Mesopotamia

Region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers where early civilizations arose; characterized by irrigation-based agriculture and city-states.

Sumerians

Early Mesopotamian culture known for developing cuneiform writing and epic literature such as the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Babylonians

Mesopotamian civilization famous for Hammurabi's Code, one of the first codified legal systems.

Persians

Imperial group in the ancient Near East; built vast empires that influenced Mesopotamian history.

Egypt

Nile River civilization noted for predictable floods, desert isolation, strong pharaoh rule, and monumental architecture.

Nile River

The river whose predictable floods supported stable agriculture in ancient Egypt.

Tigris

One of Mesopotamia’s two great rivers; floods were unpredictable and required irrigation management.

Euphrates

The other major Mesopotamian river; together with the Tigris, shaped farming and society.

Ziggurat

Mesopotamian stepped temple dedicated to the gods and a central religious structure.

Pyramids

Egyptian monumental tombs and temples reflecting religious beliefs and engineering skill.

Hammurabi's Code

Babylonian comprehensive set of laws representing one of the earliest codified legal systems.

Cuneiform

Earliest known writing system developed by the Sumerians, using wedge-shaped marks on clay.

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing system using pictorial symbols for religious texts and records.

Polytheism

Belief in multiple gods; practiced by both Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures.

Pharaoh

Egyptian king considered a living god and central political-religious authority.

Mummification

Egyptian process of preserving the body for the afterlife.

Afterlife (Egypt)

Egyptian belief in life after death, shaping burial practices and tomb construction.

Epic of Gilgamesh

Ancient Mesopotamian epic reflecting early literature, heroism, and themes of mortality.

Indus River

River valley in South Asia associated with early urban development and fertile plains.

Ganges River

Sacred Indian river contributing to agricultural fertility and cultural identity.

Huang He (Yellow) River

Chinese river whose valleys fostered early Chinese civilization and agriculture.

Yangtze River

Major Chinese river supporting settlement, agriculture, and culture.

Himalayas

Mountain range that forms a barrier around India, influencing isolation and trade.

Monsoons

Seasonal winds driving Indian Ocean trade and agricultural cycles in South Asia.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

Maritime network linking Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia; facilitated exchange of goods and ideas.

Silk Road

Overland trade route connecting East Asia with Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean; traded silk, porcelain, tea, and ideas.

Gupta Empire

Indian empire marked by decentralized governance and promotion of Hindu tradition, science, and education.

Buddhism

Religion originated in India emphasizing enlightenment and moral conduct; later spread to China and beyond.

Hinduism

Major Indian religion centered on dharma, karma, and multiple deities.