Development of civilization, Mesopotamia, and Egypt

Pre-AP History

Civilization

A form of culture characterized by cities, specialized workers, complex insinuations, record keeping, and advanced technology

specialization

the development of skills in a particular kind of work, such as trading or record keeping

artisan

a skilled worker, such as a weaver or potter, who makes goods by hand

cuneiform

a system of writing with wedge shaped symbols, invented by the Sumerians around 3000 BC

Bronze Age

a period in human history, beginning around 3000 BC in some areas, during which people began using bronze, rather than copper or stones o fashion tools and weapons

ziggurat

a tiered, pyramid shaped structure that formed part of a Sumerian temple

Mesopotamia

land between rivers

city-state

a city and its surrounding land functioning as a independent political unit

dynasty

a series of rulers from a single family

polytheism

a belief in many gods

empire

a political unit in which a number of peoples or countries are controlled by a single ruler

pharaoh

a king of ancient Egypt, considered a god as well as a political and military leader

pyramid

a massive structure with a rectangular base and four triangular sides, like those that were built in Egypt as burial places for Old Kingdom pharaohs

hieroglyphics

An ancient Egyptian writing system in which pictures were used to represent ideas and sounds

papyrus

a tall reed that grows in the Nile delta, used by the ancient Egyptians to make a paper like material for writing on

Fertile Crescent

an arc of rich farmland in Southwest Asia, between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea

theocracy

a government in which the ruler is viewed as a divine figure and a government controlled by religious leaders

Environment in Sumer

Tigris and Euphrates flooding unpredictable, no natural barriers, limited natural resources

power and authority in Sumer

independent city-states governed by monarchs city-states united into first empires

science and technology in Sumer

cuneiform, irrigation, bronze, wheel, sail, plow

Environment in Egypt

Nile flooding predictable, natural barriers: deserts, Nile an easy transportation link

Power and authority in Egypt

pharaohs rule kingdom as gods, pharaohs built pyramids

Science and technology in Egypt

hieroglyphics, pyramids, mathematic, geometry, medicine