Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms, ages, civilisations, and archaeological concepts from Ch. 4 - Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation.

Palaeolithic Age

The earliest stage of human history marked by simple chipped stone tools, a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and temporary shelters in caves.

Mesolithic Age

The stage of the Stone Age that acted as a bridge between hunting-gathering and agriculture, characterized by microliths, fishing, and semi-permanent settlements.

Neolithic Age

The final stage of the Stone Age, marked by agriculture, animal domestication, polished stone tools, and permanent village settlements.

Microliths

Small, refined stone tools developed and used by people during the Mesolithic period.

Chalcolithic Age

A transitional period towards the Bronze Age marked by the introduction of copper alongside stone tools, expanded trade, and craft production.

Civilisation

A stage in human development marked by organised social, economic, and political life, permanent cities, food surplus, writing, and government.

Cuneiform

The earliest writing system, developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, used to maintain records of trade, administration, laws, and texts.

Hieroglyphics

The system of writing developed by the Egyptian civilisation.

Ziggurats

Large temples built in ancient Mesopotamian city-states by the Sumerians to worship their gods.

Mehrgarh

One of the earliest agricultural villages in the Indian subcontinent, where people cultivated wheat and barley, domesticated livestock, and built mud-brick houses.

Homo erectus

An early hominin species that was the first to migrate out of Africa into Asia and Europe, known for developing improved tools like handaxes and cleavers.

Biological Evolution

The gradual physical and genetic changes through which early human ancestors evolved into Homo Sapiens.

Cultural Evolution

The development of human skills, tools, technology, and adaptation to changing environments over time.

Shang Dynasty

An ancient Chinese dynasty that strengthened Bronze Age civilisation through improvements in agriculture, metallurgy, and urban development.

Zhou Dynasty

An ancient Chinese dynasty whose rulers promoted organised government and held the belief that kings ruled with the approval of heaven.

Code of Hammurabi

A set of written laws introduced by the Mesopotamian civilisation as a major achievement in law and administration.