Ancient Civilisations and Pre-history Lecture Notes

Practice flashcards covering ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian civilisations, as well as the transition from pre-history to the Neolithic age.

How do we know about ancient China's past through archaeology?

Through Oracle bones (animal bones or tortoise shells) and bronze vessels used for rituals.

When did the making of the Great Wall of China begin?

$$680\,BCE$$

In which dynasty did silk become famous and the silk route (road) become known?

Han dynasty

What was the hierarchy of ancient Chinese society?

1) rulers & nobles, 2) aristocrats, 3) farmer, 4) labour

What were the important economic and governmental contributions of ancient China?

The development of metal money, paper currency, and civil service exams for government posts.

Beside which river valleys did the Chinese civilisation begin?

Huang He and Yangtze

According to the notes, which was the longest dynasty in China?

Thou dynasty

Which dynasty is credited with uniting China?

Quin dynasty

Who was the Greek historian who wrote about the Egyptian civilisation?

Herodotus

What were the time periods for the three Egyptian Kingdoms?

Old Kingdom: $2686-2181\,BCE$; Middle Kingdom: $2030-1650\,BCE$; New Kingdom: $1570-1069\,BCE$

Who discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799?

French engineer Pierre Bouchard

What were the three seasons of the ancient Egyptian calendar?

Inundation (flood), Peret (growing), and Shemu (harvest)

Why was Egypt called 'Kenmet' (The black land)?

Because the Nile river flooded every year.

How does history differ from pre-history regarding records?

Pre-history has no written records and depends on archaeological evidence (fossils, cave paintings), while history has written records available (manuscripts, inscriptions).

What was the main discovery of the Paleolithic age (old stone age)?

The discovery of fire, used for cooking, warmth, and protection.

What are 'microliths' and in which age were they used?

Small stone tools and blades, such as scrapers and arrowheads, used during the Mesolithic age.

What crops were grown and which animals were domesticated during the Neolithic age?

Crops: wheat, barley, and Rice; Animals: goat, sheep, cattle, and dog.

What does the name 'Mesopotamia' mean and where was it located?

It means 'land between rivers' and was developed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

What was the earliest writing system developed in Mesopotamia?

Cuneiform

What were two prominent cities in the Mesopotamian civilisation?

Ur and Babylon