Pre AP World History Midterm Exam Review

Written Records

Used in an effort to reconstruct the past; consist of primary and secondary sources that need to be judged as reliable or unreliable.

History/Historian

A systematic narrative of past events relating to particular people, cultures, countries; can be biased based on the point of view of the writer/ an authority or writer on history; they make use of multiple perspectives to analyze the past in writing.

Primary Source

A source of learning about the past that is from the past; film footage, diaries, letters, eyewitness accounts.

Secondary Source

A source of learning about the past that is not directly traceable to the event being studied; encyclopedia descriptions.

Geographer

Observe the effects of climate and features of the land to make conclusions about human society.

Archaeology

The study of past societies through an analysis and interpretation of the items people left behind them; pots, tools, clothing; often the result of excavation or 'digging up.'

Economist

A social scientist who studies the production and exchange of goods and services; analyzes supply and demand.

Political Scientist

Focuses on governmental powers and the rights of citizens; studies systems of government; formulates public policy proposals; analyzes election polls and results.

Artifact

Tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings, and household items left behind by other people.

Culture

A people's way of life, including diet, religious beliefs, artistic achievements, and language.

Oral History

History 'passed down' by the spoken word through the generations; used as a way of preserving cultural evidence of societies.

Golden Age

A time during which a civilization is at its' scientific, artistic, literary, and cultural height.

Dark Age

A time of transition for given civilizations.

Prehistoric

Something that happened before the creation of the written word.

Cultural Diffusion

The exchange of ideas and goods between different groups of people.

Eastern Hemisphere

The half of the world to the east of the prime meridian.

Western Hemisphere

The half of the world to the west of the Prime Meridian.

Northern Hemisphere

The part of the world located to the north of the Equator.

Southern Hemisphere

The part of the world to the south of the Equator.

Prime Meridian

The dividing line between east and west.

Longitude

Lines called meridians, run in a north-south direction from pole to pole; measured in degrees; used to locate places.

Equator

The dividing line between north and south.

Latitude

Runs from 0° at the equator (divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres) to 90°N or 90°S at the poles. Lines of latitude run in an east-west direction; can be helpful in determining climate in a location; measured in degrees.

Map Legend

Displays the meaning of symbols, colors, and style used to represent data on a map.

Map Scale

The ratio between the distance on a map and its' real world equivalent on the ground.

The Graticule

A network of lines representing meridians and parallels, on which a map or plan can be represented.

Panama Isthmus

Narrow land connecting North and South America

Andes Mountains

2nd highest mountain range in the world

Vertical Climate

Elevation climate means that the air is thinner for the people living in the mountains

Amazon Basin

Largest rainforest - this affects the global climate; Vast numbers of plant and animal species

Ural Mountains

Geographic boundary that separates western Russia from Siberia

Himalayan Mountains

Geographically separates South Asia (India) from the rest of Asia

Subcontinent

A large landmass that is smaller than a continent; example India, also a peninsula

Siberia

Located in Russian Asia; Permafrost - frozen tundra

Tigris-Euphrates Rivers

In Mesopotamia; sometimes known as the 'cradle of civilization' or the 'Fertile Crescent'

Huang He River

Yellow River in China; Passes through North ' China Plain (Bread Basket - location where food is produced)

Archipelagos

Chains of islands (Japan, Hawaiian Islands)

Sahara Desert

Separates North Africa from Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

The part of Africa located to the South of the Saharan Desert

Nile River

Longest river in the world; Home to early African civilizations

Topographic Map

Map that shows the physical features present in the terrain

Paleolithic Period

Ended with the last ice age around 8000 BCE (Old Stone Age)

Paleolithic Period Achievements

Painting, stone tools, artifacts, huts

Great Rift Valley

Location of the earliest appearance of hominids in East Africa (Koobi Fora)

Australopithecus

Discovered in 1972 by the Leakey family - reasoned that early humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia; nicknamed 'Lucy'

Early humans

Buried fossilized remains uncovered throughout the world (Erectus; Habilis)

Homo Sapiens

Neanderthals and Modern humans - migrated throughout the world

Neanderthals

Wore clothing, used needles made of bone; died out due to conflict with Modern Humans (Homo Sapien-Sapiens)

Cro-Magnons (Homo Sapien-Sapiens)

Advanced toolmaking; sharp edged tools/weapons like spears, bows, arrows used for hunting; hooks for catching fish; populated the Earth quickly

The Ice Age

Occurred during the Paleolithic Period; thick sheets of ice covered Europe, Asia, and America

The Ice Age Period of Time

100,000 BC- 8,000 BC

Paleolithic Global Migrations of Homo Sapiens

Hunting-foraging bands of humans gradually migrated from their origin in East Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas

Paleolithic Adaptations: Examples

First evidence of human toolmaking

The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

Resulted in animal domestication and agriculture; different roles for men and women; men took on farming, herding and protection; women took on household responsibilities and child care

The Neolithic Revolution

The switch that occurred sometime around 10,000 BCE between hunting and gathering to settled civilizations practicing animal domestication and agriculture

Impacts/Innovations of the Neolithic Revolution

Living in settled communities; the adoption of agriculture; the rise of governments

Domestication

The manipulation of plants and animals in a way that benefits humans

Agriculture

Led to living in settled communities (Egypt; Mesopotamia; Indus; Huang He)

Pastoralism

A mode of subsistence that involves raising domestic animals in grassland environments using herd and household mobility

Neolithic Technology

Plow, fertilizer, copper and iron toolmaking

Surplus

Having more than is necessary to sustain life

Specialization of Labor

Specific jobs for specific people - iron work, artisans, farmers

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution

Simple economies

Panama Isthmus

Narrow land connecting North and South America.

Andes Mountains

2nd highest mountain range in the world.

Vertical Climate

elevation climate means that the air is thinner for the people living in the mountains.

Amazon Basin

Largest rainforest - this affects the global climate; Vast numbers of plant and animal species.

Ural Mountains

Geographic boundary that separates western Russia from Siberia.

Himalayan Mountains

Geographically separates South Asia (India) from the rest of Asia.

Subcontinent

a large landmass that is smaller than a continent; example India, also a peninsula.

Siberia

Located in Russian Asia; Permafrost - frozen tundra.

Tigris-Euphrates Rivers

In Mesopotamia; sometimes known as the "cradle of civilization" or the "Fertile Crescent."

Huang He River

Yellow River in China; Passes through North ' China Plain (Bread Basket - location where food is produced).

Archipelagos

chains of islands (Japan, Hawaiian Islands).

Sahara Desert

Separates North Africa from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa

The part of Africa located to the South of the Saharan Desert.

Nile River

Longest river in the world; Home to early African civilizations.

Topographic Map

Map that shows the physical features present in the terrain.

Paleolithic Period

Ended with the last ice age around 8000 BCE (Old Stone Age).

Paleolithic Period Achievements

Painting, stone tools, artifacts, huts.

Great Rift Valley

Location of the earliest appearance of hominids in East Africa (Koobi Fora).

Australopithecus

Discovered in 1972 by the Leakey family - reasoned that early humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia; nicknamed "Lucy."

Early humans

Buried fossilized remains uncovered throughout the world (Erectus; Habilis).

Homo Sapiens

Neanderthals and Modern humans - migrated throughout the world.

Neanderthals

Wore clothing, used needles made of bone; died out due to conflict with Modern Humans (Homo Sapien-Sapiens).

Cro-Magnons (Homo Sapien-Sapiens)

Advanced toolmaking; sharp edged tools/weapons like spears, bows, arrows used for hunting; hooks for catching fish; populated the Earth quickly.

The Ice Age

Occurred during the Paleolithic Period; thick sheets of ice covered Europe, Asia, and America.

The Ice Age Period of Time

100,000 BC- 8,000 BC.

Paleolithic Global Migrations of Homo Sapiens

hunting-foraging bands of humans gradually migrated from their origin in East Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas.

Paleolithic Adaptations: Examples

First evidence of human toolmaking.

The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

Resulted in animal domestication and agriculture; different roles for men and women; men took on farming, herding and protection; women took on household responsibilities and child care.

The Neolithic Revolution

The switch that occurred sometime around 10,000 BCE between hunting and gathering to settled civilizations practicing animal domestication and agriculture.

Impacts/Innovations of the Neolithic Revolution

living in settled communities; the adoption of agriculture; the rise of governments.

Domestication

the manipulation of plants and animals in a way that benefits humans.

Agriculture

Led to living in settled communities (Egypt; Mesopotamia; Indus; Huang He).

Pastoralism

a mode of subsistence that involves raising domestic animals in grassland environments using herd and household mobility.

Neolithic Technology

Plow, fertilizer, copper and iron toolmaking.

Surplus

having more than is necessary to sustain life.

Specialization of Labor

Specific jobs for specific people - iron work, artisans, farmers.

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution

Simple economies. Rise of Cities.