World History Midterm

Khufu

Khufu

Second king of Egypt who built the Pyramid of Giza.

Sneferu

First king of Egypt and father of Khufu, built the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid.

Djoser

Built the earliest known pyramid, the Step Pyramid.

Nile River

A river in Egypt that provided water for crops and was essential for trade.

Narmer

Pharaoh in Egypt who "unified" Egypt through the conquest of Lower Egypt.

Mummification

The process of body preservation, giving insight into beliefs about the afterlife.

Sled

Theory of using cedar slabs of wood to move large blocks of stone, not proven.

Mediterranean Sea

Where the Nile River emptied into, vital for trade routes.

Temple

A religious building believed to be the residence of gods, became increasingly extravagant.

Tomb

Highly decorated and furnished compartments in pyramids, furnished with belongings for the afterlife.

Theories of Construction

Jean Pierre Houdin's internal spiral ramp theory, ramp theory of external ramp spanning perimeter of pyramid, notch found 270 ft up to support turning stones at the corner, plumb bob used to align walls correctly, John Romer's contributions to construction theories.

Sediments

The soil, silt, and other material accumulated on the bank of the Nile, nutrient-rich and fertile for farming.

Afterlife

The Egyptian version of heaven, influenced the construction of tombs and pyramids.

Limestone

The main construction material of the pyramids.

Origin Narrative

Enuma Elish, Babylonian creation story featuring Marduk and Tiamat fighting for control.

Abrahamic Religions

Adam and Eve as first humans, one god creating the world over 6 days, introduction to sin.

Aboriginal Stories

Indigenous Australian stories of "dreamtime" ancestors shaping land and animals, emphasis on connection to land.

Star Child

Indigenous spiritual connection between celestial beings and humans, ancestral wisdom emphasized.

Big Bang

Scientific explanation of the origin of the universe, particles colliding and universe expanding.

Hero Twins

Hunaphu and Xbalanque defeating deities in the underworld, symbolizing cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.

Corn God

Emphasizes connection between land and man, stories emphasize planting and harvesting rituals.

Ganga, Shiva, Brahma

Ganga as a river personified as a goddess, with the help of Shiva and Brahma, Ganga flows to earth.

Ex Nihilo

"Creation from nothing," divine ability to create everything from nothing.

World Turtle

Cosmic turtle that holds the world on its back.

Aztec

Two deities sacrificing another to become the sun, emphasizes sacrifice and cyclical nature of life.

Mayans

Humans formed from maize by gods, interconnectedness between land, humans, and gods.

Egyptians

Atum created the world through self-procreation, cyclical nature of creation and destruction, importance of the sun, divine kingship emphasized.

Surplus

An excess of food used to support the growth of cities.

Agriculture

Selective breeding of plants and animals for desirable traits, domestication of plants and animals.

Birth of Cities

The development of cities supported by surplus food.

Migration

Push and pull factors influencing movement of people.

Otzi

Naturally preserved body found in the alpine region, provides insight into the lives of people at that time.

Survival in the Mountains

Strategies and techniques for living in mountainous regions.

Hominid

Homo Sapiens, the most recent known hominid species with advanced cognitive functions.

Artifact

Something found and used for historical purposes, provides insight into a time period.

Archeology

The profession of uncovering artifacts from the ground.

Carbon Dating

The process of using the carbon in an artifact to determine its age.

Tools

Objects used to help perform an action.

Weapons

Tools used for combative reasons.

Cognitive Revolution

The ability to spread knowledge through generations, flint knapping, language, tools, and weapons.

Out of Africa Theory

Humans originated in Africa and migrated out once hominids evolved into Homo erectus.

Foraging

Gathering naturally grown food sources, more efficient than hunting.

Nomads

People who moved along with their food source.

Specialization and Craftsmanship

Occurred as humans evolved, done mainly with tools but evolved to include all crafts.

Social Class

Categorizing people based on their means, often leading to unequal treatment.

Mesopotamia

The cradle of civilization,