Study Guide for Worlds Together Worlds Apart Ch. 1,2,3.

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to early world history, focusing on concepts, sources, societies, and processes.

Causation

The relationship between cause and effect that motivates historical changes.

Primary Sources

The most direct pieces of evidence available to a person, culture, or event.

Secondary Sources

Original research by historians into questions about the past, often using primary sources as evidence.

Tertiary Sources

Summations of one or more secondary sources for the general public.

Hominid

Members of the biological family Hominidae, including modern humans and great apes.

Domestication

The process by which humans tame and breed plants or animals for food or other purposes.

Settled Agriculture

A farming system in which people remain in one place to grow crops, leading to complex societies.

Pastoralism

A subsistence strategy where people raise and herd domesticated animals for food and other resources.

Pharaoh

The title of the ruler of ancient Egypt, considered both a political leader and a divine figure.

Hammurabi’s Code

A written set of laws created around 1754 BCE, establishing strict rules and punishments.

Indo-European Migrations

Large-scale movements of Indo-European-speaking peoples that began around 2000–1500 BCE.

Oracle Bones

Animal bones or turtle shells used for divination in ancient China during the Shang dynasty.

Microsociety

A small, self-contained society with its own social structure and cultural traditions.

Urban–Rural Relationship

The interaction between cities and the countryside, where rural areas produce food for urban centers.

Tectonic Plates

Moving segments of the Earth’s lithosphere that cause geological events like volcanos and earthquakes.

Bronze

An alloy of copper and tin, significant for tools and weapon production during the Bronze Age.

City

A large and permanent human settlement, generally characterized by a high population density and complex infrastructure.

City-State

A self-governing political entity that includes a city and its surrounding territory, often functioning independently.

River Basin

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries, crucial for agriculture and human settlement.

Scribes

Professional writers in ancient societies, responsible for maintaining records, documents, and literature.

Social Hierarchies

The structured ranking of individuals or groups within a society based on various factors, such as wealth and power.

Urban-Rural Divide

The socioeconomic and cultural differences between urban and rural areas, often impacting resources and lifestyles.

Amorites

A Semitic-speaking people who gained control of Babylon around 1894 BCE and established a significant dynasty.

Chariot

A two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle, invented in the Eurasian steppes, used for warfare and transportation in ancient civilizations.

Hammurabi’s Code

A written set of laws created around 1754 BCE, establishing strict rules and punishments, often considered one of the first legal codes.

Hittites

An ancient Anatolian people known for their military prowess and as one of the first civilizations to use iron extensively.

Hyksos

Foreign rulers who invaded and occupied Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650–1550 BCE), introducing the horse-drawn chariot.

Indo-European Migrations

Large-scale movements of Indo-European-speaking peoples that began around 2000–1500 BCE, influencing languages and cultures across Eurasia.

Microsocieties

Small, self-contained societies with their own social structure and cultural traditions, often existing alongside larger civilizations.

Oracle Bones

Animal bones or turtle shells used for divination in ancient China during the Shang dynasty, inscribed with questions to the ancestors.

Pastoral Nomads

Groups of people who move herds of domesticated animals from one grazing ground to another, often following migratory patterns.

Territorial State

A political unit with a defined territory and centralized authority, often exerting control over surrounding areas and populations.

Transhumant Herders

Herders who move their livestock seasonally between fixed summer and winter pastures, adapting to climatic changes.

Vedic Peoples

Groups of Indo-European settlers in ancient India known for their religious texts (the Vedas) and contributions to Hindu culture.