Ancient Architecture and Civilizations Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering ancient architectural structures, historical sites, and key terminology from the provided lecture notes.

Pyramid of the Sun

A major pyramid constructed c. 200 BCE in Teotihuacan, Mexico by the Teotihuacan Civilization.

Raze

To remove something from the ground.

Avenue of Dead

A radial avenue lined with smaller pyramids located in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Prang

A tower or tiered pyramid architectural form, such as the one built c. 950 CE in Koh Ker.

Pyramid of Dj'oser

A step pyramid built c. 2650 BCE during the Old Kingdom in Saggara, Egypt.

Ziggurat of Ur

A mud brick structure built c. 2100 BCE in Southern Iraq associated with Sumerian, Neo-Babylonian, and later historical periods.

Megalith

A big stone used in ancient architectural constructions.

Post and Lintel

The most basic architectural method to open up a space, consisting of vertical posts supporting a horizontal lintel.

Stonehenge

A Neolithic post-and-lintel structure in Wiltshire, England, dated to 3000-1500 BCE.

Valley Temple of Khafre

An Old Kingdom temple built c. 2500 BCE on the Giza Plateau featuring limestone walls sheathed in red granite from Aswan, polished calcite alabaster floors, and 23 statues of Khafre.

Civitas

The Latin root word for civilization, associated with human organization at the city level.

Mohenjo-daro

An Indus Valley Civilization city in Sindh, Pakistan (3000-1700 BCE) featuring a building grid, a large bath, plumbing systems, food storage buildings, metal-melting ovens, and 2 by 2 stamp seals with glyphs.

Catalhöyük

A Neolithic dirt city in Konya, Turkey (7400-5200 BCE) built next to a river with stacked structures that lacked side doors and required ladders to enter and exit through roofs.

Neolithic

A period spanning 10,000 BCE to 2000 BCE, derived from 'Neo' meaning new and 'lithic' meaning stone.

Newgrange

A burial mound and passage tomb constructed c. 3100 BCE in County Meath, Ireland.

Tumulus

A big mound structure that is visible above ground and extends underground.

Barrow

A mound of dirt containing internal tunnels.