The COMPLETE 6th Grade Social Studies Vocabulary List

map symbol

something that stands for something else on a map

political map

a map mainly showing divisions such as national or state boundaries, cities, and capitals

continent

one of Earth's seven large bodies of land

hemisphere

one of the halves of the Earth

longitude

distance east or west of the Prime Meridian measured by a set of imaginary lines that run north and south from Earth's poles

Prime Meridian

the line of longitude marked 0° on the World map from which longitude east and west are measured

cardinal directions

north, south, east, west

intermediate directions

northwest, southwest, southeast, northeast

map key

a list of symbols that tells what each symbol stands for

locator

a small map that shows where the subject area of a main map is located

absolute location

the latitude and longitude of a place

relative location

the location of a place in relation to another place

scale

a unit of measure on a map, such as an inch, that is used to represent a distance on Earth

physical map

a map that shows natural features of Earth, such as lakes, rivers, mountains, and deserts

elevation map

a map that shows the height of land above sea level

historical map

a map that shows information about the past

International Date Line

an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and separates one calendar day from the next

cartographer

map maker

equator

an imaginary line circling Earth halfway between the North and South Poles; zero degrees latitude

latitude

distance north or south of the equator, measured by a set of imaginary lines that run east and west around the Earth

region

an area with common features that set it apart from other areas

political region

a region based on states, countries, continents

cultural region

a region based on the way of life of a group of people, including language, religion, food

landform region

a region based on the way the earth has formed, including mountains, rivers, plains, plateaus

population region

a region based on the people who live in a selected area including density and birth rates

climate region

a region based on long-term trends in weather elements and atmospheric conditions, including average temperature and average rainfall

economic region

a region based on allocation and use of resources. These include natural resources, agricultural products and levels of income

geography

the study of Earth's environment and how it shapes people's lives and how Earth is shaped by people's activities

climate

the weather pattern of an area over a long period of time

Five Themes of Geography

Movement, Region, Human-Environment Interaction, Location, Place

interaction

the exchange of ideas and customs among cultures

diffusion

spread of ideas, technology, and products among places

migration

the movement of people from one place to another

emigration

when someone leaves a country

immigration

when someone enters a country

environment

the area in which a person exists or lives

habitat

the natural home or environment of a person

adaptation

making adjustments to fit into a new environment

modification

to change the environment to meet the needs of humans

dictatorship

a type of government led by one supreme ruler who usually keeps power through military force

direct democracy

a type of government in which all eligible citizens participate

representative democracy

a type of government in which eligible citizens elect people to represent them in government

constitutional monarchy

a type of government in which the king or queen shares power with an elected group of representatives

absolute monarchy

a type of government in which a king or queen rules with complete power

theocracy

a type of government in which priests rule by the order of God or gods

historian

a person who studies and writes about the human past

archaeologist

a scientist who learns about past human life by studying fossils and artifacts

artifact

a weapon, tool, or other item made by humans

fossil

the trace or imprint of a plant or animal that has been preserved in rock

anthropologist

a scientist who studies the physical characteristics and cultures of humans and their ancestors

technology

tools and methods used to help humans perform tasks

specialization

the development of different kinds of jobs

migrate

to move from one place to another to live, especially a large group of people

surplus

an extra supply of something, such as crops, that is not needed immediately

civilization

complex society with geography, religion, achievements, politics, economics, and social structure

trade

the exchange of goods between people

agriculture

the raising of crops and animals for human use

nomad/hunter-gatherer

a person who moves from place to place and meets their needs by hunting animals and gathering plants

Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)

the period of human history that had tools made of chipped stone and cave art

Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

the period of human history when humans began to develop agriculture and use tools and weapons made from shaped and polished stone

artisan

a skilled craftsperson

caravan

a group of traveling merchants and animals

city-state

independent state made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages

code of law

a written set of laws that apply to everyone under a government

culture

people's learned behavior and ways of life, including their language, beliefs, customs, and practices

cuneiform

Sumerian system of writing made up of wedge-shaped markings

economic

relating to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and goods for trade

empire

group of territories or nations under a single ruler or government

enduring influence

long-term effects; impact can be seen many years, decades, or centuries later

government

the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed

Hammurabi

King of Babylonia who is best known for his code of law

irrigation

method of bringing water to a field from another place to water crops

levee

a wall built along a river bank to prevent flooding

Mesopotamia

early center of civilization, in the area of modern Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

monotheism

belief in only one god

polytheism

belief in many gods

Sargon

king of the Akkadians who conquered all of Mesopotamia in about 2340 B.C.

scribe

a record keeper

social structure

a pattern of organized relationships among groups of people within a society

Sumer

a group of ancient city-states in southern Mesopotamia; the earliest civilization in Mesopotamia

ziggurat

a large step pyramid with several stories built by the ancient Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians

Christianity

the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture; began in Israel and spread throughout the Roman Empire

tradition

a continuing pattern of culture, beliefs, or practices; a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting

Judaism

monotheistic religion of the ancient Hebrews tracing back to Abraham in early Mesopotamia and Israel

Islam

religious faith of Muslims, based on the words and religious system founded by the prophet Muhammad and taught by the Quran

Jesus

a teacher and prophet whose life and teachings form the basis of Christianity

Bible

the holy book of Christians

church

Christian place of worship

Ten Commandments

set of ten moral laws given to Moses by God, states that only one God exists, emphasizes the importance of life, self-control, and justice

Muhammad

founder of Islam

Quran

Holy book of Islam

mosque

a Muslim place of worship

Allah

Islamic God

Five Pillars of Islam

five obligations/commandments/guidelines of Islam

Hajj

term for a Muslim's pilgrimage (religious trip) to Mecca

Abraham

Jewish people believe they are a descendant of his and if they followed him to Canaan God promised the land to him and his followers

Torah

Jewish holy book

synagogue

Jewish place of worship

Sabbath

a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday

Mecca

holy city of Islam