Unit 2: Early River Valley Civilizations

Fertile Crescent

A geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates

Mesopotamia

A region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that developed the first urban societies

city-state

a city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.

dynasty

A series of rulers from the same family

cultural diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another

polytheism

Belief in many gods

empire

A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler

Hammurabi

He designed a legal code in early Babylon that gave punishment based on crime and social status.

cuneiform

A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge shaped stylus and clay tablets.

calendar

A chart of days and months in a year

Gilgamesh

A legendary Sumerian king who was the hero of an epic collection of mythic stories

delta

A landform made of sediment that is deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake

Narmer

This ruler who united Upper and Lower Egyptian kingdoms

pharaoh

A ruler of ancient Egypt

theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

pyramid

a huge, triangular shaped burial tomb of Egyptian pharaohs

mummification

the preservation of dead bodies by embalming and wrapping them in cloth

hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing that involved using pictures to represent words.

pictograms

A pictorial symbol or sign representing an object or concept. Used by many non-alphabetic written scripts.

Rameses II

pharaoh for 66 years; great warrior; responsible for much development of Egypt

papyrus

A long-lasting, paper-like material made from reeds

subcontinent

A large landmass that is smaller than a continent

monsoon

A period of heavy rainfall usually with flooding

Harappan Civilization

An ancient civilization that developed along the Indus River.

trading seals

carved stones used for trading pottery and tools in Harappa

Indus Valley

home of a major civilization in the valleys of the Indus River

Harappa

a large ancient city of the Indus civilization

Mohenjo-Daro

Largest city of the Indus Valley civilization

loess

yellowish light silt deposited by wind and water in the Yellow River Valley in northern China

Oracle Bones

Animal bones or shells used by Chinese priests to receive messages from the gods

Mandate of Heaven

The Chinese belief that the emperor claimed to be the "son of heaven" and therefore has the right to rule.

Dynastic Cycle

the historical pattern of the rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

feudalism

A system in which land was owned by kings or lords but held by vassals in return for their loyalty

Shang Dynasty

First dynasty in China