APWH Exam

Neolithic Revolution

The switch from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, starting around 10,000 BCE.

River Valley Civilizations

Early civilizations that developed around rivers, such as Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), Indus Valley (Indus), and China (Yellow River).

Code of Hammurabi

One of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi in the 18th century BCE.

Polytheism

The belief in or worship of more than one god.

Neolithic Revolution

The switch from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, starting around 10,000 BCE.

River Valley Civilizations

Early civilizations that developed around rivers, such as Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), Indus Valley (Indus), and China (Yellow River).

Code of Hammurabi

One of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi in the 18th century BCE.

Polytheism

The belief in or worship of more than one god.

Cuneiform

One of the earliest systems of writing, developed in Mesopotamia.

Hieroglyphics

The writing system used in ancient Egypt, using symbols and pictures.

Pharaoh

The title of the kings of ancient Egypt.

Pyramids

Massive monumental structures built in ancient Egypt, used as tombs for pharaohs.

Indus Script

A script used by the Indus Valley Civilization, which remains undeciphered.

Urban Planning

The process of designing and organizing the physical layout of cities, evident in the Indus Valley Civilization.

Oracle Bones

Bones used for divination in ancient China, with inscriptions providing early examples of Chinese writing.

Dynastic Cycle

The pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties in ancient China.

Mandate of Heaven

The belief that the ruler's right to rule comes from divine authority.

Bronze Age

A period characterized by the use of bronze for tools and weapons.

Iron Age

A period characterized by the use of iron for tools and weapons.

Monotheism

The belief in one god.

Ziggurat

A massive stepped tower made of mudbricks, characteristic of Mesopotamian architecture.

Papyrus

A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the stem of a water plant, used for writing or painting on.

Sanskrit

An ancient Indo-European language of India.

Karma

The principle of cause and effect in Hinduism and Buddhism, where actions influence future lives.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul in a new body.

Caste System

A hierarchical social structure in ancient India, based on birth.

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West.

Confucianism

A philosophy and belief system from ancient China, which focuses on social order, respect, and moral behavior.

Legalism

A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes strict laws and harsh punishments.

Daoism

A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao (the way) and nature.

City-State

An independent city and its surrounding territory, typical of ancient Greece.

Democracy

A system of government in which the people hold power, either directly or through elected representatives; first developed in Athens.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group of people holds power.

Republic

A system of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf; developed in ancient Rome.

Senate

A council of wealthy and powerful Romans who helped govern the Roman Republic.

Twelve Tables

The earliest code of Roman civil, criminal, and religious law.

Roman Empire

The post-Roman Republic period of ancient Rome, characterized by autocratic rule.

Aqueducts

Artificial channels for conveying water, used in ancient Rome.