Unit 2: Early River Civilizations

Advanced Cities

Large concentrations of population that serve as centers for trade and artisanship.

City-States

Independent cities in Mesopotamia, such as Ur and Uruk, that controlled surrounding lands.

Specialized Workers

Individuals skilled in specific trades, including artisans, merchants, and soldiers.

Complex Institutions

Long-lasting organizations within a community, including government, religion, and education.

Record Keeping

The documentation of important legal, historical, and economic records using cuneiform writing on clay tablets.

Advanced Technology

New tools and techniques developed to solve complex problems, such as the creation of bronze.

Fertile Crescent

A crescent-shaped region in Mesopotamia where early civilizations emerged due to rich soil.

Irrigation Systems

Human-made systems to control flooding and maximize crop production in agriculture.

Polytheism

The belief in many gods, which influenced the religious practices of Sumerians.

Ziggurat

A pyramid-shaped temple in Sumer that served as a center for both religion and government.

Hammurabi’s Code

The first written law code that established legal standards and social class inequalities in Babylon.

Sumerian Cuneiform

The first formal writing system used by scribes to keep records in ancient Mesopotamia.

Social Classes

A hierarchical structure in Sumerian society, including kings, priests, merchants, artisans, and slaves.

Epic of Gilgamesh

An ancient Mesopotamian poem that is one of the earliest known works of literature.

Akkadian Empire

The first empire in history, established by Sargon after conquering Sumer.

Bureaucracy

A system of officials that carry out the work of a government, as seen in Hammurabi's Babylon.

Hittites

An ancient civilization known for their iron-working technology and military prowess.

Assyrians

A brutal warrior society that conquered Mesopotamia and built the first library at Nineveh.

Chaldeans

The civilization that conquered the Assyrians and rebuilt Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar.

Nubian Kingdom of Kush

A civilization south of Egypt that adopted many Egyptian practices and later controlled Egypt.