Ancient Civilizations: Sumer, Egypt, and Alexander the Great

What two rivers define the region known as Mesopotamia?

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

What geographical feature is located at the eastern end of the Fertile Crescent?

Mesopotamia

What civilization emerged in Mesopotamia by 3000 BCE?

Sumer

Name three independent cities established by the Sumerians.

Eridu, Ur, and Uruk

What is a ziggurat?

A temple built atop a massive stepped tower in Sumer

What type of government did the Sumerians practice?

Theocracy, where kings derived power from the gods

What was the primary economic activity in Sumer?

Farming

What writing system did the Sumerians invent?

Cuneiform

What major advancements did the Sumerians contribute to technology?

Wagon wheel, potter's wheel, sundial, and bronze making

What river is central to the development of Ancient Egypt?

The Nile River

What are the two major regions of Egypt called?

Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt

Who is credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt?

King Menes

What period in Egyptian history is known for the construction of pyramids?

The Old Kingdom

What is the Great Pyramid known for?

It is the largest pyramid, built for Pharaoh Khufu, consisting of approximately 2.3 million blocks.

What significant event characterized the Middle Kingdom of Egypt?

A 150-year period of disorder followed by a golden age of stability.

What technological advancements were made during the New Kingdom?

Use of bronze in tools and weapons and horse-drawn chariots.

Who invaded Egypt and taught the Egyptians new techniques?

The Hyksos

What significant event occurred in 332 BC involving Alexander the Great?

He reached Egypt and was regarded as a liberator.

What was Cleopatra's relationship with Julius Caesar?

She convinced him to support her claim to the throne and they fell in love.

What happened to Cleopatra and Mark Antony after Octavian declared war?

Both killed themselves after being defeated in battle.

What did Octavian do after defeating Cleopatra and Mark Antony?

He took control of Egypt and made it part of the Roman Empire.

hieroglyphics

"priest carvings" or it used pictures and symbols written on temple walls and in tombs. (It was used for business, records, and daily life.

Hieratic Script written on papyrus

Paper made from reeds that grew along the Nile River

Zoroastrianism

an ancient Persian religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster, and is one of the world's oldest monotheistic faiths

Satrap/Satrapies

A satrap was a governor of a province in the ancient Persian Empire, and a satrapy was the territory or province itself. This administrative system allowed the vast Persian empire to be effectively managed by appointing a satrap to oversee each region, who was responsible for maintaining order, collecting taxes, and ensuring loyalty to the king.

Assyria

an ancient kingdom in northern Mesopotamia and the empire it became, located in what is now northern Iraq

Hyksos

a Semitic people from Western Asia who ruled over northern Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period (c. 1664–1555 BCE) after a period of internal conflict weakened the country

Persia

Persia conquered ancient Egypt in 525 B.C. under

Cambyses II, initiating the 27th Dynasty

The Nile River/Nile River Delta

The Nile River is a major river in Africa that flows north through northeastern Africa, while the Nile Delta is the fertile, triangular-shaped land in northern Egypt where the river empties into the Mediterranean Sea

What were the three pyramids

Khufu (Great Pyramid), Khafre, and Menkaure - Kings of each Pyramid

Who was Cyrus the Great

a conqueror who founded the Achaemenian empire, centred on Persia and comprising the Near East from the Aegean Sea eastward to the Indus River.

Darius I

the Persian King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, who ruled from 522 to 486 BCE. He conquered Egypt and made it a province of his empire, ruling over the territory and implementing significant administrative and infrastructure projects, including a canal connecting the Nile and the Red Sea. His reign saw the Persian Empire reach its greatest territorial extent.

Akkadian Empire

The first known empire in world history was the Akkadian Empire, which began its rule around 2340 B.C.

The Akkadians were led by Sargon, who overran the Sumerian city-states.

Sargon's empire included all of Mesopotamia and areas west to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Akkadian Empire was handed down to Sargon's grandson, but the empire eventually fell by 2150 B.C. after attacks from neighboring areas.

What are the differences between the Sumerians and Akkadians?

The Sumerians arrived in Mesopotamia about 3500 B.C., having emigrated from an unknown homeland they Established city states in the lower Tigris-Euphrates area. They also Spoke a language of unknown origin. The Akkadians Established city states north of Sumer, Adopted Sumerian culture, and Spoke a Semitic language.

Characteristics of the Old Kingdom?

The start of Pharaohs ( Title of Egyptian monarch - originally meant “Great House”)

They started Building of pyramids (dedicated to the dead). Lastly, dead Bodies were mummified by priests

Characteristics of Middle Kingdom?

It had a 150 year period of disorder after Old Kingdom collapsed, after that was considered to be a golden age of stability. Pharaohs showed concerns for the people. People started to drain swampland to provide new farmland. They also dug canals from Nile to Red Sea for trade and transportation.

Characteristics of the New Kingdom?

It is when a group of people from Western Asia invade Egypt (Hyksos). Egyptians started to learn from Hyksos and drive them out.

Use of Bronze in tools and weapons and Horse-drawn chariots became popular. Egypt became extremely powerful and wealthy. Lastly, various invasions and attempted military expansion eventually lead to its collapse.