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Prehistory
period of time before written records, when humans first appeared and began using tools.
Hunter-gatherers
People who live by hunting animals and gathering wild plants for food, rather than farming.
Paleolithic
Early period of human history when people used stone tools and lived as hunters and gatherers.
Neolithic
Period when humans started farming, domesticating animals, and living in permanent settlements
Systematic Agriculture
Organized practice of growing crops and raising animals for food on a regular basis
Domesticated Animals
Animals that have been tamed and bred by humans to help with work or provide food.
Nomadic
Moves from place to place in search of food, water, or better living conditions.
The Epic of Gilgamesh
epic from Mesopotamia about Gilgamesh searching for immortality; one of oldest written stories; story about the adventures of king Gilgamesh
Civilization
had developed government, cities, and specialized labor
Fertile Crescent
curves from Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea; location of Ancient Mesopotamia
Tigris
major river; supported Ancient Mesopotamia
Euphrates
major river; supported Ancient Mesopotamia
Sumeria
early city in southern Mesopotamia; famous for creating cuneiform writing
Cuneiform
one of the first writing systems, created by the Sumerians, using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets; valuable source of info for modern scholars
Polytheism
worship of multiple/many gods; almost all ancient civilizations believed in polytheism
Ziggurat
temple built like pyramid; were shrines to gods of city, were built in center of city
Rosetta stone
Discovered in 1799; Decoded by Champollion; decree by Memphis priests honoring King Ptolemaios
Hieroglyphs
system of writing; sacred on temples
King Tutankhamun
young pharaoh of ancient Egypt; known for his richly decorated tomb discovered in 1922
Mummification
process of preserving dead body
Papyrus
ancient writing material from the Nile delta, used by Egyptians for scrolls
Pharaoh
ruler in ancient Egypt
Scribe
person who writes things; they recorded history
Artisan
skilled craftsman (made pottery, tools etc.)
Priest
person who performs religious duties
Pyramids
tombs of mummified pharaohs; they are also important symbol of power
After life
Belief in life after death, where a person’s spirit or soul continues to exist.
Obelisk
tall four-sided stone pillar with pointed top (ancient egypt monument)
Monotheism
Belief in one God; Jews were one of the only ones to believe in monotheism.
Diaspora
Jews living outside of Israel after Babylonian captivity.
Judaism
monotheistic religion that believes in one god, follows the teachings of the hebrew bible
Moses
key figure in Judaism. He led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Exodus
is the journey of the Israelites, led by Moses.(they escaped slavery in Egypt and traveled to the promised land)
Ten Commandments
ethical guideline given by God to Moses (it talks about how people should behave towards God and each other)
Prophet
Person who speaks on behalf of God, delivering messages or teaching to others.
Hebrew
Hemitic language originally spoken by the ancient Israelites, and it means from across.
The Great Bath
Largest public building in Indus Valley Civilization
Monsoon
seasonal wind that brings heavy rains, often affecting the climate in south asia.
Huang He
(The Yellow River) stretches across China for more than 2,900 miles (4,666 km)
Shang Dynasty
first official dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
defeated Shang dynasty; brought political stability
Oracle Bones
Bones that were written on then cracked in a fire. These could tell the future.
Confucianism
Chinese philosophy that focuses on morality, family respect, and proper behavior in society
Daoism
Chinese philosophy that teaches living in harmony with the natural flow of life
Legalism
belief that people by nature were evil and needed to be controlled
Mesoamerica
historical region in central america known for its ancient civilizations, including the maya and aztecs
Artisan
Skilled workers who crafted handmade item, like poetry or jewelry
Farmer
a person who grows crops or raises animals for food and other products
Tenochtitlan
capital city of Aztec empire
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