Unit 1 Test

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