World History Study Guide-Topic 1: The Ancient Near East & Egypt

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Who was Akhetaten/Amenophis IV?

Egyptian pharaoh who radically changed religion by focusing worship on one god—the sun disk Aten—creating the first known monotheistic state religion

Cyrus the Great

Founder of the Persian Empire, famous for his diplomatic rule and tolerance of diversity, which made his empire more stable

Hammurabi

Babylonian king who established one of the world’s first written law codes—Code of Hammurabi—known for “an eye for an eye” justice.

Nebuchadnezzar

Babylonian king famous for military conquests and rebuilding Babylon, including the Hanging Gardens.

Hatshepsut

Female pharaoh who expanded trade, built monuments, and ruled as regent for her stepson Thutmosis III

Thutmosis III

Egyptian pharaoh known for military campaigns that expanded Egypt’s empire

Who was Darius?

Persian king who expanded the empire, improved administration, and built the Royal Road. His rule systematized imperial governance.

Who were the Israelites/Jews?

Monotheistic people in the Levant; developed Judaism.

Who were the Phoenicians?

Seafaring people famous for inventing the alphabet and developing Mediterranean trade

Who was Sargon?

First emperor of Akkad; unified Mesopotamia and established efficient trade and administration

Who were the Sea Peoples?

Mysterious group of raiders blamed for Bronze Age collapse and loss of territory in Egypt and the Mediterranean

Assyria

Northern Mesopotamian kingdom, famous for strong military and monumental architecture

Babylon

Powerful city-state in southern Mesopotamia; center of culture, law (Code of Hammurabi), and the Hanging Gardens

City-state

An independent, self-governing city and the land surrounding it, common in ancient Mesopotamia and Greece.

Nile River

Central to Egyptian life—offered water, fertile land, transportation, and was key to religious beliefs

Fertile Crescent

Curved region of rich soil and early civilization between the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile Rivers

Code of Hammurabi

Earliest law code with 282 laws; imposed “an eye for an eye,” covering justice, trade, and family, Early legal code inscribed on stone

Cuneiform

The world’s earliest writing system, invented by the Sumerians, used wedge-shaped marks in clay

Phoenician Alphabet

Early alphabet used by Phoenicians, basis for Greek and Latin alphabets.

Diaspora

Forced migration and scattering of Jews, leading to global Jewish communities, after the Babylonian conquest

What is a delta?

Triangle-shaped area where a river splits and spreads out—in Egypt, where the Nile meets the Mediterranean

What are the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers?

Mesopotamia’s river system; allowed farming and early cities.

What is the Levant?

Eastern Mediterranean region; home to Israelites.

What is a ziggurat?

Stepped pyramid temple in Mesopotamia.

What are hieroglyphics?

Egyptian picture writing.

What were the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms?

Periods of Egyptian history; Old = pyramids, Middle = stability, New = empire.

What does patriarchal mean?

Male-dominated society.

What was the Persian Empire?

Huge empire under Cyrus and Darius; tolerant rulers.

What does polytheistic mean?

Belief in many gods.

What was Zoroastrianism?

one of the first monothestic religions; Persian religion focused on dualism (good vs evil) and a single creator god.

What is hieratic script?

Simplified Egyptian writing for everyday use.

What does Hellenistic mean?

Greek-like culture spread by Alexander the Great

What does monotheistic mean?

Belief in one god like Akhenaten’s Atenism, Judaism

Sumerian Achievements

• Invented the wheel.

• Developed writing (cuneiform).

• Innovated math and timekeeping systems (e.g., 60 minutes/hour)

Pyramids and Egyptian Culture

• Reflected religious beliefs about the afterlife (built as tombs for pharaohs).

• Showed the power and resources of pharaohs (centralized authority)

Indo-European Languages

Languages descended from Proto-Indo-European, spoken across Europe and Asia; their study reveals ancient migration, shared culture, and influences on modern languages.

Jewish Continuity Factors

• Strong religious traditions and identity.

• Emphasis on family and community connection.

• Education and communication across generations

Cyrus vs. Assyrians

• Cyrus ruled with tolerance, letting conquered peoples keep their customs and religions, reducing rebellion.

• Assyrian rulers controlled through terror and force, provoking unrest.

• Cyrus’s approach led to greater empire stability and longevity

Nile’s Role

• Agriculture: Annual floods deposited rich soil.

• Transport and communication: Linked cities up and down Egypt.

• Religion and culture: Revered as a life-giving force—gods, rituals, and beliefs connected to its cycles