World Civ Test

Sumer

Major City: Ur

Significant Leader:Gilgamesh, a legendary king known for his epic.

Contributions and Achievments : Developed one of the first writing systems, cuneiform, and advanced mathematics, agriculture, and urbanization.

Akkadian

Major City: Akkad

Significant Leader: Sargon

Contributions and Achievements: Unified Sumerian city-states, created the first known empire, and spread Akkadian language and culture.

Amorites

Major City: Babylon

Significant Leader: Hammurabi, known for his code of laws.

Contributions and Achievements: Contributed to law, literature, and expanded trade networks.

Hittities

Major City: Asia Minor

Contributions and Achievments: Iron weapons and horse drawn chariots. Signed one of the first peace treaties.

Pheonicians

Major City: Tyre

Significant Contributions: Developed an alphabet, extended trade networks, and established colonies throughout the Mediterranean.

Mesopotamia

The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as the cradle of civilization. It was home to early city-states, advanced agriculture, and significant cultural developments.

Polytheism

The belief in many Gods

Cuneiform

An ancient writing system developed by the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.

Ziggurats

Massive stepped structures built in ancient Mesopotamia, serving as temples for worship and religious practices.

Epic of Gilgamesh

An ancient Mesopotamian poem regarded as one of the earliest works of literary fiction, recounting the adventures of King Gilgamesh of Uruk.

Hammurabi Code

A set of laws established by King Hammurabi of Babylon, known for its principle of retribution and the phrase "an eye for an eye."

Astronomy

The study of celestial bodies and phenomena, including stars, planets, and galaxies.

Astrology

The study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies, often interpreted as influencing human affairs and natural phenomena.

The Fertile Crescent

A region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and early agricultural development, encompassing parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine.

Baal

A Canaanite deity worshipped in ancient religions, associated with storms, rain, and fertility.

Abraham

Called out of Ur into Caanaan

Jacob

Carried out covenant

Name change

Father of 12 tribes

Moses

Split the Red Sea

The 10 commandments are given through Moses

Samuel

Annointes Saul as king

Last prophet

David

Crowned king

Man after God’s own heart

Solomon

Built temple of God

Abrahamic Covenant

Descendants

Land

Blessing

Monotheism

Belief in only one God

Babylonian Captivity

The period when the Jewish people were exiled in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem, lasting approximately 70 years.

Upper Egypt

The southern region of ancient Egypt, known for its narrow valleys and rich agricultural land along the Nile River.

Lower Egypt

The northern region of ancient Egypt, characterized by the Nile Delta and its fertile land, playing a crucial role in the development of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Nile River

The longest river in the world, flowing through northeastern Africa. It was essential for agriculture and supported the ancient Egyptian civilization.

Old Kingdom

The period in ancient Egyptian history that lasted from around 2686 to 2181 BC, known for the construction of the great pyramids and the establishment of a centralized state.

1st Intermediate Period

Period of disorder in ancient Egypt following the Old Kingdom, marked by political fragmentation and regional rivalries.

Middle Kingdom

Time of peace

2nd Intermediate Period

A period of foreign rule and instability in ancient Egypt, characterized by the invasion of the Hyksos and significant cultural developments.

New Kingdom

Period of immense power and flourishing

Menes

Pharaoh who united Upper and Lower Egypt, founding the First Dynasty.

Khufu

The most famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom, known for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Hatshepsut

The first female pharaoh of ancient Egypt, known for her prosperous reign and impressive building projects.

Thutmose III

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, known for his military conquests and expansion of the Egyptian empire. Often referred to as the "napoleon of Egypt" for his successful campaigns.

Ramses II

One of the most powerful pharaohs of ancient Egypt, known for his extensive building projects, military leadership, and signing the first known peace treaty.

Hieroglyphics

The writing system used in ancient Egypt that employed symbols and pictures to represent sounds, words, and concepts, often found in religious texts and inscriptions.

Pyramids

Massive tomb structures built for pharaohs in ancient Egypt, showcasing architectural prowess and serving as royal burial sites.

Assyrian Empire

Capital City: Assur

Significant Leaders: Sargon II, Sennacherib, Ashurbanipal

Historical Accomplishments and Significance: Known for their military strength, expansive conquests, and development of one of the first libraries in Nineveh.

Chaldean Empire

Capital City: Babylon

Significant Leaders: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar

Historical Accomplishments: Renowned for the Hanging Gardens, advancements in astronomy, and the destruction of Jerusalem's Temple.

Achaemerid Empire

Capital City: Susa and Persepolis

Significant Leaders: Cyrus the Great, Darius I, Xerxes I

Historical Accomplishmens and Significance: bureaucracy, Postal System

Jewish Diaspora

The dispersion of Jews outside of Israel and Judah, especially after the Babylonian Exile, leading to the establishment of communities across various regions.

Satrapies

Provinces governed by satraps in the Persian Empire.

Zoroastrianism

An ancient pre-Islamic religion of Persia that emphasizes dualism between good and evil, founded by the prophet Zoroaster.