Prehistoric and Early Civilizations

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to prehistory and early civilizations.

Prehistory

The study of human development before written records.

Culture

The sum of artifacts, beliefs, and institutions transmitted by mankind.

Paleolithic

The Old Stone Age marked by the making of tools and weapons.

Pictographs

Early written symbols that represent objects and ideas, used before developed writing.

Cuneiform

A writing system characterized by wedge-shaped marks, used in ancient Mesopotamia.

Hieroglyphs

A system of writing using symbols and pictures, notably used in ancient Egypt.

Monotheism

The belief in a single, all-powerful God.

Ziggurat

A massive terraced tower in ancient Mesopotamian cities serving as a spiritual center.

Animism

The belief that forces of nature are inhabited by living spirits.

Polytheism

The belief in many gods.

Epic

A long narrative poem recounting the deeds of heroes.

Dynasty

A sequence of rulers from the same family.

Papyrus

A writing material made from the reed-like plants growing along the Nile.

Karma

The law that holds that one's actions in this life will determine their fate in future lives.

Dharma

The moral order that an individual is expected to follow, based on duties and caste.

Daoism

A philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (the way of nature).

Qi

The vital energy that permeates the human body according to ancient Chinese belief.

Obelisks

Commemorative stone pillars erected in ancient Egypt.

Terracotta

Clay that has been fired to a hard finish, often used for artistic purposes.

Fresco

A technique of mural painting on freshly applied wet plaster.

Cosmology

A view or theory of the origin and structure of the universe.