Ancient Civilizations: Key Vocabulary

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary from the Ancient Civilizations study guide (3500–500 BCE), including general academic terms and key concepts from Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, the Hebrews, the Bantu, and the Olmec.

Origins

The beginnings or sources of a people, idea, or practice.

Structures

The organization and arrangement of societal components such as government, economy, and social classes.

Interactions

The relationships and exchanges that occur between different societies or groups.

Monotheism

The belief in a single deity.

Polytheism

The worship of many gods, each often linked to natural forces or aspects of life.

Migration

The movement of people from one region to another, usually in search of resources or better living conditions.

Agriculture

The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock for food and other products.

Civilization

A complex human society with organized political, economic, and cultural systems.

Economics

The production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services within a society.

Culture

The shared beliefs, customs, arts, and social behaviors of a group.

Technology

The application of knowledge and tools to meet practical needs.

Hierarchy

A system in which people or groups are ranked one above another according to status or authority.

Influence

The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.

Contribution

A positive addition or impact made by an individual or group to society.

Significance

The historical importance or lasting impact of an event, idea, or individual.

Contrast

A comparison that highlights differences between two or more elements.

Mesopotamia

Ancient region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers known for city-states, cuneiform writing, and early technological innovations.

Egypt

Ancient Nile-River civilization noted for pharaohs, pyramids, and centralized divine kingship.

Cuneiform

The wedge-shaped writing system developed in Mesopotamia.

Ziggurat

A terraced, pyramid-shaped temple found in Mesopotamian city-states.

Hieroglyphics

The pictographic writing system used in ancient Egypt.

Pharaoh

The divine ruler of ancient Egypt, considered both king and god.

City-State

An independent urban center with its own government and surrounding territory, common in Mesopotamia.

Divine Kingship

The belief that a ruler’s authority is granted by—or that the ruler embodies—a deity.

Wheel

A Mesopotamian technological innovation that revolutionized transport and pottery.

Irrigation Systems

Engineered channels and dikes that control water for farming; developed in both Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Bronze Tools

Metal implements made from copper and tin alloys, marking technological advancement in early civilizations.

Hinduism

A major religion originating in India characterized by a caste system, karma, and reincarnation.

Buddhism

Religion founded in India focused on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to enlightenment.

Caste System

India’s social hierarchy dividing people into hereditary classes.

Sanskrit

Classical language of ancient India used in religious and literary texts.

Metallurgy

The science and technology of working with metals, including smelting and alloy production.

Ancestor Worship

Chinese religious practice honoring deceased forebears through rituals and offerings.

Confucianism

Chinese philosophy emphasizing moral conduct, filial piety, and orderly society.

Dynasty

A sequence of rulers from the same family, typical of ancient Chinese political organization.

Bronze Casting

Chinese technological process of shaping molten bronze into tools, weapons, and ritual vessels.

Ethical Monotheism

The Hebrew concept that one God demands moral behavior from humans.

Hebrews

Ancient people of the Near East whose scriptures introduced monotheism and written religious law.

Bantu Migration

Gradual movement of Bantu-speaking peoples from West Africa across sub-Saharan Africa, spreading agriculture and iron working.

Iron Working

The smelting and forging of iron tools and weapons, spread in Africa partly through Bantu migrants.

Olmec Civilization

The first major civilization in Mesoamerica, noted for colossal heads and influence on later cultures.

Monumental Architecture

Large, enduring structures—such as pyramids or giant stone heads—built to demonstrate power or religious devotion.

Mesoamerica

Cultural region that includes central Mexico and Central America, home to the Olmec and later Maya and Aztec.

Trade Networks

Interconnected routes for exchanging goods and ideas among ancient societies.

Nile River

The river whose predictable flooding provided fertile soil, transport, and unification for ancient Egypt.

Urban Planning

Designing and organizing cities with streets, public areas, and infrastructure, exemplified in ancient India’s Indus cities.