Unit 1: Early Humans, Farming, and the Rise of Civilization Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering early human eras, hunter-gatherers, the Agricultural Revolution, technological advances, and early river valley civilizations.

Prehistory

The period of human history before people developed writing.

Archaeologist

A person who studies the past by examining physical evidence left behind by people.

Homo sapiens

Modern humans.

Tools

Objects made to help people complete tasks.

Stone Age

A long period when humans mainly used stone tools.

Paleolithic Era

The Old Stone Age; characterized by a hunter-gatherer way of life and stone tools.

Mesolithic Era

A transition period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras.

Neolithic Era

The New Stone Age; characterized by farming, domestication of plants and animals, and permanent settlements.

Bronze Age

The era when people began using bronze and other metals for tools and weapons.

Hunter-Gatherers

People who survive by hunting animals and gathering wild plants.

Nomads

People who move from place to place rather than living permanently in one location.

Agriculture

The growing of crops and raising of animals.

Domestication

Changing plants and animals so they can be used by humans.

Agricultural Revolution

The major change in human history from hunting and gathering to farming.

Food Surplus

Extra food produced when farming yields more food than people immediately need.

Specialization

Focusing on a particular job or skill, made possible when food surpluses allowed people to perform work other than farming.

Plow

A farming tool used to prepare soil for planting, making farming more effective.

Irrigation

A farming method that brings water to crops, allowing farmers to grow more reliable crops.

Civilization

A large, complex society with cities, government, specialized jobs, organized religion, and writing.

Ancient Egypt

An early civilization that developed along the Nile River.

Mesopotamia

An early civilization that developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Indus Valley

An early civilization that developed along the Indus River.

Ancient China

An early civilization that developed along the Yellow River.