Early River Valleys

WH.2

civilization

an advanced stage of human social development characterized by complex institutions, culture, technology, and organized communities

divine right

the belief that authority of a monarch to rule is granted by God

polytheism

religious belief in multiple gods and goddesses

empire

a group of states or countries under the control of one ruler

epic literature

a genre of literature characterized by long narrative poems recounting heroic deeds

urbanization

the process of people moving to cities

Fertile Crescent

the crescent-shaped region north of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by mountains, deserts, and water; also called Mesopotamia

cavalry

armed military units that fight on horseback

Phoenician alphabet

ancient set of 22 letters, each associated with a sound; developed by the Phoenicians

satrap

in the Persian Empire, the title of a local governor appointed to rule a province, or satrapy

Zoroastrianism

a monotheistic religion originating in ancient Persia; teaches that the world is in a struggle between good and evil

Diaspora

the scattering of Jews outside their ancestral homeland

Canaan

ancient area in the Fertile Crescent located between Syria and Egypt; Jewish tradition states this was a Promised Land set to be settled by the Hebrew people

monotheistic

describes a religion that worships only one god or deity

prophet

a person who is believed to speak for God or the gods

black land

the delta region where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea

dynasty

a series of rulers from the same family

obelisk

a tall, four-sided monument reaching a point at the top, built by the ancient Egyptians

theocracy

a form of government built on religious principles and controlled by religious leaders