Unit 1: Early Humans and the Development of Civilizations

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Unit 1: Early Humans and the Development of Civilizations.

Nomad

A person who moves from place to place and does not have a permanent home.

Foraging

Searching for and gathering wild plants, fruits, nuts, and other food sources.

Agriculture

Farming; the practice of growing crops and raising animals for food.

Domestication

Taming wild plants and animals for human use.

Surplus

More than what is needed; extra food or supplies.

Irrigation

A system of bringing water to crops/fields.

Specialization

To focus on one type of job or skill.

Silt

Nutrient-rich soil deposited by flooding rivers that made land more fertile for growing crops.

Equator and Prime Meridian

The two lines that divide Earth into hemispheres.

Cardinal Directions

North, South, East, West.

Africa

The continent where early humans first lived.

Antarctica

The continent early humans did not migrate to.

Early Tool Materials

Materials used by early humans to make tools, including stone, bone, wood, and antlers.

Temporary Shelters

Shelters that could be built quickly and left behind when a nomadic group needed to move to a new location.

Uses of Fire

Provided warmth, cooked food, protected from animals, and provided light for early humans.

River Valleys

Good places for early civilizations due to rich/fertile soil, access to fresh water for drinking and irrigation, and transportation routes.

Important Early Rivers

Rivers around which early civilizations developed, including the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Huang He (Yellow River), and Yangtze.

Benefits of Domesticating Animals

Provided food (meat, milk), labor (help with farming/transportation), clothing (wool, leather), and companionship.

Trade

The exchange of goods and ideas that brought in missing resources, connected communities, and increased wealth.