Intro To AP World - Unit 2

Tigris/Euphrates Rivers

Two significant rivers in Mesopotamia that supported early civilizations.

Hammurabi's Code

One of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, established by King Hammurabi of Babylon.

Mesopotamia

An ancient region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as the cradle of civilization.

Sumer

The southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia, known for its city-states and innovations.

Epic of Gilgamesh

An ancient Mesopotamian poem, regarded as one of the earliest works of literary fiction. Focused on the search for immortality, due to the belief of a gloomy afterlife.

cuneiform

A system of writing developed by the Sumerians, characterized by wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.

lunar calendar

A calendar based on the phases of the moon, used by various ancient civilizations.

Fertile Crescent

A crescent-shaped region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and early agricultural societies.

city-states

Independent, self-governing cities that also control surrounding territories.

ziggurats

Massive structures built in ancient Mesopotamia, serving as temples and administrative centers.

Babylonian Empire

An ancient empire centered in Babylon, known for its cultural and scientific achievements. Developed by the Amorites

Sargon of Akkad

The founder of the Akkadian Empire, known for uniting the Sumerian city-states. Sargon built the first real empire in world history, bringing together several peoples and nations under one ruler. He spread cultural diffusion.

Nile River (cataracts/delta)

The longest river in the world, with cataracts and a delta that supported ancient Egyptian civilization. Formed the "black land", a fertile region directly next to the river.

Menes

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt. Established capital at Memphis.

theocracy

A form of government in which religious leaders control the government, and the state's legal system is based on religious law.

papyrus

A plant-based material used by ancient Egyptians to make a writing surface.

pyramids

Large monumental structures built as tombs for pharaohs in ancient Egypt. Main example is the Great Pyramid of Giza, tomb for Khufu.

Hatsheput

One of the few female pharaohs of ancient Egypt, known for her prosperous reign.

Nubia

An ancient region located to the south of Egypt, known for its rich resources and trade.

solar calendar

A calendar based on the Earth's revolutions around the sun, used by ancient Egyptians.

pharaoh

The title used for ancient Egyptian rulers, considered both political and religious leaders.

Khufu

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh known for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Hyksos

A group of mixed Semitic peoples who invaded and ruled parts of Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period.

Akhenaton

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh known for introducing monotheism with the worship of the sun god Aten.

Kush

An ancient kingdom located to the south of Egypt, known for its wealth and trade.

Egyptian Gods

The deities worshipped in ancient Egypt, each representing different aspects of life and nature. Usually benevolvent.

mummification

The ancient Egyptian practice of preserving bodies for the afterlife.

viziers

High-ranking political advisors or ministers in ancient Egypt.

hieroglyphics

The writing system used in ancient Egypt, consisting of pictorial symbols.

Tutankhamen

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh known for his intact tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Known for restoring Egyptian religion and order after Akhenaton.

monsoons

Seasonal winds in South Asia that bring heavy rainfall, crucial for agriculture.

subcontinent

A large, distinguishable part of a continent, such as the Indian subcontinent.

Mohenjo-Daro

An ancient Indus Valley city known for its advanced urban planning.

Indus River

A major river in South Asia that supported one of the world's earliest urban civilizations.

Huang He

Also known as the Yellow River, it is one of the two major rivers in China, crucial for early Chinese civilization.

oracle bones

Animal bones or turtle shells used in ancient China for divination.

Shang Dynasty

The first historically verified Chinese dynasty, known for its advances in bronze working and writing.

Zhou Dynasty

The longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history, known for the development of philosophy and government.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese philosophical concept that justified the rule of the emperor as divinely ordained.

loess

A fertile, yellowish soil deposited by wind, significant for agriculture in ancient China.

Hebrews

An ancient people who settled in the land of Canaan and are known for their monotheistic beliefs.

Abraham

The patriarch of the Hebrew people, considered a significant figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

David

The second king of Israel, known for uniting the tribes and establishing Jerusalem as the capital.

Exodus

The departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses.

synagogues

Jewish houses of worship and community gathering.

Jerusalem Temple

The ancient sacred temple in Jerusalem, central to Jewish worship.

Torah

The central reference of the religious Judaic tradition, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Ten Commandments (ethical conduct)

A set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, fundamental to Judaism and Christianity.

rabbi

A Jewish scholar or teacher, especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law.

Talmud

A central text of Rabbinic Judaism, consisting of a compilation of teachings and interpretations of the Torah.

Solomon

The son of David and king of Israel, known for his wisdom and building the First Temple in Jerusalem.

Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians)

An ancient people who ruled Babylon and formed the Neo Babylonian Empire. They built impressive structures.

Nebuchadnezzar

A prominent king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, known for the conquest of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Captivity.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, said to be an extraordinary series of tiered gardens.

Assyrian Empire

An ancient empire known for its military prowess and extensive library at Nineveh.

Babylonian Captivity

The period during which the Jews were exiled in Babylon after the conquest of Jerusalem.

Phoenicians

An ancient civilization known for their maritime trade and the creation of the alphabet. Founded along the coast of Lebanon.

purple dye

A valuable dye made from mollusks, used by the Phoenicians and associated with royalty. (In greek, Phonecians were known as "Purple Dye People".

alphabet

A system of writing that uses letters to represent sounds, developed by the Phoenicians; later inspired the Greek & Western alphabets.

labyrinth (King Minos/ Minotaur/Daedalus & Icarus)

A complex maze in Greek mythology, associated with King Minos and the Minotaur.

Minoans

An ancient civilization that arose on the island of Crete, known for its palatial centers.

Palace of Knossos

The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, associated with the Minoan civilization. A large palace/city complex for minoan civilizations.

*irrigation

The process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops.

*artisans

a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.

*empire

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.

*scribes

people trained to write using the earliest forms of writing before literacy was widespread

*polytheism

Belief in many gods

*centralized government

A government in which power is concentrated in a central authority to which local governments are subject

*dynasty

a powerful family or group of rulers that maintains its position or power for some time

*hierarchy

a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.

*monotheism

Belief in one God

*pictographs

picture symbols

*silt

fine particles of fertile soil

*social class

a group of people in a society who are considered nearly equal in status or community esteem, who regularly socialize among themselves both formally and informally, and who share behavioral norms

*cultural diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another

*barter vs. money trade

bartering --> trading between goods

money trade --> exchange of money