Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China Flashcards
fertile crescent
an arc of rich farmland in southwest Asia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Mesopotamia
A plain between two rivers
city-state
a city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independent political unit
Dynasty
a series of rulers from a single family
cultural diffusion
the spreading of ideas or products from one culture to another
polytheism
belief in many gods
empire
a political unit; peoples or countries are ruled by one leader
Hammurabi
Ruler of the Babylonian Empire; code of laws
delta
a marshy region formed by deposits of silt at the end of a river
Narmer
an ancient Egyptian King; believed to have united Upper and Lower Egypt
Pharoah
Egyptian god-kings who were looked upon as powerful and “god-like”
Theocracy
a type of government in which rule is based on religious authority
Pyramid
a large structure that was built as a resting place for the Kings of the Old Kingdom
Mummification
the way in which Royals’ bodies were preserved after death
Hieroglyphics
the Egyptians’ writing system; like a carving
papyrus
were made from papyrus reeds and were used for writing
subcontinent
a large landmass that forms a distinct part of a continent
monsoon
a wind that shifts in direction at certain times of each year and carries moisture or dry air, dominated the Indus Valley climate
Harappan Civilization
the Indus Valley civilization that arose along the Indus River; had a grid-like plan
Dynastic Cycle
the patterns of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties
loess
a fertile deposit of windblown soil
oracle bone
one of the animal bones or tortoise shells used by ancient Chinese priests to communicate with the gods
Mandate of Heaven
in Chinese history, the divine approval thought to be basis of royal authority
Feudalism
a political system in which nobles are granted the use of the King’s lands in exchange for their military service and protection
