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