Chapter 1: From the Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations

Question 0

Homo sapiens sapiens

Answer 0

The humanoid species that emerged as most successful at the end of the Paleolithic period.

Question 1

Paleolithic old stone age

Answer 1

The old stone age ending in 12,000 B.C.E.

Typified by use of crude stone tools and hunting and gathering for subsistence

Question 2

Neolithic (new stone) age

Answer 2

The new stone age between 8000 and 5000 B.C.E.
Period In which adaptation of sedentary agriculture occurred
Domestication of plants and animals accomplished

Question 3

Bronze age

Answer 3

From about 4000 B.C.E. When bronze tools were first introduced in the middle east
To about 1500 B.C.E. when iron began to replace it.

Question 4

Slash and burn agriculture

Answer 4

A system of cultivation typical of shifting cultivators

Forest floors cleared by fire are then planted

Question 5

Band

Answer 5

A level of social organization normally consisting of 20 to 30 people
Nomadic hunters and gatherers
Labor divided on a gender basis

Question 6

Çatal Hüyük

Answer 6

Early urban culture based on sedentary agriculture

• located in modern southern Turkey
• Was larger than Jericho, had greater degree of social stratification

Question 7

Civilization

Answer 7

Societies distinguished by reliance on sedentary agriculture, Ability to produce food surpluses and existence of non-farming elites as well as merchant and manufacturing groups.

Question 8

Cuneiform

Answer 8

A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge-shaped stylus and clay tablets

Question 9

Nomads

Answer 9

sheepherding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized societies
Commonly referred to as barbarian by civilized societies

Question 10

Mesopotamia

Answer 10

Literally between the rivers

The civilizations that arose in the alluvial plane of the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys.

Question 11

Sumerians

Answer 11

People who migrated into Mesopotamia 4000 B.C.E.
Created first civilization within region.
Organized area into city states

Question 12

Ziggurats

Answer 12

Massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple complexes

Question 13

City states

Answer 13

A form of political organization typical of Mesopotamian civilizations
Consisted of agricultural hinterlands Ruled by an urban-based King.

Question 14

Babylonian Empire

Answer 14

Unified all of Mesopotamia around 1800 B.C.E.

Collapse due to Foreign invasion around 1600 B.C.E.

Question 15

Hammurabi

Answer 15

The most important ruler of the Babylonian empire.

Responsible for codification of law

Question 16

Kush

Answer 16

An African state that developed Along the upper reaches of the Nile around 1000 B.C.E.
Conquered Egypt and ruled it for several centuries

Question 17

Indus River Valley

Answer 17

River sources in Himalayas to
Mouth in Arabian Sea
Location of Harappan civilization
—–Traded widely with Mesopotamia but little evidence of significant influence.
—–Much more susceptible to natural disasters and climate change particularly in contrast to China

Question 18

Huanghe (Yellow River)

Answer 18

Developed in considerable isolation although some overland trading contact with India and the Middle East did develop.
Invented ideographic symbols
Ruled by a line of kings known as the Shang.

Question 19

Phoenicians

Answer 19

Created a simplified alphabet with 22 letters around 1300 B.C.E., predecessor of Greek and Latin alphabets.

Question 20

Lydians

Answer 20

First introduced coined money

Question 21

Jews

Answer 21

Established first clearly developed monotheistic religion
Influenced by the Babylonian civilization
Settled near the Mediterranean around 1200 B.C.E.
Judaism served as a key basis for the development of both Christianity and Islam.

Question 22

Mesopotamia versus Egypt

Answer 22

Mesopotamia was flat with few natural barriers to recurrent invasion from the north.
Mesopotamian leaders wanted to EXPAND.
Egypt was not isolated but was more self contained.

Question 23

River Valley Civilization in China

Answer 23

Less contact than Mesopotamia.
Had advancing new technologies such as manufacturing silk.
Created sophisticated irrigation systems
Would have a wide influence on later intraregional trade.