Chapter 1: From the Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations Flashcards
Homo sapiens sapiens
The humanoid species that emerged as most successful at the end of the Paleolithic period.
Paleolithic old stone age
The old stone age ending in 12,000 B.C.E.
Typified by use of crude stone tools and hunting and gathering for subsistence
Neolithic (new stone) age
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
Bronze age
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.
Slash and burn agriculture
A system of cultivation typical of shifting cultivators
Forest floors cleared by fire are then planted
Band
A level of social organization normally consisting of 20 to 30 people
Nomadic hunters and gatherers
Labor divided on a gender basis
Çatal Hüyük
Early urban culture based on sedentary agriculture
- located in modern southern Turkey
- Was larger than Jericho, had greater degree of social stratification
Civilization
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.
Cuneiform
A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge-shaped stylus and clay tablets
Nomads
sheepherding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized societies
Commonly referred to as barbarian by civilized societies
Mesopotamia
Literally between the rivers
The civilizations that arose in the alluvial plane of the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys.
Sumerians
People who migrated into Mesopotamia 4000 B.C.E.
Created first civilization within region.
Organized area into city states
Ziggurats
Massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple complexes
City states
A form of political organization typical of Mesopotamian civilizations
Consisted of agricultural hinterlands Ruled by an urban-based King.
Babylonian Empire
Unified all of Mesopotamia around 1800 B.C.E.
Collapse due to Foreign invasion around 1600 B.C.E.
Hammurabi
The most important ruler of the Babylonian empire.
Responsible for codification of law
Kush
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
Indus River Valley
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
Huanghe (Yellow River)
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.
Phoenicians
Created a simplified alphabet with 22 letters around 1300 B.C.E., predecessor of Greek and Latin alphabets.
Lydians
First introduced coined money
Jews
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.
Mesopotamia versus Egypt
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.
River Valley Civilization in China
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.
