Chpt. 1, Early Civilization Flashcards
Paleolithic Age
aka the Old Stone Age, it ended in 12,000 BCE; typified by the use of crude stone tools and hunting and gathering for subsistence
Homo sapiens
the humanoid species that emerged as the most successful at the end of the Paleolithic period
Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
the New Stone Age between 8000 and 5000 (sometimes 3,000) BCE; a period in which adaptation of sedentary agriculture occurred; domestication of plants and animals was also accomplished
Neolithic Revolution
the succession of technological innovation and changes in human organization that led to the development of agriculture, and lasted from 8500 to 3500 BCE
hunting and gathering
the original human economic form, it was ultimately eclipsed by agriculture; in this type of economy, groups of humans hunt for meat and forage for grains, nuts, and berries
Bronze Age
this lasted from about 4000 BCE, when bronze tools were first introduced in the Middle East, to about 1500 BCE, when iron began to replace bronze
slash and burn agriculture
a system of cultivation typical of shifting cultivators; forest floors were cleared by fire and then planted
band
a level of social organization normally consisting of 20 to 30 people; consisted of nomadic hunters and gatherers; labor was divided on a gender basis; men generally did more hunting, especially for bigger game, and women more gathering
Çatal Hüyük
an early urban culture based on sedentary agriculture; located in modern southern Turkey, this city was larger in population than Jericho (another early city), and had a greater degree of social stratification
civilization
societies distinguished by reliance on sedentary agriculture, ability to produce food surpluses, and the existence of nonfarming elites, as well as merchant and manufacturing groups (there is debate over what exactly defines one of these)
cuneiform
a form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge-shaped stylus and clay tablets; it was the Sumerians’ most important contribution
nomads
cattle- and sheep-herding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized societies; they were commonly referred to as “barbarian” by civilized societies
Mesopotamia
literally “between the rivers”; the civilizations that arose in the alluvial plain of Tigris and Euphrates river valleys
Sumerians
people who migrated into Mesopotamia c. 4000 BCE; created the first civilization within the region, and organized the area into city-states
ziggurats
massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple complexes
city-state
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 c. 1800 BCE; collapsed due to foreign invasion c. 1600 BCE
Hammurabi
the most important ruler of the Babylonian empire; he was responsible for the codification of the law into what would become known as the “Code of Hammurabi”
pharaoh
title of the kings of ancient Egypt
Kush
an African state that developed along the upper reaches of the Nile c. 1000 BCE; they conquered Egypt and ruled it for several centuries
Indus River Valley
a region whose rivers have sources in the Himalayas and mouths in the Arabian Sea; this was the location of the Harappan civilization
Mohenjo Daro
along with Harappa, this was one of the major urban complexes of the Harappan civilization; it was laid out on a planned grid pattern; had around 100,000 people
Chinese river valleys
the Yellow River (Huang He) and Yangzi (Yangtze) Because the western reaches of China border on desert, and much of the interior is hilly or mountainous, these two east-west rivers are especially important for supporting agriculture, allowing movement, and fostering social and political unity
Shang
the first Chinese dynasty for which archeological evidence exists; its capital was located in the Ordos bulge of the Huanghe; flourished between 1600 and 1046 BCE
oracles
Shamans or priests in Chinese society who foretold the future through interpretations of animal bones, cracked by heat; inscriptions on bones led to Chinese writing
ideograph
pictographic characters grouped together to creates new concepts, typical of Chinese writing
Phoenicians
a seafaring civilization located on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean; it had established colonies throughout the Mediterranean
monotheism
the exclusive worship of a single god; introduced by the Jews into Western civilization
pyramids
monumental architecture typical of the Old Kingdom of Egypt; they were used as a burial site for pharaohs
Eurasia
Europe and Asia together are sometimes referred to as this
Afro-Eurasia
Europe, Asia, and Africa together are sometimes referred to as this
land features that favored civilization
-a climate that was not extremely hot, cold, dry, or wet -a suitable amount of fertile land, preferably flat -a reliable source of water -topography (the shape of the land) that permitted reasonably easy movement -access to a river, seacoast, or both, for the sake of transport and food supply -the presence of one or more desirable natural resources -proximity to one or more trade routes
Bering land bridge
an overland route between Siberia and Alaska which most scholars believe existed; 15,000 years ago, settlers from Eurasia could have crossed this to enter North America
