Global Final Flashcards
Who studies the world in which humans live?
Social scientists
Social scientists encompass various disciplines including history, geography, economics, and anthropology.
What do historians study?
Written records of past events
Historians analyze documents and artifacts to understand historical contexts.
What do geographers examine?
Earth’s surface and its impact on humans
Geographers study topography, climate, human migrations, and adaptations.
What are the two types of maps geographers often examine?
- Political Maps
- Physical Maps
Political maps show borders and cities, while physical maps depict land features.
What do economists study?
How societies use available resources
Economists focus on production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
What three questions do economists often ask about civilizations?
- What goods and services are produced?
- How are goods and services produced?
- How are goods and services distributed?
These questions help understand economic systems and resource allocation.
What do anthropologists study?
Past and present human cultures
This includes the analysis of social structures, customs, and artifacts.
What is a primary source?
A firsthand record of a historical event created by an eyewitness
Examples include diaries, photographs, and artifacts.
What is a secondary source?
A secondhand record of a historical event created by someone who did NOT experience it
Examples include textbooks and encyclopedias.
What type of anthropologist examines the culture of past human societies?
Archaeologists
Archaeologists analyze physical remains to gain insights into historical cultures.
What is the Neolithic Age also called?
The Neolithic Age is also called the ‘New Stone Age.’
What key development marked the Neolithic Age?
Humans first discovered how to perform agriculture and domesticate animals for food and drink.
What lifestyle change occurred during the Neolithic Age?
Humans switched from being nomads to being settled farmers who lived in permanent villages.
What did farming create during the Neolithic Age?
Farming created a steady food supply, known as a food surplus.
What did the permanent villages of the Neolithic Age eventually turn into?
The permanent villages eventually turned into civilizations.
Why is the development of farming during the Neolithic Age significant?
It is often called the ‘Neolithic Revolution’ due to its importance for humans.
What defines a civilization?
A civilization is a complex and highly organized society that includes a government, social classes, job specialization, a food surplus, writing, and religious beliefs.
When did civilizations develop?
Civilizations developed soon after humans discovered farming and settled down in permanent villages during the Neolithic Age.
Where did the first civilizations develop?
The first civilizations developed around 3000 B.C. in river valleys.
Why did civilizations develop in river valleys?
River valleys had favorable geography, including fertile soil from flooding, irrigation opportunities, and transportation.
Name some early river valley civilizations.
Early river valley civilizations developed around the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Yellow, and Yangtze Rivers.
What are the characteristics of Ancient Egypt?
Location: Northeastern Africa; Major River: Nile River; Developed hieroglyphics and constructed pyramids.
What are the characteristics of Mesopotamia (Sumer)?
Location: Middle East; Major Rivers: Tigris and Euphrates; Developed cuneiform and the Code of Hammurabi.
What achievements are associated with the Indus River Valley Civilization?
The urban areas of Harappan civilization were organized and well-planned.
How did monsoons affect early societies in India?
Seasonal monsoons brought necessary rain for farming, but too much rain caused dangerous flooding.
What are the major rivers in ancient China?
The major rivers are the Yellow (Huang He) River and the Yangtze River.
Why were early Chinese societies isolated?
Early Chinese societies were isolated due to natural boundaries like mountains and deserts.
What common features did many ancient societies share?
They existed in river valley regions, were polytheistic, and had traditional economic systems.
What does polytheistic mean in the context of ancient societies?
Polytheistic means that people believed in many gods associated with nature.
What is barter?
Barter is trade without using money.
What is subsistence agriculture?
Subsistence agriculture is farming in which the crops are used only to feed the farmer and his family.
What is a common occupational trait in ancient societies?
People often had the same occupation as their parents, usually related to farming/agriculture.
What are classical civilizations?
Classical civilizations are societies that were more advanced and more recent than ancient civilizations.
What is a Golden Age?
A Golden Age is a period of great achievements in art, literature, math, and science.
What geographical feature influenced the development of Greece?
Greece has a very mountainous geography, leading to many independent city-states.
What are the two most famous city-states of Greece?
The two most famous city-states are Athens and Sparta.
What type of society was Sparta?
Sparta was a military society where men spent almost all of their lives training for warfare.
What is Athens known for?
Athens is known for having the first democracy in the world.
What is a direct democracy?
A direct democracy is a form of government in which all citizens can vote on laws.
Who were some famous philosophers from Athens?
Famous philosophers from Athens include Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato.
What was the religious belief of ancient Greece?
The people of ancient Greece were polytheistic, believing in many nature gods.
What were the Olympic Games held for?
The Olympic Games were held every 4 years in Greece to honor their god, Zeus.
Who was Alexander the Great?
Alexander the Great was a famous leader who conquered Greece, Egypt, Persia, and part of India.
What is Hellenistic culture?
Hellenistic culture is the mixture of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culture spread by Alexander the Great.