History of the World (Part 1) & Sumer Flashcards
swamp (n)
An area of low, wet land.
irrigate (v)
To bring water to dry land by means of canals.
canal (n)
A waterway made by humans.
dike / levee (n)
A wall built along a river or sea to hold back the water from low land.
merchant (n)
A person who buys and sells goods for a profit; a trader.
temple (n)
A building for the worship of a god or gods.
ziggurat (n)
A huge, towerlike temple from Sumer.
tablet (n)
A small, flat piece of clay used for writing.
cuneiform (n)
A wedge-shaped form of writing used in ancient Sumer.
scribe (n)
A person whose job was to write out copies of contracts and other manuscripts.
contract (n)
A legal written agreement between two or more people.
chariot (n)
An open two-wheeled cart, pulled by horses.
reeds (n)
Tall grasses used for making pens to write with.
revolution (n)
an enormous change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence.
reshape (v)
to shape again or into different form.
essential (adj)
absolutely necessary; indispensable: Discipline is essential in an army.
particular (adj)
different from others or from the ordinary; noteworthy; marked; unusual: She sang with particular warmth at last evening’s concert.
nourish (v)
to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.
generation (n)
the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time: the postwar generation.
crucial (adj)
involving an extremely important decision or result; decisive; critical: a crucial experiment.
colonise (v)
to establish a colony in; settle: England colonized Australia.
hostile (n)
a hostile state, condition, or attitude; enmity; antagonism; unfriendliness.
remarkable (adj)
notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary: a remarkable change.
formidable (adj)
- causing fear, apprehension, or dread: a formidable opponent. 2. of discouraging or awesome strength, size, difficulty, etc.; intimidating: a formidable problem.
emotional (adj)
- pertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions. 2. subject to or easily affected by emotion: We are an emotional family, given to demonstrations of affection.
universal (adj)
- of, pertaining to, or characteristic of all or the whole: universal experience. 2. applicable everywhere or in all cases; general: a universal cure.
anonymous (adj)
- of unknown name; whose name is withheld: an anonymous author. 2. lacking individuality, unique character, or distinction: an endless row of drab, anonymous houses.
obvious (adj)
easily seen, recognized, or understood; open to view or knowledge; evident: an obvious advantage.
investment (n)
the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
arthritis (n)
he investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
frontier (n)
- the part of a country that borders another country; boundary; border. 2. the land or territory that forms the furthest extent of a country’s settled or inhabited regions.
worship (v)
- reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred. 2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.
familiar (adj)
- commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight. 2. well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.
desire (v)
- to wish or long for; crave; want. 2. to express a wish to obtain; ask for; request: The mayor desires your presence at the next meeting.
burden (n)
- that which is carried; load: a horse’s burden of rider and pack. 2. that which is borne with difficulty; obligation; onus: the burden of leadership.
confront (v)
to face in hostility or defiance; oppose: The feuding factions confronted one another
pioneer (n)
- a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others. 2. one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress: pioneers in cancer research
colossal (adj)
extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic; huge
fundamental (adj)
serving as, or being an essential part of, a foundation or basis; basic; underlying: fundamental principles; the fundamental structure.
devastate (v)
to lay waste; render desolate: The invaders devastated the city. Synonyms: destroy, sack, despoil, raze, ruin, level.