Semester 1 Study Guide Flashcards
What is the job description of an archeologist? What kinds of things to archeologists search for?
studies past civilizations using artifacts
What is the job description of a historian? (Investigating the Past)
to create an account of what happened in the past
What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?
primary = first person/witness secondary = not direct
What is inference?
a conclusion made after observing information
Define prehistory.
the time before writing
What is the difference between a fossil and an artifact?
fossil = natural/once alive artifact = man made
What is a hominid?
an early human ancestor/bipedal (2 feet)
Why did early hominids create cave paintings?
for religion/animals
What was life like for hunters/gatherers in the Paleolithic Age?
simple; lots of time; always moving/nomads
Define domestication and agriculture.
domestication: taming animals for human use
agriculture: planting crops for farming
What happened during the Neolithic Revolution?
people settled down and started farming
In what part of the work did agriculture FIRST appear?
Fertile Crescent
What EFFECTS did the development of farming have on early humans in the New Stone Age?
people had more time; build more sturdy structures; had more children
Which land feature gave Mesopotamia its name?
the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Describe the geography of the Fertile Crescent.
the area was very hot and full of mud; the two rivers made life possible
What were FOUR hardships/solutions created by the geography of Mesopotamia?
- food shortage/moved to plains
- uncontrolled water supply/built irrigation systems
- maintaining irrigation systems/banded together to maintain them
- attacks from other communities/built walls
What are the 7 features of civilization?
- stable food supply
- social structure
- religious system
- way of life
- system of government
- technology
- written language
How did ancient Mesopotamians view their gods?
they influenced daily life and tried to please them in all ways
Identify the contributions of these ancient civilizations of the Fertile Crescent:
- Sumerians
- Akkadians
- Babylonians
- Assyrians
- Neo-Babylonians
Sumerians = cuneiform Akkadians = sword-shield formation; first empire Babylonians = code of laws Assyrians = battle rams; siege; iron weapons; bas-relief Neo-Babylonians = science; astronomy; mathematics
Describe cuneiform.
earliest form of writing; looks like a lot of lines and triangles originated from pictograms; used for business
The Nile River flowed through which two important regions of Egypt?
Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
Explain how the Nile’s water flows.
flows S to N into the Mediterranean Sea
List 2 advantages of Egypt’s geography for early Egyptians.
- fertile silt from the Nile
2. desert protected land and provided precious metals and semi-precious stones
What is a dynasty?
a line of heredity
What was a central belief of Egyptian religion?
preparing for the afterlife
Who is considered to be Egypt’s first pharaoh? Why did he wear a double crown?
- Menes
- he united Lower and Upper Egypt and wore both of their crowns
How will Ramses II be remembered? What are his accomplishments?
- he was one of the greatest pharaohs
- known for his building projects such as Abu Simbel; signed the first peace treaty
Why is King Tut the most recognizable pharaoh in our modern world? Is it because of his accomplishments?
his tomb was one of the last royal tombs so it was a huge discovery; it was not because of his achievements but more because archaeologists learned so much due to the fact that his tomb was found completely intact
What archeological discovery helped historians understand hieroglyphics?
the Rosetta Stone
Explain the importance and contributions of the following Jewish people:
- Abraham
- Moses
- David
- Solomon
Abraham = led Hebrews from Ur to Canaan Moses = led the Israelites on the Exodus David = united Israel and established Jerusalem as the capital Solomon = built Israel's first temple
Identify the following events in Jewish history:
- Exodus
- Babylonian Captivity
- Holocaust
Exodus = Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, where they had been slaves for 400 years
Babylonian Captivity = Babylonians conquered Judah and enslaved the Jews
Holocaust = the genocide of the Jews performed by Nazi Germany in WWII
What is monotheism?
worshipping/believing in one God
What are the FOUR central beliefs of Judaism?
- belief in one God
- education and study
- Jewish teachings
- equality and social justice
How have the Jewish people been persecuted? Provide examples and mention the Jewish Diaspora.
Egypt = enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years
Babylon = Babylonians conquered Judah and enslaved the Jews; would not allow them to leave
Europe = holocaust
Jewish Diaspora = exile of Jews from their ancestral homeland; forcing them to settle other parts of the globe
Why is Jerusalem a holy city to three world religions?
Christians, Jews, and Muslims all have holy sites and ancestral ties there
