Social Studies Test Flashcards
Fertile Crescent
a region of the Middle East that stretches in a large, crescent-shaped curve from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea
Mesopotamia
wide, flat plain in between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq
irrigate
supply water to crops
city-state
an independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory
barter
trading system in which people exchange goods directly without using money
polytheism
The belief in or worship of more than one god.
ziggurat
brick, pyramid-shaped Mesopotamian temple
empire
state containing several countries or territories
ally
an independent state that works with other states to achieve a shared military or political goal
cultural trait
an idea or way of doing things that is common in a certain culture
Hammurabi’s Code
a set of laws that governed life in the Babylonian empire
rule of law
the idea that all members of a society - even the rich and powerful - must obey the law
soldiers who fight while riding horses
cavalry
standing army
a permanent army of professional soldiers
payment made to show loyalty to a stronger power
tribute
money that is used as a medium of exchange, usually bills or coins
currency
a carved stone slab or pillar that stands on end
stele
art of steering a ship from place to place
navigation
a area ruled by a distant country
colony
cultural diffusion
the spreading of cultural traits from one region to another
