unit 1 Flashcards
Term
Definition
Pre-history vs Pre-literate
History - recorded vs unrecorded. Recorded history constitutes the bulk of known history. Pre-history refers to the unrecorded period before human writing, relying on archaeological evidence. “Pre-literate” is a preferred term as “pre-history” can imply history did not happen.
Sources of Information - Primary Resource
A source generated at the time of the event, such as diaries or personal writings.
Sources of Information - Secondary Resource
A historian’s interpretation of primary sources, subject to bias.
Types of Sources
Written (stone, papyrus, paper, computer-readable files) and Non-written (human remains, buildings, ruins, art, film, oral tradition, folklore, textiles).
Oral History
Accounts passed through word of mouth by those who witnessed the event.
Oral Tradition
Accounts passed down through generations by those who did not witness the event, often including cultural norms, history, or traditions.
Methodology of the Historian - External Criticism
Determines if a document is authentic.
Methodology of the Historian - Internal Criticism
Analyzes how a document provides insight into the historical period or civilization.
Neolithic Revolution - Overview
Transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities, marking the shift from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic era.
Neolithic Revolution - Developments
Animal husbandry, plant cultivation, irrigation, population growth, specialized occupations, and social division.
Neolithic Revolution - Expression of Identity
Development of writing, religion, music, and art to express communal identity.
Civilization
Complex societies organized around a community, culture, and way of life.
Markers of Progress and Civilization
Examples include religion and literacy, used to differentiate and sometimes discriminate between societies.
Culture
Way of life including practices, lifestyles, and views. Culture varies among groups and is passed down through generations.
Cultural Elements
Organization of production, family structure, institutions, and forms of communication.
The Nile Valley Civilization
Located along the Nile River in northern Africa (Egypt) with multiple cultural groups.
The Nile River - Uses
Provided drinking water, food (fish and waterfowl), building materials, and facilitated trade and transport.
Agricultural System of the Nile Valley
Consisted of Akhet (flooding, June-September), Peret (planting, October-February), and Shemu (harvest, March-May).
Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley)
Established around 3000 BC with over 100 cities and villages, including Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
Harappan Civilization - Discoveries
Ruins discovered in the 1920s.
Harappan Agriculture
Extensive irrigation, cultivated various crops, and domesticated animals.
Harappan Trade
Traded food, jewelry, cloth, razors, toys, and fish hooks across regions, including the Persian Gulf.
Harappan Industry
Produced metals like copper, tin, and bronze.
