Unit One Flashcards
Last place to be populated
Americas
When did Neanderthals exist? What was their physical make up? Compare to Homo sapiens
100,000-25,000 B.C.E. Short and stocky. Face protruded more. Wider. Bigger and heavier bones
Describe the settling of Asia 80,000-60,000 B.C.E
Volcanic eruption in Indonesia. Forced people to leave Africa
What evidence is there that early man practiced religion?
Buried dead
Where was early agriculture first practiced? Where was it not?
Mesopotamia and people in Palestine and south Syria. New Guinea
What was the Gilgamesh epic? Why is it important to historians? What early civilization does it describe?
Story of Gligamesh, King of City Uruk in Mesopotamia. Describes Mesopotamia. It’s one of first works of literature.
What characteristics of the Nile set it apart?
Flows north. Predictable flooding. Annually. Large delta into Mediterranean. Renewed silt deposits each year. Steep. Unavailable.
What writing system did Egyptians use?
Hieroglyphics. Pictures. Some phonetic.
Describe the old
Kingdom.
Great pyramid was built. Lots of flooding. Most impressive monuments were organized. Prosperity. No invasions. Also called pyramid age.
What were periods of strong governments in Egypt called?
Kingdoms
What writing system did Egyptians use?
Hieroglyphics. Pictures. Some phonetic.
Describe the old
Kingdom.
Great pyramid was built. Lots of flooding. Most impressive monuments were organized. Prosperity. No invasions. Also called pyramid age.
What types of workers built the great pyramid
Volunteers. No slaves. 5,000 skilled craftsmen and workers worked full time while the rest of the people rotated
What was the purpose of mummification
To preserve their afterlife
What areas did Egyptian trade networks expand into
Modern day Syria and Lebanon to the north. Nubia to the south
Who was Abraham and why was he important to founding of Judaism.
First Jew. Lived in Babylonia. God said no sacrifices of kids.
Describe Shang Cities
Had worship centers. Walled. Interlocking city
Why is the word sorrow used to describe the Yellow River?
It was a dangerous river. Very flood prone.
What is an oracle? How did Chinese use Oracle bones?
Writing. Used to forecast the future.
Why was North China suited well for Agriculture?
Layer of fine yellow dirt called loess surrounded yellow River valley.
Chinese characters or language first appeared on what?
Clavicle bones of cattle and turtle shells
What’s millet? What was it made into?
A crop. Bread.
How did Shang kinds Administer their rule?
Read the cracks in the Oracle Bones.
Where is mesoamerica?
Mexico and Central America
What evidence is there that mesoamericans knew of wheel? Who invented the wheel?
Children’s toys. Mesopotamia
Where did agriculture begin in Mesoamerica?
People of Tehuacán Valley
Who were the Olmec?
First large Civilization on Gulf of Mexico. Developed calendars. Huge monumental type heads. Human sacrifices.
What did the Olmec build that’s still in existence today?
Massive heads. Long count.
Describe characteristics of Teotihuacan.
40,000-200,000 people. Grid. Craft specialization.
What unique religious practice did mesoamericans use.
Human sacrifices and believe in doomsday.
What are defining characteristics of a complex and large urban center?
10s of thousands. Job specialization. Writing. Social stratification
How and why did writing develop?
People drew a picture on a flat writing tablet that represented a specific animal. Purpose was to keep track of trade and trading animals.
What does it mean when a writing system is described as phonetic?
Each symbol reps a certain sound.
What’s the basic concept of Hammurabi’s law code?
Eye for an eye
