WH U1 Flashcards
Civilization
Culture that has the growth of cities, specialized workers, writing, advanced technology, and complex institutions like religion and government.
Specialize
To focus on a single job or task
Artisan
Skilled workers who specialized in their field of work like priests, teachers, scribes, etc.
Surplus
More than is needed
Cuneiform
Sumerian form of writing
Bronze
Mix of copper and tin; makes sturdier weapons and tools
Nike River
Provided Egypt with protection, water, and silt which fertilized soil.
Silt
Left behind on the soil after the Nile River flooded made the soil highly fertile for farming.
Gift of the Nile
The rich soil left behind after flooding and the prosperous farming that this led to.
Irrigation
The process of bringing water to crop fields.
Hieroglyphics
Egyptian form of writing.
Menes
United upper and lower Egypt
Subcontinent
Large region that is part of a continent, but is separated from the rest of the continent in some way.
Monsoon
Seasonal wind
Moksha
The state of being at perfect peace and understanding in Hinduism
Karma
A person’s behavior will determine what caste they will be reborn as.
Dharma
The set of rules required of each caste in Hinduism.
Nirvana
The state of perfect peace and understanding in Buddhism
Ashoka
Indian ruler who spread Buddhism to Eastern Asia.
Edict
A public order or announcement that has authority.
Mandate of Heaven
Chinese belief that royal authority comes from the gods.
Confucius
Chinese philosopher who urged social harmony and good government through positive relationships.
Chin Dynasty
Ruled China built the Great Wall of China to protect form invasion.
Dynastic cycle
A cycle of power and decline for Chinese dynasties.
Loess
Fertile soil left behind by the flooding of the Huang He River.
Zoroastrianism
The first religion to focus on the idea of heaven and hell/good vs. evil.
Barter
A form of trade in which people exchange goods not money.
Hebrews.
Created the empire of Israel after Moses led them out of Egypt. Eventually they became known as the Jews and created Judaism. Only monotheistic religious group of ancient times.
Mosaic law
Set of laws based on the teaching of Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Scribe
Professional writers
What were the four main river valley civilizations?
Sumeria, Egypt, India, and China
Why did early civilizations develop around rivers?
Water source, irrigation, fertilizer, and transportation.
Where is Sumeria located?
Along the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers.
Sumerians
First known civilization in the Fertile Crescent created Cuneiform.
Amorites/Babylonians
Defeated Sumeria, ruled by Hammurabi and were responsible for the first written set of laws.
Hittites
Lived in the Fertile Crescent and were the first people to learn how to use iron to make weapons and tools; This made them stronger and made them last longer than when they were made with bronze.
Phoenicia
Great sea traders and created the first alphabet
