World History Flashcards
Civilization
-city leaders had to start organizing workers to solve problems, such as building and cleaning irrigation canals. As a result, society and culture grew more complex. These changes led to an advanced form of culture called civilization.
Mesopotamia
- the region where two rivers flow
- The name means “land between rivers”
- the land is mostly flat with small, scrubby plants
- the rivers provide travel
Polytheism
- when Sumerians believed in many gods and goddesses, a belief called polytheism
- according to their religion there are 4 main gods- the gods of sky, wind, hills, and fresh water
- each city-state worshiped its own main god
- there were many lesser gods and goddesses
Floodplain
- it was when rivers reached the plains, water overflowed onto the floodplain, the flat land bordering the banks
- as water spread over the floodplain, the soil it carried settled on land
City-State
-it was a community that included a city and its surrounding lands
Cuneiform
- over time, Sumerians stopped using pictures and began to use wedge-shaped symbols
- it was a wedged shaped writing
Silt
- as the water spread over the floodplain, the soil it carried settled on land, this fine soil deposited by rivers is called silt
- the silt was fertile
- it was good for growing crops
- was a important part of farming
Ziggurat
- was the largest and most important structure in an Sumerian city
- was first built about 2200 B.C.
- it stood at the center of a huge temple complex
- the complex functioned as sort of a city hall
- it functioned as sort of a city hall because the priests ran the irrigation system and other important aspects of city life
- people came to the temple complex to pay the priests for their services with grain and other items
- as a result , the priests managed the storage of surplus grain and controlled much of the city-state’s wealth
Scribes
- they were professional record keepers
- they specialized in writing
- were respected highly
- very few people were scribes
Arid
-less than 10 inches of rain fell each year in southern Mesopotamia, and summers were hot, this type of climate would be arid
Drought
- a long period when too little rain falls
- drought can be considered a danger
- the rivers water level drops
- when they accrued it was hard for farmers to have good crops
Fertile Crescent
- lands that stretched in a curve from the Persian Gulf through Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean Sea
- has rich soil and water that make it a good area for farmingj
Irrigation
-is the watering of dry land using systems of ditches, pipes, and streams
Surplus
- Mesopotamia grew a surplus of crops
- means to have more than they needed for themselves
- they traded surplus all the time
Code of Law
- Hammurabi used the code of law in the way he ruled
- it is a set of written laws for people to obey
Providences
- a province was an area of land like a state
- it had a local government
Empire
-it brings together many different lands and peoples under the control of one ruler
Emperor
-the person who rules an empire
What are the 5 characteristics of a civilation
- advanced cities
- specialized workers
- complex institutions
- record keeping
- improved technology
Where is Mesopotamia located? What are its important geographic features?
Mesopotamia was located Southwest Asia between Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The land is between two rivers which provided water and an easier way to travel
Why was an irrigation system important to the Sumerians?
The floods and arid climate of the region often meant that farmers had too much or too little rain. With the irrigation systems it watered crops so farmers could eat and sell the crops
Where were most Sumerian city-states located, and why?
Most of the Sumerian city-states were located at the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers because the land was really fertile
What is the effect of a class system on a society?
The effect of a class system on society determines who has the power and who has the less desirable jobs
Identify and describe the scientific/technological developments the
Sumerians made.
The Sumerians invented the plow which helped them tremendously in farming and they invented the wheel which was first used to make pottery that stored surplus food
What is Hammurabi’s Code of Law?
The Hammurabi code of law is sometimes called “an eye for an eye” code that included 282 laws. They included business, property, and how you treat others. The law was fair because it applied to everyone not just some individuals.
Identify reasons why the Assyrians and the Chaldeans were able to build empires.
The Assyrians and Chaldeans were able to build empires because their rulers built a powerful army and set out to control the neighboring lands.
What common problems did the Empires (Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians,
Chaldeans, Persians) of Southwest Asia face?
The most common problem the empires of Southwest Asia faced were the attacks from outside people
Position on the Earth’s Surface
Location
defining a precise point on the earth using longitude and latitude
Absolute Location
describing a place in relationship to other places.
Relative Location
All places on the earth have distinctive features that distinguish them from other places.
Place
climate- landforms
Physical Features
population- settlement-economic activities
Human Characteristics
Understanding the impact of humans on the environment involves learning about the physical and social factors that produce environmental change.
Relationship(Interaction)
People interact with each other both locally and globally by travel, communication, and the exchange of goods and services.
Movement
A region is an area that displays unity in terms of selected characteristics that distinguish it from other areas. Regions are defined by: government, language, economy, or landforms.
Regions
Latitude
- you read and right latitude first
- also known as Parallels
- Line of latitude measure distances north and south
- Tropic of Cancer is located at 23 1/2 degrees north of the equator
- Tropic of Capricorn is located 23 1/2 degrees south of the equator
Longitude
-also known as Meridians
-mark the globe into 360 degree
-Prime Meridian or 0 degrees longitude is located in Greenwich, England
-Lines of longitude will meet at the (true or geographic) north and South Pole
-There is a magnetic north (you can locate this using a compass)
example below
How did geography influence the development of civilization in Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)?
The geography influenced the development of civilization by having fertile soil because of the rain, rivers, silt, and melting snow from the northern part of Mesopotamia mountains. This caused them to have a irrigation system to have good crops and surplus and having a good location
- How did the formation of empires encourage trade
Each empire is in a different region. They maybe had different things each of them needed or wanted. Maybe a empire was on a large minerals deposit or ones near a large forest with fertile soil. They traded with one another with their surplus
How would you characterize the leadership of Hammurabi? Why did he develop a code of law?
The leadership of Hammurabi was not a fun time for the Mesopotamians because he ruled by fear. He developed a code of law so that Mesopotamians would not break laws of they would get a harsh punishment. The Mesopotamians were also easier to control because they lived in fear of Hammurabi’s code.
- How do you think conquered peoples felt about the treatment they received from the Assyrians?
The people felt about the Assryians treatment was very harsh because if a governor was ruling the land he had to pay a tribute to the Assyrians Emporor but if he failed to pay the army would destroy cities in their land and the people were driven out of their homelands
How did religion play a role in the downfall of the Chaldeans
One ruler upset some Chaldeans by trying to replace their main God, Marduk. The followers of Marduk may have helped Cryus of Persia conquer Babylon because they were angry the ruler tried to change their God
What was the vision that inspired Cyrus? What problems did he avoid by adopting his approach to conquered peoples
Cyrus had a vision of conquering the lands around Persia and uniting these lands as one big empire. To avoid problems with conquered people, he set up a policy of toleration that allowed people to keep their customs and beliefs. TOLERANCE
How did the policies of Cyrus and Darius contrast with those of the Assyrians?
They let people in the land They concurred keep their religions and customs unlike the Assryins who forced the lands they concurred to convert to their religion and culture
What are the 5 themes of geography
- Location
- place
- relationship
- movement
- regions
