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| 7203771357 | complex society | a form of large-scale social organization that emerged in several parts of the ancient world; emerged with the change from nomadic hunting groups to small organized agricultural societies with speacialized crafts, political systems, cultural traditions, and social classes; arose in 3500-500BCE in scattered regions across the world | 0 | |
| 7203772291 | lucy | 3.2 million year old female mummy found in Hadar, West Africa; Lucy was a hominid who could walk upright and manipulate tools with her hands but had a skull the size of a small grapefruit | 1 | |
| 7203773905 | paleolithic | "old stone age" era, extends from beginning of hominids to development of complex societies 12,000 years ago; time when human beings foraged for food by hunting or gathering; social equality, hunting strategies, religion, and cave paintings emerged | 2 | |
| 7203777756 | neolithic | "new stone age" era, from 12,000-6,000 years ago; time when early stages of agricultural societies emerged; specialized labor, villages and towns, pottery, metallurgy, textile production, and social distinctions also emerged in this time | 3 | |
| 7203778700 | venus figures | small sculptures of women usually with exaggereated sexual features created with cetain intrest in fertility; suggest intrest in generation of new life; created to increase fertility; first form of religion | 4 | |
| 7203779899 | Lascaux cave paintings | date from 34,000-12,000 years ago; may hve been created to exercise "sympathetic magic" (to gain control over subjects like animals by capturing their spirits); meant to increase luck in hunting or just decoration | 5 | |
| 7203780636 | metallurgy | first used copper, common and easy to mold; hammered metal then later heated it to bend; created first jewlelry and decorations, then weapons | 6 | |
| 7203781500 | textile | starts 6000BCE if not earlier; came with selective breeding of animals and crops; machines later invented to weave fabrics and spin thread; most likely work of women who stayed home with children; textile production becomes very important in agricultural society | 7 | |
| 7203782125 | social structures | land was ultimate source of wealth; qualitiy of interior decoration in houses and value of goods buried with individuals showed clear social distiction | 8 | |
| 7203782933 | neolithic revolution "agricultural revolution" | included emergence of complex societies, pottery, metallurgy, textile production, social distinctions, differing religions; not agriculturally based"Agricultural Transition" transition from nomadic hunting and gathering groups to agricultural based complex societies | 9 | |
| 7206531223 | the epic of Gilgamesh | is an ancient Mesopotamian poem, or story, that follows the story of the king Gilgamesh, and also reflects many of the deep and philosophical questions of that time, specifically regarding mortality and loyalty. Significance- is very significant because it is one of the first surviving literary works of that time and place, as well as it deeply reflects many of the deep curiosities of that era. | 10 | |
| 7206531239 | irrigation | irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall significance- s an important part of the agricultural process it allowed people to grow crops easier despite thier environment and allowed food surplus growing the civilazations population | 11 | |
| 7206531936 | kingdom, regional kingdom | refers to the distinction between the different categories and levels of a kingdom during the time of Mesopotamia. A regional kingdom was the area that was ruled over by a king within the region and or surrounding territory within close proximity to them. They usually served under a larger kingdom of the whole nation. Significance- Mesopotamia was almost made up entirely of these regional kingdoms, which then served under a larger overall kingdom which ruled the nation; this was the first time that anything like this had been seen before. | 12 | |
| 7206532235 | Sargon of Akkad | was 24th to 23rd century B.C., semi-legendary Mesopotamian ruler whose empire extended from the gulf to the Mediterranean. Significance- was the first to implement a social structure where every city contributed to the need of the king, much like taxes but not as stable, as well as he really used the natural resources to his advantage, unlike other kings in the past. | 13 | |
| 7206532771 | Hammurabi's codes | is a set of codes and laws that were set up in order to keep peace throughout the nation, back in the days of Mesopotamia. Significance- was the first set of detailed legal laws to govern a nation and or territory. It was also the first set of laws to introduce Lex Talionis, or "the law of retaliation," which also goes by another common name today such as, "an eye for an eye." | 14 | |
| 7206565706 | stele | is the name of large upright slabs of stone or pillars, which bear an inscription, or design on them that serve as a monument, commonly found in the Mesopotamian era. Significance- There were a number of steles created during the time of Hammurabi, though only one has been found, which have the original engravings of some 280 laws following the code of Hammurabi and demonstrating the first prime examples of writings of a significant length from the Mesopotamian era. | 15 | |
| 7206565904 | Assyrians | were a group of people who were jockeying for power shortly after the fall of the Babylonian Empire in Mesopotamia. They were commonly known for their brute power and strong military that obliterated many Sumerian cities during that time. Significance- were a widely known group of people, who using some of the first well-constructed governmental techniques and new technological advancements, specifically using bronze and iron, were able to create one of the first and most extensive empires of the time | 16 | |
| 7206566870 | economic specialization | focusing on one crop or material that can be traded for its value or provides the people with benifits economically or personally Significance: introduced area to tradeding products. | 17 | |
| 7206567950 | stratified patriachal society | refers to the distinction between the different categories and levels of a kingdom during the time of Mesopotamia. A regional kingdom was the area that was ruled over by a king within the region and or surrounding territory within close proximity to them. They usually served under a larger kingdom of the whole nation. Significance- Mesopotamia was almost made up entirely of these regional kingdoms, which then served under a larger overall kingdom which ruled the nation; this was the first time that anything like this had been seen before. | 18 | |
| 7206569091 | elite, commoner, dependent, slave | are the categorizations given to the first people to recognize specific social classes of the Mesopotamian era. Elite refers to the rich and noble people, commoner to the middle and lower class, dependent to someone who owes a debt, and slaves to the workers who are under the domination of a social class higher than them. Significance- These were the first categories in a social class ever recognized by humanity before, during the Mesopotamian area, due to an abundance of food and other items, which allowed for an accumulation of wealth | 19 | |
| 7206625866 | cuneiform | is the first written language on earth, found in early Mesopotamia and designated mostly for trade but later on for scholarly works; it was made by scratching symbols into wet clay and then letting it hard in the sun or baking it. Significance-is the first recorded written language and was used primarily for trade efforts. | 20 | |
| 7206625867 | Moses | is the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and delivered the Law during their years of wandering through the wilderness. Significance- was the first man ever to introduce monotheism, or the belief in one God, especially during a time of strict belief and adherence to polytheism all throughout Mesopotamia. | 21 | |
| 7206626944 | polytheism | is the doctrine of or belief in more than one god or in many gods. Significance- was a common and widespread belief and association of the Mesopotamian era, which was one of the first to introduce the ideas of religion and of gods | 22 | |
| 7206628386 | cross-cultural interaction and exchange | Interaction and exchange or trade between two or more distinct cultures Significance: allowed different cultures to stay interacted and united in some way. At the time, writing made possible the emergence of a distinctive cultural tradition and was very significant in each culture. | 23 | |
| 7206628924 | Semitic | refers to the race of people pertaining to those who spoke Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Phoenician during the Mesopotamian era. These people were usually nomadic herders who came from the Arabian and Syrian deserts and later migrated to the south and west near the Sumerians. Significance- During the early era of Mesopotamia, many migrants moved to the Mesopotamian region and later influenced many of the technological advancements and techniques through cross-cultural influence. | 24 | |
| 7206646674 | city-state | Is a state that is sovereign and governs over the surrounding territory as well as its defined area. Significance- Many new cities states had sprung up in the Mesopotamian region by 2350 B.C., for the first time. This was the first step in the quest for order and an organized government system. | 25 | |
| 7206646675 | empire | is the name designated to an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, especially a king or queen. Significance- As power shifted in Mesopotamia around 2800 B.C., the city-states began to fight amongst themselves over who should govern the whole region; out of this came the first empire of Sargon of Akkad, and many others to come. | 26 | |
| 7206647014 | Hammurabi | was a Babylonian king who codified the laws of Sumer and Mesopotamia around 2500 B.C. Significance- was the first to bring about a set of legal codes or laws, that required a high standard of behavior or if not a severe consequence, that every citizen had to abide by in order that there be peace and fairness thought Mesopotamia. Though these laws, Hammurabi was the first to introduce the law of Lex Talionis, or "the law of retaliation (i.e. "an eye for an eye"). He was also the first to implement the requirement of taxation throughout the land. | 27 | |
| 7206649465 | indo-Europeans | were a group of peoples who typically came out from the Ukraine area and migrated to Mesopotamia during and after 3000 B.C. Significance- These people brought along with them many different cultural traditions, languages, and technology, which through cross-cultural interaction was adopted by and influenced much of the Mesopotamian culture that we recognize today. They also brought the domestication of horses to Mesopotamia, which enabled easier ways of transportation and a faster diffusion rate of their culture. | 28 | |
| 7206650537 | Hittites | were members of an ancient people who established a strong and powerful Empire in Syria and Mesopotamia, dominant from about 1900-1200 B.C. Significance- The Hittites were a widely known group of people throughout Mesopotamia, that created a strong empire there, and were well known for destroying many Sumerian and Mesopotamian cities using forms of advanced weaponry such as bronze or iron made armor. | 29 | |
| 7206651099 | hanging gardens of babylon | was the name given to the ornamental gardens planted on the terraces of ziggurats in ancient Babylon, during the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Significance- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were the first architecture designs to ever be produced in that manner, as well as it was one of the first ornamental gardens. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is now known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. | 30 | |
| 7206651712 | bronze and iron metallurgy | is the working of bronze and iron, by using heat, to create desired shapes and forms. Significance- As new governmental systems and cities began to arise in Mesopotamia, this allowed for the first time, an accumulated wealth and time for things such as art, developing culture, and specialized labor. Bronze and Iron Metallurgy was a large part of specialized labor during that time, because experimenting with metal meant that better technology and weaponry could be created. | 31 | |
| 7206652144 | pastoral nomads | are groups of people who are dependent on animal husbandry and other animal products for trading to nearby villages and cities, while they move from place to place. Significance- Many of the migrants who first came to Mesopotamia were pastoral nomads, and as so brought many new forms of crops and new forms of technology from other lands. This later greatly influenced the technology and ways of the Mesopotamian culture. | 32 | |
| 7206653507 | hebrews, israelites, jews | are different groups of people adhering to the religion of monotheism, or believing in one God only, as opposed to polytheism. Hebrews are speakers of the ancient Hebrew language, Israelites formed a branch of Hebrews who settled in the Palestine after 1200 B.C., and Jews descended from southern Israelites who inhabited the kingdom of Judah. Significance- All the members of these groups profoundly influenced much of the Mesopotamian culture and development which later caused severe consequences for them. Some of the earliest religious historical records were also written and recorded into an extensive collection of sacred writings by these people. | 33 | |
| 7206653712 | abraham | was the first of the great Biblical patriarchs, father of Isaac, and traditional founder to the ancient Hebrew nation; he was also considered by Muslims, to be an ancestor of the Arab peoples through his son Ishmael. Significance- Abraham was said to be the founder of the three great religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. | 34 | |
| 7206653727 | monothesim | is the belief in one God alone, instead of many gods, or polytheism. Significance- Monotheism was first introduced by Moses in Mesopotamia, and had previously not been seen before that era, since most Mesopotamian people believed in polytheism. | 35 | |
| 7206654484 | phoenicians | refers to a group of people who near 3000 B.C. migrated to the Mediterranean Coast and soon became very skilled ship builders and traders. Significance-The Phoenicians built some of the very first advanced ships and made trades all throughout Mesopotamia, even reaching up to the British Isles. They were also the first to make use of cuneiform writing by adapting it to their own style, creating a new set of writing that used symbols to represent syllables in a word instead of the word itself (this adapted alphabet soon came to be adapted and later used as the English alphabet.) | 36 | |
| 7206675271 | mummification | is the process of preserving a diseased body, through a periodic process of embalming and drying, which was also commonly associated with early Egyptian Society Significance- In early African cultures, the process of mummification was new and represented advancement in culture because of its representation of an interest in religion, what comes after death, and honoring the diseased. Discovered bodies and tombs have also has brought many insights into the ways and traditional culture of early Egyptians. | 37 | |
| 7206676342 | demographic pressures | are things such as human populations, including their size, growth, density, and distribution which affect or "pressure"(in either a positive or negative way) their environment Significance- Early Egyptians placed heavy demographic pressures on certain areas of the Nile, because they were dependent on that specific source of nutrients to survive, due to the commonly dry and surrounding arid climate. | 38 | |
| 7206679467 | pharaoh | is the title or name given to ancient Egyptian Kings, but has later come to be known as certain kings or tyrants in general Significance- In early Egypt, groups of Egyptians began developing kings, also known as Pharaohs, to rule over them. Through the authority of these Pharaohs, Egypt has become an iconic figure of the ancient times, because of the amazing architectural and technological advancements that they had commanded. | 39 | |
| 7206679468 | scrie | is the name of a person who serves as a professional copyist, especially one who made copies of manuscripts before the invention of printing Significance- Scribes first appeared in Ancient Egypt, and helped to write the hundreds of thousands of sacred writings and records, which has now presently helped us to understand the culture of that time. | 40 | |
| 7206679722 | hieroglyphics | are a set of ancient Egyptian pictographs in written language, used to record and explain much of the ancient Egyptian culture; these pictographs commonly represent what they are depicting Significance- Hieroglyphics were the first set of writings discovered in ancient Egypt, which helped to uncover much of their lost culture and how their civilization developed. | 41 | |
| 7206679723 | pyramids | are quadrilateral masonry masses which have smooth, steeply sloping sides that meet at an apex, and are used as tombs for Ancient Egyptian peoples and Pharaohs Significance- In early Egypt, these pyramids were constructed with brute labor and intelligence which not only showed signs of improved architecture and enforcement of labor, but also intense master of the land and natural resources. | 42 | |
| 7206680237 | savannah | is a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees Significance- During the dramatic climate change in early African development, much of the Savannah grassland throughout the continent dried up in to the Sahara and other arid deserts, causing the African peoples to cluster around certain groups of water sources. | 43 | |
| 7206680616 | menes | was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the early dynastic period, credited by classical tradition with having united Upper and Lower Egypt, and as the founder of the first dynasty Significance- Menes was the first Pharaoh of Egypt to extend his reign from lower to upper Egypt, especially by creating the city Memphis, which served as a capital between the two regions and binding them together. | 44 | |
| 7206680891 | mercenary | is a professional hired to serve in a foreign army Significance- Many migrant men from Nubia became mercenaries in the Egyptian military forces, and often intermarried with Egyptian women, therefore binding the two societies even closer together. | 45 | |
| 7206680892 | cataracts | are/is a descent of water over a steep surface, such as a waterfall, especially one of considerable size Significance- In Ancient Egypt, the natural boundaries, or cataracts and desserts, distinctly formed the Egyptian region, and sub regions, specifically in regards to the first cataract which determined the boundary line between the Egyptian and Nubian territory. | 46 | |
| 7206681176 | rosetta stone | is a stone slab found in 1799 near Rosetta, bearing parallel inscriptions in Greek, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and demotic characters, making it possible to decipher ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Significance- The Rosetta stone helped to unlock the ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics, which helped then to shed light onto the traditional and cultural ways of the everyday lives of the ancient Egyptians. | 47 | |
| 7206934460 | aryans | "noble people"; nomadic and pastoral people; from Indo-Europe; spoke Indo-European languages; brought horses and chariots; sheep and cattle nomads; skilled warriors in archery and charioteering significance: influenced Indian beliefs and language greatly | 48 | |
| 7206940255 | semi-precious stones | more abundant gems that are not diamonds. semi-precious stones are also a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. significance: Harappan's obtained gold, silver, copper, lead, gems, and semiprecious stones from people in Persia and the Hindu Kush mountains they traded with the Mesopotamians, exchanging Indian copper, ivory, beads, and semiprecious stones for Sumerian wool, leather, and olive oil | 49 | |
| 7206943260 | ecological degradation | When you exceed a resource's natural replacement rate and the available supply begins to shrink significance: factors of Harappan society's decline was ecological degradations like natural catastrophes, periodic flooding or earthquakes | 50 | |
| 7206944475 | republic | A state that is not ruled by a hereditary leader (a monarchy) but by a person or persons appointed under a constitution and in some way claims to be "of the people." | 51 | |
| 7206944476 | varna | clusters of caste groups; four social castes: brahmans (priests), warriors, merchants, peasants; beneath them were the untouchables. Original name for castes Significance: Served as the Hindu word for one of the most important aspects of Indian society, the Caste | 52 | |
| 7206944721 | jati | Subcastes made up of professionals for economic development Significance: Shaped social life (live together, intermarry, develop judicial systems, expel members, take care of each other) | 53 | |
| 7206945054 | social mobility | ability of a person to work his way up from one social class to the next, became more common place significance: social mobility leads to an increase in social prestige. | 54 | |
| 7206945656 | ritual sacrifices | In order to gain favor from their gods, the Aryans performed sacrifices to also gain prosperity, win in war, gain children, etc. | 55 | |
| 7206945997 | Upanishads | in Sanskrit means "to sit in front of" as in a teacher; reflections on the Vedas; deals with nature of the world and meaning of life siginficance: theological advancement | 56 | |
| 7206945998 | samsara | idea of reincarnation back into suffering in Hinduism significance: demonstrates thought and questions in after-life and creation | 57 | |
| 7206947689 | moksha | liberation from cycle of reincarnation; Hindu releasement from the circle of reincarnation ultimate goal of Hindus significance: idea that a person can break Samsara to join Brahman demonstrates thought and questions in after-life and creation | 58 | |
| 7207338596 | harappans | Early brilliant Indian society centered around Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Civilization that developed along the Indus River (Present Day Pakistan), Controlled larges areas of land on both sides of the Indus River, Largest two settlements were Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, Known for City planning, sewer systems, indoor plumbing, and fortresses around their cities significance: this great Indus Valley city was well-planned, with residents enjoying piped water, bath and drainage systems, and included a walled central city where rulers lived and where surplus crops were stored as taxes | 59 | |
| 7207339789 | vedas, rig veda, vedic age | 60 | ||
| 7207338723 | sewage systems | Centralized administartions attempted to bring clean water supplies to urban populations and human wastes and garbage away from human populations. significance: Large population in urban center = transmission of disease kills faster. Effects: Transmission of disease and urban death rates declined. | 61 | |
| 7207340148 | administrators | to manage (affairs, a government, etc.); to have executive charge of | 62 | |
| 7207340355 | caste | Social System in India that gives every Indian a particular place in the social hierarchy from birth. Individuals may improve the position they inherit in the caste system in their next life through their actions, or karma. After many lives of good karma, they may be relieved from cycle of life and win their place in heaven. significance: social distinctions made by settling down due to agriculture and kept an ordered civilization because everyone has a specific function | 63 | |
| 7207340730 | brahmins | Brahmin refers to an individual belonging to the Hindu priest, artists, teachers, technicians class and also to an individual belonging to the Brahmin tribe/caste into which an individual is born significance: social distinctions made possible by settling down and religion | 64 | |
| 7207340731 | sati | itual requiring women to commit suicide at their husband's funeral significance: showed belief in afterlife and difference between genders | 65 | |
| 7207341098 | dravidians | Lived in India before the Aryans took over. Then mixed, mingled, interacted, and intermarried with Aryans significance: formed cities and governments in India | 66 | |
| 7207341259 | brahman | the universal spirit; the eternal being that created and preserves the world; all-encompassing significance: demonstrates thought and questions in after-life and creation | 67 | |
| 7207341486 | karma | sum effect of one's deeds and actions during a lifetime; positive or negative force that influences one's rebirth significance: demonstrates thought and questions in after-life and creation | 68 | |
| 7207341982 | ascetic, asceticism | rigorous self-denial and active self-restraint; the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state; the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures) significane: the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state | 69 |
