Ch. 2

hieroglyphics

"priest-carvings" or "sacred writings", a complex system of writing that used both pictures and more abstract forms; used by the ancient Egyptians and Mayans

Satrap

"protector of the Kingdom", the governor of a province of the Persian Empire under Darius

cuneiform

"wedge-shaped" a system of writing developed by the Sumerians using a reed stylus to create wedge-saped impressions on a clay tablet

the king of the Chaldeans who rebuilt Babylon was:

Aharamazda

Zoroaster taught all of the following:

Ahuramazda was supreme god, humans had free choice, Ahriman was the evil sprit

the first empire in world history was the what empire?

Akkadian

Which leader of the Persian Empire extended it to become the largest empire the world had yet seen?

Darius

the history of Egypt begins around 3100 bc when:

Menes united upper and lower egypt

around 2340 bc Sumerian city-states were conquered by the Akkadians under their leader:

Sargon

the most famous piece of mesopotamian literature is:

The Epic of Gilgamesh

city states

a city with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside

the people known as the israelites were:

a distinct group, organized in tribes, who established a united kingdom

dynasty

a family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family

empire

a large political unit, usually under a single leader, that controls many people or territories

pastoral nomad

a person who domesticates animals for food and clothing and moves along regular migratory routes to provide a steady sources of nourishment for those animals

by the time of Darius, the Persian kings had created what?

a standing army known as the Immortals because their numbers were never allowed to fall below ten thousand

bureaucracy

an administrative organization that relies on nonelective officials and regular procedures

what is the importance of the Phoenician alphabet?

basis for english alphabet

The Assyrians were especially known for:

committing atrocities on their captives

patriarchal

dominated by men

the term for a large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, controlling many peoples and territories is?

empire

farming in ancient mesopotamia resulted in an abundance of food, which

enabled civilizations to emerge

Cyrus the Great showed such wisdom and compassion when he conquered Babylon that

everyone accepted him as ruler

Hieratic script, a simplified version of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, as used?

for business transactions, record keeping, and the general needs of daily life

monarchy

government by a sovereign ruler such as a king or queen

theocracy

government by diving authority

polytheistic

having many gods

monotheistic

having one god

Hammurabi is remembered for what?

his law code, a collection of 282 laws

ancient israel was at the height of its power under which king?

king solomon

a theocracy is a government in which:

leaders rule by diving authority

satrapy

one of the 20 provinces into which Darius divided the Persian empire

around 2340 bc Sargon, the leader of the Akkandiand did what?

overran the Sumerian city-states and set up the first empire world history

the mesopotamian religion, which identified nearly 3 thousand gods and goddess, can be described as:

polytheistic

Osiris is an important figure in Egyptian religion who symbolizes:

rebirth

what were the "ten lost tribes"

scattered Israelite tribes

When Cyrus the Great captured Babylon, he

showed remarkable restraint and wisdom

the Hittite Empire was destroyed by:

the "Sea People"

the invention of cuneiform is credited to:

the Sumerians

The Jews believed that God made a contract with them called?

the convenant

pharaoh

the most common of the various titles for ancient Egyptian monarch

the egyptians developed an accurate 365-day calendar by basing their year on what?

the movement of the moon and the star sirius

the development of Egyptian civilization was influenced most closely by:

the nile river

modern historians have divided egyptian history into 3 major periods known as:

the old kingdom, the middle kingdom, and new kingdom

the Sumerians invented all of the following technology:

the sundial, math system based on units of 60, wagon wheel

the religion of judaism differed from the other religions of the time in that it:

was monotheistic, meaning its followers believed in one God, whereas other religions were polytheistic, meaning their followers believed in many gods

which elements contributed to the efficient system of communication that as crucial to sustaining the persian empire:

well maintained roads and way stations that provided food, shelter, and fresh horses for the king's messengers

Unlike the leaders of other religions of the time, Jewish prophets:

were required to burn the sacred texts after they read them

small kingdoms and city-states in western asia emerged:

when the Hittite kingdom ended and Egypt weakened