World History Unit 1

What type of hominid scientists believe was the common ancestor of several types of early humans?

Australopithecus

What did the people of Sumer devote much of their wealth to?

Building temples

Hammurabi is remembered for what?

Hammurabi is remembered for his code or list of laws in which the principle is an eye for an eye.

Having been conquered by the Hyksos was not all bad for the Egyptians because the Hyksos taught the Egyptians what?

The Hyksos taught the Egyptians warfare techniques such as horse-drawn chariots and bronze weaponry.

Theocracy

a government established by divine authority

The Aryan people settled

in areas where Dravidians lived, so that the two groups interacted.

MesoAmericans

inhabitants of present-day Mexico and Central America

Nomads

people who have no permanent abode, and who travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock

City-state

the basic unit of Sumerian civilization

Systematic agriculture

the keeping of animals and the growing of food on a regular basis

Anthropology

the study of human life and culture

Culture

the way of life

A form of written language

was present in both Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Cuneiform

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

Homo sapiens sapiens

"wise wise humans"; a species that appeared in Africa between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago; first anatomically modern humans

Why did the Egyptians resist Akhenaten's religious reforms?

Akhenaten attempted to change Egypt's religion to monotheistic when they were accustomed to polytheism.

How did Sumerians use astronomy?

Charted constellations, calculated time

Which leader of the Persian empire expanded it into the largest empire the world had yet seen?

Darius

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

Empire

What was an impact of geography on Mesopotamian culture?

Encouraged agriculture because of fertile land

Cyrus was called "the Great" because he ______?

He created a powerful state through warfare, demonstrated wisdom, compassion, and mercy, and had a genuine respect for other cultures.

What led the shift that allowed men to play a more dominant role in Neolithic society?

Hunting, following herds, and farming

The Assyrians had the first large armies who carried weapons made of what?

Iron

The king of the Chaldeans who rebuilt Babylon was who?

Nebuchadnezzar

What was a result of trade bringing new civilizations into contact with one another?

New technology

Egyptian history is divided into three major periods, known as the

Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.

In Hammurabi's code, punishments generally followed the principle of retaliation, or the idea that one must _____?

Repay the victim by causing as much harm to yourself as you did them.

Around 2340 B.C., the Sumerian city-states were conquered by the Akkadians under their leader who?

Sargon

What is most unusual about the pharaoh Hatshepsut?

She was a woman who impersonated a man while pharaoh.

Why did the kingdom of Kush become such a successful trading empire?

The central city of Meroe is responsible for the Kush's trading success.

The development of Egyptian civilization was influenced most powerfully by

The development of Egyptian civilization was influenced most powerfully by

One example of the Assyrians' efficiency and effectiveness as administrators was what?

They created one of the world's finest libraries at Nineveh called Ashurbanipal.

What powers and/or responsibilities did Sumerian priests have?

They led armies

Once humans were able to acquire food on a regular basis, what were they able to do?

They were able to specialize in other forms of work such as art and architecture.

The prophet Zoroaster taught what?

Zoroaster taught that humans play a role in the struggle between good and evil and they have the freedom to choose right and wrong.

Harrappan rulers based their power on

a belief in divine assistance.

Priests

an important and powerful person who supervised rituals aimed at pleasing the gods and goddesses

Public wells for supplying water to city residents, an advanced drainage system, and a system of garbage disposal in Indus Valley cities are indications of

an organized government

During the Shang dynasty, the class of people that owned the land and waged war were the

aristocrats.

Unlike other religious leaders of the time, Jewish religious leaders

could not claim they alone knew the will of God, since the Jewish teachings were written down for anyone to read.

Religion provided the Egyptians with a sense of security, and Egyptian rulers were viewed as

earthly forms of the sun god Re.

Hieratic script, a simplified version of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, was used

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

Hominid

humanlike creature that walked upright

Most historians think that the Minoan civilization was

invaded and destroyed by Mycenaeans.

filial piety

refers to the duty of members of the family to subordinate their needs and desires to those of the male head of the family

Artisans

skilled workers that make goods

A basic principle of Chinese government, which allows a revolution to overthrow and replace a corrupt ruler, is called

the Mandate of Heaven.

Sumerians

the creators of the first Mesopotamian civilization

Neolithic Age

the period of human history from 8000 BC to 4000 BC

Archeology

the study of past societies through analysis of what people left behind

Prehistory

the time before writing developed

Polytheistic

the worship of or belief in multiple deities usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals

The religion of Judaism differed from the other religions of the time in that it

was monotheistic, with its followers believing in one God, whereas other religions were polytheistic, involving a belief in many gods.

What were the accomplishments/inventions we attribute to the Sumerians?

Cuneiform, wagon wheel

How did Cyrus the Great show wisdom and compassion when he conquered Babylon?

Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple which shows compassion.

What military strategy did Hammurabi use to conquer lands and create his new Mesopotamian kingdom?

His army was well-disciplined and carried bronze and copper weaponry. His strategy consisted of dividing his opponents and subduing them one by one.

What did the ability to acquire food on a regular basis mean for humans?

Hunting, gathering, and farming

Describe the patriarchal Mesopotamian society.

Men had more rights than women and a woman's place was at home.

What age was followed by the Neolithic Age?

Mesolithic

A civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean that built structures similar to the labyrinth of King Minos was the

Minoan civilization.

In the northern frontier regions of ancient China, conflicts arose between the Chinese and the

Mongolians.

Which of the following contributed to the efficient system of communication that was crucial to sustaining the Persian Empire?

Strong government and roads connecting the area.

Although the pharaoh Ramses II /III tried to maintain the Egyptian Empire's strength, he failed because he was unable to hold out against who?

The "Sea Peoples"

The first empire in world history was?

The Akkadian Empire

Describe the Code of Hammurabi and how it paints a portrait of a Babylonian society.

The Code of Hammurabi is a code that follows the principle of retaliation. It paints a portrait of a Babylonian society because the laws were made in terms of what was important to the Babylonian's such as farming and agriculture.

During the New Kingdom, the Egyptian Empire reached its peak. What was one way it showed its power?

The New Kingdom was known to have the greatest rulers. This is when Egypt had a flourishing economy, strong rulers, and a powerful army. One way it showed its power was with elaborate, large tombs carved in the rock of the Valley of Kings.

Why is the use of fire by early humans significant?

The use of fire by early humans was significant because the early hominids began moving into colder regions and used fire to acclimate to the conditions.

Darius's elite cavalry and infantry forces were known as the Immortals because _______?

They were the strongest military force at the time and were undefeated and therefore called "the Immortals."

Why did urban civilizations develop religions?

To explain the things that happen in nature

In what ways were temples utilized in Sumerian cities?

Used to store food

Early Indian writings that reveal that India was a world of many small kingdoms between 1500 B.C. and 400 B.C. are called the

Vedas

Civilization

a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements

The people known as the Israelites were

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

The Minoans established

a far-ranging sea-empire based on trade.

Ziggurat

a massive stepped tower on which was built a temple dedicated to the chief god or goddess of a Sumerian city

Rich soil to grow wheat, parley, and peas in the Indus Valley resulted from

a sophisticated irrigation system.

What are the basic characteristics of a civilization?

cities, government, religion, social structure, writing and art

In China, the belief in the Mandate of Heaven included the idea that

the king must rule wisely or be overthrown.

"Out of Africa theory"

theory saying that homo sapiens sapies spread out of Africa to other parts of the world about 100,000 years ago, replacing populations of earlier hominids of Europe and Asia