World History, Technological and Environmental Transformations, Pharaohs and Other People

Tang

First emperor of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1675-1646 BCE); known for abolishing tyrannical policies of the previous dynasty and enacting government-funded social programs for the poor.

Wu

First emperor of the Zhou Dynasty that emerged in 1045 in ancient China (the Yellow River Valley Civilization); first emperor to officially receive the Mandate of Heaven.

Yu

First emperor of the alleged Xia Dynasty in ancient China (the Yellow River Valley Civilization); may be a mythical person.

Sargon the Great

First ruler of the Akkadian Empire; known for his conquests of the Sumerian city-states c. 2334 BCE creating the first empire in Mesopotamia.

Akhenaten

pharaoh of Egypt (c. 1353-1336 BCE); previously knows as Amenhotep III but changed his name to Akhenaten which translates to "he who is of service to the Atem;" primarily known as the pharaoh who introduced monotheism to the Egyptians (his efforts were reversed by his son later) by abandoning polytheism and worshipping Aten only; husband of Nefertiti and father Tutankhamun (popularly known as King Tut).

Hammurabi

(1810-1750 BCE); Babylonian king (1792-1750 BCE) known for the Hammurabi Code.

Tutankhamun

(c. 1341-1323 BCE) pharaoh of Egypt (c. 1332-1323); son of Akhenaten and restorer of polytheism to Egypt following Akhenaten's rule; the discovery of his tomb - the most intact royal tomb thus found - brought Tutankhamun international fame in 1923; also known as King Tut.

Nefertiti

(c. 1370-1330 BCE) Egyptian queen and wife of Akhenaten; as a couple, they were responsible for the conversion of Egypt from practicing polytheism to practicing monotheism (although this conversion was later overturned by their son Tutankhamun).

Hatshepsut

(c. 1507-1458 BCE) female pharaoh of Egypt (1478-1458 BCE); known for her expansion of Egypt through trade networks in comparison to previous pharaohs who relied on invasion; considered to be one of the most successful pharaohs in Egyptian history.

Menes

(c. 3200 BCE) Egyptian pharaoh credited with uniting the upper and lower Nile River Valley civilizations under one government.

Mentuhotep

(reign: c. 2061-2010 BCE) pharoh who reunited Egypt following the 1st Intermediary Period thereby beginning the Middle Kingdom period in Egyptian history.

Scribe

A person who writes books or documents by hand in hieroglyphics, cuneiform or other scripts and may help keep track of records for priests and government; position found in the ancient river valley civilizations.

Pharaoh

The title for an ancient Egyptian king.