w. history unit 1 vocabulary

Anything created and left behind by humans that gives information about the culture of its creator like tools,

weapons, and Jewlery.

Artifact

Complex societies characterized by cities, specialized workers, complex

institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology.

Civilization

A law code enacted by the Babylonian king, Hammurabi, dating back to about

1772 BC. The Code consists of 282 laws, with scaled punishments

depending on social status, including "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

Code of Hammurabi

A people’s unique way of life, as shown by its tool, customs, arts, and ideas.

Culture

A system of writing with wedge-shaped symbols, invented by the Sumerians

around 3000 B.C..

Cuneiform

To take animals out of the wild and breed them for human use.

Domestication

A ruling family that passes its authority and power down through many

generations.

Dynasty

The study of the human behaviors practiced by people in order to meet

their needs.

Economics

A segment of historical time.

Era

An ancient Egyptian writing system in which pictures were used to represent

ideas and sounds.

Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics

Government in which power is in the hands of a single person.

Monarchy

A belief in a single, all powerful god.

Monotheism

The division of history into periods or segments of time.

Periodization

The exercise of power and influence, especially in regards to actions of a

state or its government.

Political

A belief in many gods.

Polytheism

Large, triangular stoned tombs built by the Egyptians intended for the burial of

their pharaohs.

Pyramid

Pyramid

A historical era existing before humans learned to develop metal technologies, characterized by a

hunting and gathering way of life, and ending in most areas of the

world between 4,500 and 2,000 B.C..

Stone Age

A government controlled by religious leaders; a form of government in which the ruler is viewed as a divine figure.

Theocracy

A religious, stepped-pyramid built by the Mesopotamian.

Turning Points

A major river that flows through China. It was critical to the development of the

Chinese river valley civilization.

Huang He River

Huang He River

A major river that flows through modern-day Pakistan. It was critical to

the development of the Indus river valley civilization.

Indus River

Indus River

A major river that flows through modern-day Pakistan. It was critical to

the development of the Indus river valley civilization.

Mesopotamia “Land between two

rivers”

Mesopotamia “Land between two rivers”

The major change in human life caused by the beginnings of farming when

people shifted from being hunters and gatherers to becoming food producers.

Neolithic Revolution

A major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It was critical to the development of Egyptian

civilization..

Nile River

Nile River

The earliest period of the Stone Age.

Paleolithic

Major rivers that flow through Mesopotamia. They were critical to the

development of Mesopotamian civilization.

Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

A scientist who studies artifacts in order to understand the origins,

customs and beliefs of humankind.

Anthropologist

A scientist who studies past human life and culture by the recovery and

examination of artifacts.

Archaeologist

Archaeologist

Archaeologist

Archaeologist

A scientist who studies the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and

the effects of human activity.

Geographer

One who records and interprets human events of the past.

Historian

A member of a culture in which food is obtained by hunting, fishing, and

foraging rather than by agriculture or the domestication of animals.

Hunter-Gatherer

Who have no fixed residence but move from place to place in order to obtain

food.

Nomads

Nomads

Kings of ancient Egypt, considered to be gods as well as a political and

military leaders.

Pharaohs

Pharaohs

A people of Mesopotamia that created the first large, complex society in

human history.

Sumerians

Sumerians