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