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121 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
archaeologists
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specially trained scientists who work to uncover the story of prehistoric people
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artifacts
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human-made objects, giving hints how of the people lived.
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anthropologists
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scientists who study the culture of a certain people, examine artifacts
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culture
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a people's unique wat of life
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paleontologists
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scientists who study fossils
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Mary Leakey
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archaeologist who led an expedition in East Africa, found footprints that resemebled human prints. Found skeletion and named it Homo habilis.
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hominids
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humans and other creatures that walk upright. Also had opposable thumbs.
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Lucy
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discovered by Donald Johanson. Is a complete skeleton of a female hominid.
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Paleolithic Age
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aka Old Stone Age, earlier and longer part of Stone Age, people created stone chopping tools.
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Neolithic Age
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aka New Stone Age, people learned to polish tools, make pottery, farm, and raise livestock.
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Homo habilis
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"man of skill." First peoples to make stone tools
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Homo erectus
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"upright man." More intelligent than Homo habilis. Developed technology, were skillful hunters, invented better tools. First to use fire! Developed beginnings of spoken language.
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Homo sapiens
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"wise men." Name for modern humans. 2 groups" Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons.
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Neanderthals
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group of Homo sapiens. Tried to explain and control world, developed religion and rituals. First to hold funerals/burials.
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Cro-Magnons
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group of Homo sapiens. Identical to modern humans, made new tools, created art, were superior hunters.
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nomads
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highly mobile people who moved from place to place searching for food.
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hunter-gatherers
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nomads who got food by hunting animals and gathering plant foods.
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Neolithic Revolution
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aka agricultural revolution. Changed human-life due to beginnings of farming. Caused because of changing climate.
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slash-and-burn farming
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a method in farming in which they cut trees or grasses and burned them to clear a field.
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domestication
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the taming of animals
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Catal Huyuk
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"forked mound." An agricultural village discovered by archaeologists. Located on fertile plain of Turkey. Had rich, fertile soil and had dark rock used to make glass.
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civilization
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a complex culture with: 1.advanced cities 2.specialized workers 3. complex institution 4.record keeping 5.advanced technology
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specialization
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the development of skills in a specific kind of work.
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artisans
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skilled workers who make goods by hand.
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institution
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a long-lasting pattern of organization in a community.
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scribes
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professional record keepers. Invented cuneiform and wrote with a stylus.
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cuneiform
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"wedge shaped." A Sumerian writing system created by scribes. Consisted of pictographs.
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Bronze Age
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the time period in which people began to use bronze to fashion tools and weapons.
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Ur
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one of the earliest cities in Sumer, was a highly sophisticated civilization. Had social classes, great trader, beautiful art, plows, irrigation systems, barters, and ziggurats.
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Sumer
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one of the 1st civilizations. Located in Mesopotamia. used characteristics of civilizations.
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barter
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the way of trading goods and services without money.
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ziggurat
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a tiered, pyramid-shaped structure that formed part of a Sumerian temple.
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Fertile Crescent
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an arc of rich farmland in SW Asia between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea.
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Mesopotamia
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"land between the rivers." A plain included in the Fertile Crescent. Framed by the Tigris and Euphrates.
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Mesopotamia's Environmental Challenges
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1. unpredictable flooding/drought (solved by irrigation) 2. no natural barriers (solved by building city walls) 3. limited natural resources (solved by trade)
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city-state
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a city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independaent political unit.
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Early Governments of Sumer
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controlled by temple priests who demanded a portion of every farmer's crops as taxes. During war, a tough commander led the city. Some military leaders became full-time leaders.
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dynasty
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a series of ruled from a single family.
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cultural diffusion
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the process in which a new idea or a product spreads from one culture to another
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polytheism
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the belief in more than one god
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Sumerian social classes
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1. Kinds, landholders, priests 2. wealthy merchants 3. ordinary Sumerian people 4. slaves
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Sumerian women
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could work as merchants, farmers, artisans. Could join priesthood and some learned to read and write.
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Sumerian arithmetic/technology
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developed a number system based on 360, base on seconds in a minute and degress of a circle.
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Sumerian architecture
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invented arches, columns, ramps, pyramid, and ziggurats.
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Sumerian writing system
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called cuneiform. One of the 1st writing systems, helped w/ record keeping.
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Sargon
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a conqueror who defeated the city-states of Sumer. From Akkad. Took control of Mesopotamia. Created 1st empire.
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empire
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a political unit in which a number of peoples or countries are controlled by a single ruler.
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Hammurabi
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emperor of Babylonian Empire, most enduring legacy = Code of Hammurabi
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Code of Hammurabi
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created by Hammurabi to maintain peace. Had 282 laws dealing with family, business,propery issues, and crime. Set different punishments for men/women and rich/poor. Goal- "to bring about the rule of righteousness"
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Egyptian Environmental Challenges
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1. Nile's waters were too low - starvation
2. Nile's waters were too high - destruction/flooding 3. Natural barriers forced Egyptians to live on a very small portion of land. |
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delta
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a broad, marshy, triangular area of land formed by deposits of silt and the river mouth.
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Narmer
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king of Egypt who united both Upper (white) and Lower (red) Egypt. Wore a red and white crown to show unification. Made the capital Memphis. Establish 1st Egyptian dynasty.
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pharaohs
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Egyptian god-kings who were thought to be as splendid as gods of heaven.
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theocracy
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a type of government in which rule is based on religious authority
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pyramid
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a massive structure with a rectangular base and four triangular sides, sometimes used as burial places.
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mummification
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the process of preserving bodies, involves enbalming and drying the corpse.
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Egyptian social classes
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1. king, queen, royal family 2. upper class 3. middle class 4. lower class
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hieroglyphics
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"sacred carving," a more flexible writing system in which a picture stoff for an idea.
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papyrus
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Egyptian's new writing surface, use papyrus reeds to form a paperlike surface.
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Egyptian science/technology
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developed a calendar with 365 days and divided the year into 12 months, each with 30 days. Developed a written number system which helped w/ taxes. Doctors also new how to check heart rates and to use splints. They also used surgery.
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subcontinent
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a large landmass that forms a distinct part of a continent.
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monsoons
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seasonal winds that blew from the NE from Oct-Feb and SW from June-Oct.
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Indus Valley Environmental Challenges
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1. yearly floods were unpredictable 2. rivers changed course (Indus and Ganges) 3. wet/dry seasons were unpredictable due to monsoons.
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Harappan civilization
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another name for Indus Valley civilization. Named this because of numerous discoveries in Harappa.
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Harappan Culture
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based on agriculture. Developed a written language, animals were very important, culture was a theocracy, and conducted a thriving trade.
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loess
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fertile soil blown by the winds from deserts in China.
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Chinese Environmental Challenges
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1. Huang He's flooding was disastrous 2. were isolated, trade was limited 3. natural boundaries did not fully protect.
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Shang Dynasty
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1st family of Chinese rulers to leave written records. Shang kings built elaborate palaces and tombs.
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Chinese family
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was center of Chinese society. The most important virtue = respoect for parents. Women were treated as inferiors.
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Chinese religion
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believed spirits of family ancestors brough good fortunes or disasters to their family. Shang worshipped Shang Di, and consulted gods through oracle bones.
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oracle bones
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animals bones and tortoise shells on which priests had scracthed questions for the gods.
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Chinese writing system
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each symbol stands for one syllable. No links between spoken and written language. All people learned the same language. Too many symbols--hard to learn.
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Zhou Dynasty
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overthrew the Shang, adopted much of Shang culture.
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Mandate of Heaven
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the divine approval thought to be the basis of royal authority.
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dynastic circle
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the pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties
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feudalism
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a political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belonged to the king in return for military service and loyalty.
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Chinese technology
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1. roads and canals were created 2. coined money was introduced 3. blast furnaces were developed.
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Indo-Europeans
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a group of nomadic people who came from the steppes of the Caucasus
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steppes
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dry grasslands
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migrations
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movements of a people from one region to another
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Hittites
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an Indo-European people who setteld in Anatolia. Formed an empire (capital-Hattusas).
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Anatolia
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aka Asian Minor, huge peninsula is SW Asia.
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Hittite technology
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excelled in technology of war. used a lot of iron, created chariots. Technology made it a very military empire.
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Aryans
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an Indo-European people who were settling in India. They left almost no records.
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Vedas
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the Aryans' sacred litertaure. Vedas are 4 collections of prayers, spells, and ritual instructions.
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Aryan social classes
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1. Brahmins (priests) 2. warriors 3. peasants/traders.
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Aryan Caste System
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made up of for castes. 1. Brahmins (priests) 2. Kshatriyas (rulers/warriors) 3. Vaishyas (peasants/traders) 4. Shudras (laborers).
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Mahabharata
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1 of the greatest epics of India. Reflects the struggles that took place in India as the Aryans moved south.
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Hinduism
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a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over a long period of time.
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Upanishads
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teachers' comments that were written as dialogues between teachers and students.
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Moksha
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a state of perfect understanding of all things and liberation from desires and suffering
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reincarnation
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the process in which an individual soul or spirit is born again and again until moksha is achieved.
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karma
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good or bad deeds, influences specific life circumstances
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Hindu Gods
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3 main gods: 1. Brahma, the creator 2. Vishnu, the protector 3. Shiva, the destroyer. These 3 gods formed a supreme god: Brahman
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Jainism
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a religion founded in India that sprung from Hinduism. Members believe that everything in the universe had a soul and should not be harmed.
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Buddhism
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a religion developed from religious questioning. Sprung from ideas of Hinduism.
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Siddhartha Gautama
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founder of Buddhism who was born into a novle family. To make sure he would become a great ruler, his father isolated him in a palace for many years. He wandered for many years seaking enlightenment. His voyages and teachings formed Buddhism.
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enlightenment
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a state of perfect wisdom in which one understands basic truths about the universe.
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Four Noble Truths
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1. Life is filled w/ suffering and sorrow 2. The cause of suffering is peoples selfish desires 3. To end all suffering one must end all desires 4. Follow the 8 Fold Path to overcome desires and reach enlightenment.
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Eight Fold Path
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called the Middle Way between desires and self-denial. It was a guide to behavior and by following this one could achieve nirvana.
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nirvana
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Buddha's word for release from selfishness and pain.
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dharma
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Buddhist doctrine and teachings
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Minoans
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powerful seafaring people who dominated trader in E Mediterranean. They lived on Crete. Produced fine pottery and were successful traders.
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Knossos
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Minoan capital city in Crete.
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Phoenicians
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the most powerful traders of the Mediterranean. Lived in current Lebanon. Never unified into a country, created city-states. Were great shipbuilders and seafarers. Were famous for their red-purple dye which led to great trade.
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Phoenician Alphabet
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symbols stood for sounds. The word alphabet comes from Phoenician letters. They spread this alphabet with those who they traded with.
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Palestine
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the region at the eastern end of the Mediteranean Sea were the Phoenicians lived.
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Canaan
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the ancient home of the Hebrews.
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Torah
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the 1st 5 books of the Hebrew Bible--the most sacred writings of the Jews.
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Abraham
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a shepherd who lived in Ur. God commanded him to moved his people to Canaan. Was chosen as the father of the Hebrews.
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monotheism
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the belief in a single god
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covenant
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the mutual promise between between God and the founder of the Hebrew people.
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Moses
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the man who led the Hebrews out of slavery. Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai were he received 2 stone tablets (10 Commandments) from God
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10 Commandments
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given to Moses from God on Mount Sinai. The code included rules about society and religion. Believed "an eye for an eye"-- similar to the Hammurabi Code.
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Israel
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a kingdom of the united Hebrews in Palestine.
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Saul
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1 of 3 kinds who united the Hebrews. He drove out the Philistines from Palestine. Was portrayed as a tragic man.
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David
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1 of 3 kinds who united the Hebrews. Son of Saul. Most popular leader. United the tribes, founded a dynasty, and set Jerusalem as the capital.
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Soloman
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1 of 3 kinds who united the Hebrews. Son of David. Most powerful of kinds. Built a trading empire and beautified Jerusalem.
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Judah
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a Hebrew kingdom in Palestine. The southern part when the kingdom split.
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tribute
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peace money paid by a weaker power to a stronger.
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Cyrus the Great
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Persian king who conquered Babylon and allowed many exiles to return to Jerusalem.
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