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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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mammoth
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A species of ancient extinct elephant. Adults were about 10 feet tall at the shoulder, with long tusks and a coat of long reddish or yellowish hair. Also called 'woolly mammoths.'
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Prehistoric Era
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The period of time before writing systems were invented.
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anthropology
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The study of origins of human beings and their different cultures, or lifestyles, in both the past and present.
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archaeology
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The scientific study of artifacts in order to learn about the lives of past peoples.
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artifact
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An object made by human beings, such as a tool or building.
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DNA
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The chemical building block of all living things. It determines the passing on of physical characteristics between generations.
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Australopithecus
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The earliest known hominid ancestor of modern humans. They were different from primates because they walked upright on two feet.
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Homo sapiens
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The term for modern humans.
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Homo hablis
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The first of our hominid ancestors to be classified in the homo genus, the same genus as modern humans. These had much larger brains than Australopithecus.
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primates
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Members of an order of mammals with a large brain and complex hands and feet, including humans, apes, and monkeys.
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hominid
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The term for human beings and their immediate ancestors. Includes several types of human beings that are now extinct, and primates.
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Homo erectus
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A hominid that developed after homo hablis. These were bigger, stronger, and had a larger brain than earlier hominids.
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Neanderthals
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An extinct type of Homo sapiens that lived mainly in Europe and in parts of Asia.
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Cro-Magnons
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An early type of Homo sapiens who lived in Europe. They are known for their spectacular cave paintings.
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Paleolithic period
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The early period of human history in which humans used simple stone tools. It spans from 2,500,000 BC to 10,000 BC. It's also called the Old Stone Age.
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carbon dating
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A method that scientists use to determine how old a living item was when it died.
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irrigation
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It is when water is supplied to land, usually for growing crops, by artificial means such as manmade canals.
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civilization
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A highly organized society marked by advanced knowledge of trade, government, arts, science, and often written language.
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economic specialization
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A stage in a society or culture in which people have different duties or jobs to provide for the community.
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culture
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The way of life of a society that is handed down from one generation to the next by learning and experience.
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nomadic
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Moving from place to place in search of food.
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city-state
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Political unit made up of a city and the surrounding lands.
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epic
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A writing that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
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technological
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Refers to the tools and skills people use to meet basic needs.
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ziggurat
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Ancient Mesopotamian temple shaped like several pyramids set atop each other in a step-like fashion. At the top was an altar where sacrifices were performed.
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polytheistic
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Believing in more than one god.
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empire
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A government that controls a large territory, usually consisting of a variety of different peoples. Most empires are created when a group of peoples sets out to conquer neighboring peoples.
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Hammurabi
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A king who united most of Mesopotamia and his most important contribution is a set of laws.
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bureaucracy
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The group of people that help run a government.
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Nebuchadnezzar
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A ruthless king, who revived the power of Babylon. He's also responsible for the Hanging Gardens -- one of the seven wonders of the world.
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cavalry
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Troops trained to fight on horseback.
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Cleopatra
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A famous Egyptian Queen whose affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony are legendary. She used these affairs to gain power and manipulate her enemies.
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King Tut
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A young, minor Egyptian king. He is more famous for the riches of his discovered tomb.
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pharaoh
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The title of the rulers of ancient Egypt.
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dynasty
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A line of rulers who belong to the same family.
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egyptologist
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A scientist who studies ancient Egypt and is an expert on Egyptian life and artifacts.
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divine ruler
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The belief that the ruler's authority comes directly from god.
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bohemian
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A group with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior.
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stratification
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The process of dividing or arranging into classes, castes, or social layers.
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Ottoman Empire
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A former Turkish sultanate (capital Constantinople) that ranged from SE Europe, to Asia, Africa, parts of Russia, and much of the Middle East.
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Zoroastrianism
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A religion founded by the Persian Zoroaster. It was an early example of monotheism.
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monotheism
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The worship of only one god.
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prophet
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A person who claims to speak on behalf of God.
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textiles
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A cloth, especially one manufactured by weaving or knitting; a fabric.
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alphabet
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Letters that represent spoken sounds.
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Abraham
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He is the patriarch of the Hebrew people. He is also considered an important figure in all three major religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
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relic
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An object of religious veneration, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of a saint.
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myth
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A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that acts as the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world, customs, or ideals of society.
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Plato
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A famous Greek philosopher who emphasized the importance of reason. He wrote 'The Republic.'
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Aegean Sea
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A sea located between the Italian peninsula and the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
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domesticate
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Taming animals and adapting crops for the purpose of cultivation.
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egalitarian
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Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.
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monsoon
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A system of winds in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia that alternates directions in the summer and the winter, resulting in a predictable pattern of heavy rains each summer followed by cold and dry winters.
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pastoral society
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A society with an economy based on herding domesticated animals. Many of these societies are nomadic.
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varna
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It is the Aryan word for its social class groups.
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patriarchal society
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A society in which men have most of the authority in the government and family life.
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caste system
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A type of social class system where a person is born into their social position, which is determined by their parents' occupations.
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Vedas
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Aryan religious hymns that were originally in spoken form only before later being written down. These hymns were an important influence on the development of Hinduism.
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Sanskrit
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The language used by the Aryans for their sacred writings. It is still considered a holy language today.
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Forbidden City
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The fortress where the Chinese emperor and his family lived. There were two main parts: one for state occasions, and one for personal use. Ordinary people could receive the death penalty if they entered.
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sedentary
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Remaining or living in one area; not migratory.
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tribute
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The payment that conquered peoples were forced to make to their conquerors.
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practicioner
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One who practices something, especially an occupation, profession, or technique.
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feudalism
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A loosely organized system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other support to a greater lord.
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oracle bones
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Animal bones used by the early Chinese to predict the future. After writing a question, a bone was heated until cracks formed that were then interpreted to answer the question.
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steppe
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Sparse, dry grassland.
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Mandate from Heaven
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The concept used to justify a dynasty's right to rule. It claimed that the right to rule was a gift, or mandate, from heaven. The mandate could only be withdrawn if the ruler abused his authority.
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Taoism
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Followers of the philosophy of Laozi. Belief in harmony with nature, and yin and yang (the dark and light of life).
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Legalism
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Followers of the philosophy of Hanfeizi. Emphasized strict laws and harsh punishments. Believed that the nature of man was evil.
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Confucianism
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Followers of the philosophy of Confucius. Believed in the five relationships which bring harmony to society. Stresses order.
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