The Rise of Egypt
This river was the geographic foundation of ancient Egyptian civilization.
What is the Nile River?
This ancient people became famous for their extensive trade throughout the Mediterranean.
Who were the Phoenicians?
This river system provided the water and fertile land that supported the Indus Valley civilization.
What is the Indus River?
This river is often called the Yellow River because of the yellow-colored soil it carries.
What is the Huang He?
This early civilization developed in Mesoamerica and is known for its enormous carved stone heads.
Who were the Olmec?
Egyptians developed this writing system using pictures and symbols.
What are hieroglyphics?
The Phoenicians developed this writing system that greatly influenced later alphabets.
What is an alphabet?
These two major cities demonstrate the advanced urban planning of the Indus Valley civilization.
What are Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?
This early Chinese dynasty is traditionally associated with the development of China's first organized civilization.
What is the Shang Dynasty?
This civilization developed in the region that is now southern Mexico and Central America and was influenced by earlier Mesoamerican cultures.
Who were the Maya?
These massive structures were built as tombs for Egyptian rulers.
What are pyramids?
Unlike many ancient peoples, the Israelites practiced this belief in one God.
What is monotheism?
Indus Valley cities were famous for carefully planned streets and this sophisticated system for removing wastewater.
What is a drainage/sewer system?
Shang rulers used these objects to communicate with ancestors and seek answers about the future.
What are oracle bones?
This volcanic glass was used by ancient American civilizations to make tools and weapons.
What is obsidian?
Egyptians believed their rulers were connected to the gods and possessed divine authority. This type of government is known as this.
What is divine kingship?
According to the Hebrew Bible, this Israelite king established Jerusalem as the capital and was associated with a period of prosperity.
Who was King David?
Archaeologists have discovered evidence that the Indus Valley civilization traded with this civilization located to its west.
What is Mesopotamia?
This early Chinese dynasty developed after the Shang and promoted the idea that rulers governed with the approval of heaven.
What is the Zhou Dynasty?
This civilization developed in the Andes region of South America and built an important ceremonial center at Chavín de Huántar.
What is the Chavín civilization?
This Egyptian kingdom is known for military expansion, wealth, and rulers such as Hatshepsut and Ramses II.
What is the New Kingdom?
This religion developed among the ancient Israelites and became an important influence on both Christianity and Islam.
What is Judaism?
One major mystery surrounding the Indus Valley civilization is that archaeologists have found writing, but this remains largely undeciphered.
What is the Indus script?
This Chinese political idea stated that heaven would support a just ruler but could withdraw its support from an unjust ruler.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
Geography affected the development of civilizations in the Americas because mountains, forests, deserts, and other features could separate societies while also encouraging unique forms of agriculture and trade.
What is geographic diversity?