Civilizations Basics
What is civilization?
A large, organized society of people
Why do civilizations need communication?
Communication allows people to work together and solve problems.
Why was plant domestication important?
It provided a more reliable food supply.
What geographical feature was common near early civilizations?
Rivers and floodplains
What is an artifact?
An object made or used by people in the past.
Which is a characteristic of civilization: nomadic lifestyle, division of labor, or absence of specialization?
Division of labor
What is cuneiform?
An ancient writing system used in Mesopotamia
What is food surplus?
Extra food beyond what people need right away.
Why were floodplains useful for farming?
They had fertile soil that helped crops grow
What can artifacts tell historians?
They provide evidence about how people lived.
Why did settling in one place help communities grow?
People could build permanent homes and develop larger communities.
What could early writing be used to record?
Land, property, trade, and other important information.
What could people do with surplus food?
Store it, share it, or trade it
What is a canal?
A human-made channel used for irrigation or transportation.
What can pottery reveal about an ancient society?
Clues about daily life, skills, and culture.
What is division of labor?
Different people perform different jobs or tasks.
What does a written record of a land gift tell us?
Writing could be used to record land and property.
What technology helped farmers grow crops on a larger scale?
How did early people control water and flooding?
They built structures such as dams and canals.
What can an artifact with writing reveal?
Information about communication, language, or record keeping.
How did farming help lead to civilization?
Reliable food supplies allowed population to grow and people to specialize.
How did writing help growing civilizations?
It helped preserve information and organize increasingly complex societies.
How did animal domestication help people?
Animals provided reliable food and useful labor.
How could rivers help civilizations besides providing water for crops?
They supported transportation and trade.
Why should historians use multiple pieces of evidence?
Different pieces of evidence can work together to support a stronger conclusion.