Early Civilizations
What does circa mean?
approximate or about
Which geographic characteristics promoted the growth of ancient Mesopotamia by allowing the first settlers to grow crops?
water and fertile soil
Which desert does the Nile River run through?
Sahara
What body of water located between Israel and Jordan contains so much salt that people can float very easily in it?
Dead Sea
Which geographical feature forms a natural barrier between India and China?
Himalayan Mountains
Why are hunter-gatherers considered nomadic?
They moved from place to place in search of food.
How did the surrounding desert and mountains help the advancement of civilization in Mesopotamia?
protected them from invasions
Egyptian farmers wanted to expand the area where they could farm. To do this successfully, they created innovative ways to __________ the land.
irrigate
How was Judaism different from other religions practiced in the region at the time it began?
monotheistic
How did the Himalayan Mountains help early settlements develop on the Indian subcontinent?
They provided a natural defense against invasion.
When did early humans start building permanent settlements?
when they started farming
. Who developed the first civilization in Mesopotamia?
Sumerians
How were social classes organized in Egypt?
by occupation
Why is individual worth emphasized in Judaism?
Jews believe every individual is created in the image of God.
How do archaeologists know that the Harappan civilization in the Indus River valley was advanced?
It had architecture built with bricks, sanitation systems, and roads arranged in grid-systems.
How did early civilizations develop a stable food supply?
through agriculture
How was Sumerian civilization structured?
a collection of many small city-states, each ruled by its own king
Ancient Egyptians developed a system of writing called __________ .
hieroglyphics
What rules do Jews try to follow because they believe these rules come from God?
Ten Commandments
How did Hinduism develop?
It developed as a blend of Indo-Aryan traditions and other ideas.
What type of social structure was common in early civilizations?
People were ranked into social classes based on the job they did.
How did Mesopotamians use cuneiform and clay tablets?
to record laws and important information
Ancient Egyptians wrote on a paper-like material called __________ .
papyrus
What are 2 beliefs that important parts of Judaism?
individual worth and personal responsibility
How do Buddhists believe they can achieve enlightenment?
by following the Four Noble Truths