Neolithic/Paleolithic
Once discovered, allowed early humans to eat cooked food, see at night, and provided warmth.
Fire
What two rivers were located in ancient Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates
The river that runs through Egypt.
Nile River
What are monsoon winds?
seasonal, reversing wind patterns driven by differential land-sea heating, crucial for both agriculture and maritime trade.
Summer winds (southwest) brought heavy rains vital for crops, while winter winds (northeast) enabled sailors to navigate across the Indian Ocean, linking India with the Middle East and Africa
Why did early ancient China believe that it the only civilization in the world?
Geographic Isolation
The Himalayas, Gobi Desert, and Pacific Ocean separated China from other major, distant, and advanced civilizations.
What is the name of the peninsula in ancient Greece?
Peloponnesian peninsula
What mountain range lies above the Italian Peninsula
Italian Alps
the river that runs through ancient Israel
Jordan River
What was the Silk Road?
an ancient 4,000-mile network of connected land and sea trade routes (not just one road) used from 130 B.C. to 1453 A.D. It linked China to Europe, allowing traders to swap treasures like silk, spices, and paper, while also sharing ideas, technologies, and religions
hunter-gatherers
The oldest written epic is called:
Epic of Gilgamesh
Who was the highest in social class in ancient Egypt?
Pharoah
Name three achievements of the Harappan civilization in the Indus River Valley:
Architecture built with bricks, Arranging roads into a series of grid-systems,
Sanitation and sewer systems
Why was governing ancient China difficult?
the immense scale of the territory (it was huge) and difficult terrain that hindered (hurt) communication and control
What two city-states (polis) fought in the Peloponnesian War?
Athens and Sparta
What are the three class systems of ancient Rome from most power to least?
Patrician, Plebeian, Slave
Why did ancient Israelites move from Mesopotamia to Canaan?
led by Abraham, moved primarily due to a divine command (a covenant with God) to settle a new land
What is the sacred text of Christianity?
The Bible
During the agricultural revolution, humans domesticated plants and animals, created a barter economy, and created food surpluses. What did this allow them to do regarding where they lived?
permanent settlements
Why did the "fertile crescent" get its name?
rich, productive soil ("fertile") and its arc-like shape ("crescent")
What was the reason for mummification?
So that the soul could recognize the body in the afterlife.
We know that untouchables were at the bottom or under the Caste system in Ancient India, but who was at the TOP?
Brahmins (priests, scholars, and teachers responsible for upholding sacred knowledge and performing rituals)
What is mandate of heaven?
Heaven (the universe/nature) chooses a good, fair ruler for China, like a "Son of Heaven," but takes it away if the ruler becomes selfish, cruel, or neglects the people, which is shown by disasters, rebellions, or bad harvests, allowing a new, better dynasty to take over and restore peace
_______ was the more intellectually-inclined city-state, and valued education, democracy, and philosophy above all else
Athens
Why was Julius Caesar assassinated?
He proclaimed himself dictator for life, which upset the patricians.
(plebeians loved him.)
Why did ancient Israelites move from Canaan (Later called Israel) to Egypt?
to escape a severe, widespread famine
What caused the Jewish Diaspora (the historical scattering of Jewish people from their original homeland of Israel to countries all over the world)?
expulsion of the Jews from their homeland by the Romans
What does it mean to domesticate plants and animals?
Make them good for human use.
Scribes
Cuneiform
this pharaoh led many military conquests leading to growth of the kingdom
Ramses the Great
Which belief system includes:
Sacred Texts: The Vedas
Basic Beliefs: dharma, karma, reincarnation, and moksha
Hinduism
__________ was a strict philosophy in ancient China (circa 475–221 BCE) that believed people were naturally selfish and needed strong, harsh laws to keep order.
Legalism
_______ was a military society where size, strength, and fighting capabilities defined the worth of the individual.
Sparta
Who established the first Roman Empire?
Octavian/Augustus Caesar
What is the sacred text from Judaism called?
The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)
Name four innovations in engineering and architecture in ancient Rome
Aqueducts, arches, bridges, The Colosseum, domes, roads, sanitation
What are the G.R.A.P.E.S. of civilization?
Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, Social Structure
What were the earliest set of written laws in Mesopotamia? "An eye for an eye"
Code of Hammurabi
This Pharaoh established great trading relationships, which led to the growth of the kingdom
Hatsheptsut
Which belief system includes:
Key Person(s): Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Sacred Texts: Tripitaka
Basic Beliefs: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Nirvana
Buddhism
The first Chinese empire was called the: ____ _______
Qin Dynasty
where rules were written down, applied to all citizens equally
Rule of Law
After splitting into East and West, what are two reasons why the Western Roman Empire fell?
difficulty governing its large territory,
political corruption,
economic instability,
attacks by Germanic tribes
Identify the kings' names:
______ first king of Israel
______ second king who founded Jerusalem as the capital
______ third king who built the first temple.
1- Saul
2-David
3- Solomon
What are 3 major accomplishments of the Han Dynasty?
the magnetic compass,
paper making,
porcelain,
silk
woodblock printing.