Mesopotamia
This river, along with the Euphrates, helped create the fertile land where Mesopotamian civilization developed.
What is the Tigris River?
This large desert covers much of northern Africa and was a major barrier to travel.
What is the Sahara Desert?
This river was the source of life in Ancient Egypt, providing water, transportation, and fertile soil.
What is the Nile River?
Ancient Greece traded these two important products throughout the Mediterranean because its rocky soil was ideal for producing them.
What are olive oil and wine?
This city was the center of the Roman Empire and was built on seven hills.
What is Rome?
This system of writing used wedge-shaped symbols pressed into clay tablets.
What is cuneiform?
These wide, grassy plains south of the Sahara were important for farming and herding.
What are the grasslands (savannas)?
These rulers of Ancient Egypt were considered both kings and gods.
Who were the pharaohs?
This city-state was famous for its powerful army and military training.
What is Sparta?
This form of government in Rome allowed citizens to elect representatives to make decisions.
What is a republic?
This Babylonian ruler created one of the world's first written law codes.
Who is Hammurabi?
Traders crossed the Sahara using these animals, often called the "ships of the desert."
What are camels?
Egyptians used this writing system that included pictures and symbols.
What are hieroglyphics?
The ancient Olympic Games were held every four years in this Greek city.
What is Olympia?
This famous Roman leader crossed the Rubicon River and later became dictator of Rome.
Who was Julius Caesar?
Mesopotamia is often called the "Cradle of Civilization" because many early civilizations developed in this region between two rivers.
What is the Fertile Crescent?
These two valuable resources were exchanged along the trans-Saharan trade routes, helping kingdoms like Ghana and Mali become wealthy.
What are gold and salt?
These massive stone structures were built as tombs for pharaohs.
What are pyramids?
The ancient Olympic Games were held to honor this king of the Greek gods.
Who is Zeus?
These were built to move armies and goods efficiently across the empire. All of these led back to Rome.
What were roads?
This farming technique used canals and channels to bring water from rivers to crops, helping Mesopotamians grow food in dry areas.
What is irrigation?
This famous ruler of Mali made a pilgrimage to Mecca and became known for his great wealth.
Who was Mansa Musa?
Egyptians preserved dead bodies through this process because they believed in an afterlife.
What is mummification?
Unlike Sparta, this Greek city-state focused on education, the arts, and citizen participation in government. It is the birthplace of democracy.
What is Athens?
This group of wealthy and powerful men advised leaders and helped govern the Roman Republic.
What is the Senate?