The Paleolithic Era
What does "Paleolithic" mean?
*Hint: The _____ ________ Age*
The Old Stone Age
What does "Neolithic" mean?
*Hint: The ___ ______ Age*
The New Stone Age
What rivers did Mesopotamia develop between?
The Tigris and Euphrates.
What river was the center of Egyptian civilization?
The Nile River.
What two cities are most famous from the Indus River Valley?
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
What set of laws, given to Moses, became a key part of Hebrew religion and moral code?
The Ten Commandments.
What does “polytheism” mean?
Belief in many gods.
What was the main way Paleolithic people got food?
Hunting and gathering.
What major change marks the Neolithic Revolution?
* Hint: The shift from ________ and __________ to ____________.*
The shift from hunting and gathering to farming.
What was the first system of writing called?
Cuneiform.
What title was given to Egyptian rulers, considered god-kings?
Pharaohs.
What feature or features showed that cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were carefully planned?
They were planned cities built on a grid system with organized streets, brick houses, and plumbing/sewage systems.
What road helped unify and trade across the Persian Empire?
The Royal Road.
What does “monotheism” mean?
Belief in one god.
Define the term "nomad".
A human/hunter-gatherer, who moved from place to place in search of food, water, and shelter. They did not stay in one location permanently (they did not have a home).
What did permanent farming villages lead to?
Development of civilizations (settlements, surplus food, specialization).
What is the significance of Hammurabi’s Code?
First written law code; “an eye for an eye.”
What were the pyramids built for and in which Egyptian city could they be found in?
Tombs/preparation for the afterlife and the pyramids can be found in the Egyptian city of Giza.
What river in China is also known as “China’s Sorrow”?
The Huang He (Yellow River).
What was the main religion of ancient Persia that taught belief in one god, and good vs. evil?
Zoroastrianism.
Which type of government is run by rulers who are considered to be divine/ that rule with religious authority.
Theocracy.
What kind of tools did Paleolithic people develop, and what were they made from?
Simple stone tools made from chipped rock, bone, or wood.
What is domestication?
Taming plants and animals for human use/benefit.
Which early Mesopotamian people invented the wheel?
The Sumerians.
Name at least two major achievements of the Ancient Egyptian civilization.
Irrigation systems, calendar, geometry, medicine, papyrus, obelisks, temples.
What belief gave Chinese rulers the right to rule?
The Mandate of Heaven.
What does "religious toleration" mean?
It is the acceptance and allowance of diverse religious beliefs and practices within a single society or empire, promoting peaceful coexistence and minimizing conflict.
Which key vocab term is this the definition for:
“The spread of ideas, goods, and technologies from one culture to another.”
Cultural Diffusion
What was the main reason small groups or clans were important for Paleolithic people?
Living in clans provided cooperation for hunting, protection, and sharing resources, which increased survival chances.
Name at least two different effects of the Neolithic Revolution on society.
Social classes developed / governments formed / increased population.
Who was Sargon of Akkad, and why is he important in Mesopotamian history?
He was the first ruler to unite Mesopotamian city-states and created the world’s first empire.
What stone helped modern scholars decode hieroglyphics?
The Rosetta Stone.
What farming technique cut steps into mountainsides to retain water?
Terrace farming.
Which two Persian kings expanded the empire—one known for kindness and tolerance, and the other for bringing stability and organization?
Cyrus the Great (kindness and tolerance) and Darius I (peace, stability, provinces, Royal Road).
What does “subsistence farming” mean?
Farming where people grow only enough food for themselves and their families, with little left to trade.