Ancient India
Where was the Indus River Valley located?
In present-day India and Pakistan
What major change helped start civilization?
Agriculture (farming)
What is a surplus?
Extra food beyond what is needed
What rivers formed the heart of Mesopotamia?
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What river was most important to ancient Egypt?
The Nile River
Who was Ötzi the Iceman?
A well-preserved prehistoric man found frozen in the Alps
What are monsoons?
Seasonal winds that bring heavy rain
What are the three periods of the Stone Age?
Old, Middle, and New OR Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic
How did a food surplus help populations grow?
More food meant more people could survive (People can specialize in particular skills/trades)
What was the Fertile Crescent?
A fertile region where early farming developed
Why was Nile silt important to farming?
It made the soil fertile
How do archaeologists learn about prehistory?
By studying artifacts, fossils, and ruins
What was Mohenjo-Daro, and what made it advanced?
A planned city with grid streets, plumbing, and public baths
Why did farming lead people to settle in one place?
They needed to stay near crops and animals
What are artisans?
Skilled workers who make goods by hand
What were ziggurats used for in Sumer?
Religious worship
What is a dynasty?
A family of rulers
What is oral tradition?
Stories passed down by word of mouth
Who were the Aryans, and how did they change Indian society?
Invaders who brought new languages, social structures, and traditions
What does domestication mean?
Taming plants and animals for human use
Why did early societies create governments?
To make laws, keep order, and manage resources
How did Sumer’s city-state system work?
Each city had its own ruler and government
Why were pharaohs buried with treasures?
Egyptians believed in an afterlife
Why is oral tradition helpful for understanding the past?
It preserves history before writing existed
How did Hinduism and Buddhism influence Indian culture and society?
They shaped beliefs about life, behavior, and spiritual goals
How did agriculture lead to the building of villages and public structures?
Food surpluses allowed people to settle and organize communities
What was the basic social class structure of early civilizations?
Rulers, priests, artisans/merchants, farmers, and laborers
Who conquered Sumer around 2000 B.C., and why did Sumer fall?
Invaders conquered it due to constant warfare and weak defenses
Why was the Rosetta Stone important?
It helped scholars understand Egyptian writing
Why is Ötzi important to historians?
He gives clues about daily life, tools, and clothing in prehistory