The First Civilisations
When did the Neolithic villages in some regions turn into cities?
3500 BC
Why was Mesopotamia ideal for human settlement?
The land was fertile
What is meant by 'polytheistic religion'?
To believe in different gods
What river crosses the Sahara Desert?
The river Nile
In what two topics did the Egyptians make important advances in?
Mathematics and Astronomy
What kind of changes occurred in this time?
Changes in - politics, economics and culture
Who settled in the south of the region?
The Sumerians
What are temples and what are they used for?
Sacred buildings for worship
What are the 4 main periods of Egypt's history?
Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom and Late Period
What numerical system did the Egyptians invent?
Decimal numerical system
Why were the first civilisations known as fluvial civilisations?
They were established in large river valleys
What did the Sumerians create within their own territory?
Numerous independent city states
What are the 3 types of Mesopotamian sculpture?
-Reliefs
-Steles
-Freestanding sculptures
What was the ruler of Egypt called?
Pharaoh
What does 'mummify' mean?
When something is embalmed to preserve it
What was constructed to avoid uncontrollable flooding?
Hydraulic works; dykes and canals
There was a lot of conflict between each city state
What was used to decorate brick walls?
Glazed ceramic or tiles
What plant was used to make linen fabric?
Flax
Name 3 types of tomb
Mastaba
Pyramid
Hypogeum
What significant changes did the construction of canals and dykes bring?
-quantity and variety of crops increased
- trade/craftsmanship grew
- economic prosperity spread
- population increased
Where did citizens pay their tributes?
What was the main sacred building called and what was it made of?
Ziggurat
-made of brick
What 2 things was the river Nile used for?
- catching fish to eat
- means of transport for people and goods
What kind of characteristics did Ancient Egyptian sculptures have?
- the bodies were rigid without movement
- the faces showed no emotion and the figures appeared impassive
- the more important the figures were, the larger the sculptures were