Geography and Rivers
This river, found in Egypt, was known for its predictable floods that helped farmers plan their crops.
What is the Nile River?
In Ancient Egypt, this leader was considered both a king and a god.
What is a Pharaoh?
This Mesopotamian invention is considered the world's first system of writing, using wedge-shaped marks.
What is cuneiform?
These massive stone structures were built as tombs for Egyptian rulers.
What are the Pyramids?
Most ancient river valley civilizations practiced this type of religion, which involves the worship of many gods rather than just one.
What is polytheism?
Unlike Egypt, this region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers faced unpredictable floods and had no natural barriers for protection.
What is Mesopotamia?
This was the first written set of laws, created in Mesopotamia, which followed the idea of "an eye for an eye."
What is the Code of Hammurabi?
While Mesoamerica relied on corn, this was the primary crop of the Andean Region.
What is the potato?
In Mesopotamia, these tiered, pyramid-like temples were built in the center of city-states to honor the gods.
What are Ziggurats?
This term refers to the wealthy, land-owning upper class that often advised the king or pharaoh.
What is the nobility (or aristocracy)?
These seasonal winds in the Indus Valley bring heavy rains that were essential for farming but could also cause deadly floods.
What are Monsoons?
In Ancient China, this was the divine approval or "permission from heaven" that a royal family needed to stay in power.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
The Indus Valley cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were famous for being the first to use this "invisible" technology to keep cities clean.
What is advanced plumbing and drainage?
This ancient civilization is unique for its advanced urban planning, featuring cities laid out in a perfect grid pattern.
What is the Indus Valley?
While Egypt used hieroglyphs, the people of China used this advanced skill to create weapons and tools, which gave them a major advantage in war.
What is advanced metallurgy (specifically bronze)?
Because of the Andes Mountains, people in the Andean Region used this method of carving "steps" into hillsides to grow crops like potatoes.
What is Terrace Farming?
This term describes a government where the religious leader is also the political leader, common in Egypt and Mesoamerica.
What is a theocracy?
In Ancient China, priests used these items to communicate with the gods and predict the future.
What are oracle bones?
This civilization is known for its cultural continuity, meaning its traditions and dynasties lasted for thousands of years without major changes.
What is Ancient China?
Because of constant invasions and flooding, Mesopotamians believed the gods were angry and unpredictable, giving them this type of "glass half empty" outlook on life.
What is a pessimistic outlook?
Both Ancient China and Ancient Egypt were protected from invaders for long periods due to these two specific geographic features.
What are natural barriers (deserts and mountains) and isolation?
This social system ranks people in levels of importance, with the nobility at the top and laborers at the bottom.
What is social stratification (or social hierarchy)?
While agrarian societies stayed in one place to farm, these types of societies moved around to herd animals.
What are pastoral societies?
Mesopotamia was organized into these small, independent areas that acted like their own countries.
What are city-states?
These two regions are known as "hearths of agriculture" because they developed farming and complex societies in the Americas without being near a major river valley.
What are Mesoamerica and the Andean Region?