RATSLEG: Elements of Culture
Early Humans
Geography
Mesopotamia
Religion
200

"G"

Government

200

As early humans began to migrate to new areas, they interacted with other humans and began to engage in this economic activity, exchanging surplus goods for scarce goods from others.

Trade

200

This type of geographic feature describes a body of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water on all sides (pictured below):

Peninsula 

200

This term translates to "land between two rivers" and is the cradle of early human civilization.

Mesopotamia

200

This type of religion centers on multiple gods/goddesses

Polytheism

400

"L"

Language

400
Prior to settling in cities, early humans relied on these methods for getting food.

Hunting and Gathering

400

Early human civilization first began along the shores of these two rivers in modern day Iraq and Syria.

Tigris and Euphrates

400

Early civilization begins the process of humans moving from living in small family communities to these population centers.

Cities or Urban Centers

400

This type of religion centers on one god/goddess

Monotheism

600

"R"

Religion & Philosophy

600

This type of resources describe things that can be put to use producing additional resources, examples are things like wheels, plows, and work animals.

Capital Resources

600

The sea shown in the center of the map below, connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe by water is called:

The Mediterranean Sea

600

These politically independent and powerful population centers served as the first governments in human history.

City States

600

This ancient polytheistic religion believed that individual who died had their heart weighted against a feather. Those hearts that were lighter went to the afterlife; those that were heavier had their souls destroyed.

Ancient Egyptian Religion
800
"T"

Traditions and Customs

800

This technological advancement allowed early humans to generate food surpluses, but required them to stay in one place to protect this food.

Agriculture or Farming

800

The river shown in the map below is called:

The Nile River

800

This first set of laws issued "reciprocal" punishment for crimes, including the taking of an eye if someone of equal class who took the eye of another (and eye for an eye). These laws also set rules for slavery and taxation and allowed the creation of empire.

Hammurabi's Code

800

This building (pictured below) served as the center of religious worship in Sumerian civilization:

Ziggurats

1000
"S"

Social Organization

1000

This economic term describes the shift in early human behavior from individuals being able to complete many different jobs, to focusing on one specific economic role in society.

Specialization
1000

The image shaded in orange in the map below, where the first civilizations were first created is known as:

Fertile Crescent

1000

The first civilizations were called this, and began around 5000 BCE.

Sumerian Civilization (Sumer)

1000

This term describes subsections of larger religions, believing in the overall philosophy of a religion, but having different rituals or methods of worship.

Sects