Paleolithic Age
What was the main method Paleolithic people used to get food?
Hunting and gathering
What major change marks the start of the Neolithic Age?
Development of farming/agriculture.
What does the term civilization mean?
A complex or advanced society with cities, governments, and culture.
Between which two rivers did Mesopotamia develop?
Tigris and Euphrates
What river was essential to life in ancient Egypt?
Nile River
What was the one of the most famous cities we learned about?
Mohenjo-daro.
Name one river that supported early Chinese civilization?
Huang He (Yellow River) or the Yangtze River
What type of tools did Paleolithic humans primarily use? What were their hunting tools and weapons mostly made of?
Simple stone tools
Why did permanent settlements develop during the Neolithic Revolution?
People no longer needed to move to find food.
Name one characteristic of a civilization.
Cities, writing, organized government, organized religion, social classes, public works, stable food supply
What writing system did the Sumerians invent?
Cuneiform
What type of writing system did Egyptians use?
Hieroglyphics
What innovation did the Indus Valley cities use for cleanliness and public health?
Advanced plumbing and sewer systems
Why is the Yellow River called "China's Sorrow"?
Its unpredictable and deadly floods destroy property and take human life.
Why were Paleolithic humans nomadic?
They had to move to follow their food source (the animals).
What is one way farming changed human social life?
It led to job specialization and social classes.
Why does surplus food lead to job specialization?
Not everyone needed to farm, so people could do other jobs.
Name one accomplishment of the Babylonian king Hammurabi.
First written code of laws - Hammurabi's Code
Why did Egyptians build pyramids?
They were used as tombs or burials sites for their pharoahs (rulers).
What was the name of the seasonal winds that helped ancient India trade?
Monsoons
What geographic barriers isolated China from other civilizations?
Mountains, deserts, and seas
What important discovery allowed early humans to survive colder temperatures?
Fire
Why did population increase after agriculture began?
Farming created a stable food supply.
What role did writing play in early civilizations?
It recorded laws, trade, and religious beliefs. It helped people cooperate and organize.
What was Mesopotami called the "Fertile Crescent"?
Its rich soil and curved shape.
What natural geographic feature protected Egypt from invasions?
Deserts
What geographic barrier protected India from northern invasions but also limited trade by land? What was the specific name?
Himalayan Mountains
How did isolation contribute to China's unique culture?
Limited travel and outside influence?
What advantage did language give Paleolithic humans?
It allowed them to communicate, plan, share knowledge, and cooperate?
How did the Neolithic Revolution lead to the rise of civilizations?
Surplus food led to population growth which led to job specialization and more complex societies.
How did government become more complex as civilizations grew? In other words, what were some of the jobs, tasks, and roles of government?
Leaders created laws, collected taxes, and organized large projects.
How did geography contribute to frequent warfare in Mesopotamia?
Few natural barriers allowed easy invasion.
How did the Nile River's predictable flooding influence Egyptian society?
Allowed stable farming and food supplies.
Why were the monsoon rains so important to life in India?
They brought the necessary water needed for farming.
How did China's rivers support farming and population growth?
They provided fertile soil and water for irrigation.