Geography
Period of time in which the earth was mostly covered in glaciers, the ocean levels were low, land bridges were exposed, and humans were hunter-gatherers.
Ice Age or Paleolithic era
A type of religion that worships many gods.
Polytheism
What was the most important achievement of the Neolithic Age that allowed people to stop being nomadic?
Farming or Agriculture
A type of government that has a single ruler; succession is hereditary.
Monarchy
What is the term for a system where people exchange goods and services directly without using money?
Barter
In most ancient societies, what group of people occupied the very bottom of the social pyramid?
Enslaved people
What is the name for the rich, black soil left behind after a river floods?
Silt
What religion emerged from Judea, was based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, and spread through Roman roads?
Christianity
What civilization developed the first form of writing, the wheel, and the base-60 math system (60 minutes in an hour)?
Mesopotamia
A succession of rulers or leaders from the same family who maintain power for a significant period of time.
Dynasty
What is the term for having more of a resource (like grain) than is actually needed for survival?
Surplus
What process allowed people to stop farming and start working as artisans, scribes, or priests, which eventually divided society into different ranks?
Job specialization
What natural system made the soil around river valley systems fertile for agriculture?
Flooding
What group of people were monotheistic, read the Torah, and followed the Ten Commandments?
Israelites
What civilization developed silk production, gunpowder, and the compass?
China
A type of government in which all citizens vote on laws and decisions.
Direct Democracy
What economic term describes a situation where there is not enough of a resource to meet everyone's needs?
Scarcity
In Ancient Egypt, which professional group was responsible for keeping records and was highly respected for their ability to read and write?
Scribes
What do we call a man-made system used to move water from a river to dry farmland?
Irrigation
What religion believed in reincarnation and karma?
Hinduism
What Egyptian invention was a paper-like material made from reeds grown along the Nile?
Papyrus
What was the first set of written laws?
Hammurabi's Code
What is the term for a person who makes a living by buying and selling goods made by others?
Merchant
What is the term for the "middle class" of craftsmen and traders who emerged once civilizations developed job specialization?
Artisans
What do we call the seasonal winds in India that bring heavy rains in the summer?
Monsoons
What religion believed in the Four Noble Truths: Truth of suffering, cause of suffering, end of suffering, and the path?
Buddhism
What civilization developed concrete, aqueducts, and the dome?
Rome
In many ancient cultures, the leader was seen as either a god or a representation of god. What type of government is this?
Theocracy
What is the term for a good that is brought into a country from another place for sale?
Import
What were the commoners, such as farmers and merchants, called in Ancient Rome?
Plebeians
What is the name for a "fan-shaped" area of fertile land where a river empties into a larger body of water?
Delta
What is the term for a person who travels to spread their religious beliefs to others?
Missionary
What Mesoamerican achievement allowed the Maya to track time and predict astronomical events with extreme accuracy?
The Calendar or 365 Calendar
A type of government in which a small group of rich and powerful people ruled. (ex: Sparta)
Oligarchy
What is the term for the buying and selling of goods and services by using sea routes and ships?
Maritime Commerce or Maritime Trade
In Ancient Sparta, what was the specific name for the enslaved people who out-numbered the citizens and did all the farming?
Helots
What is the term for the "flat steps" carved into hillsides to create farmland in mountainous areas?
Terraces or Terrace Farming
What is the term for a story that explains the origins of the world or the actions of gods?
Myth or Mythology
Which Indian empire is known as the "Golden Age of India" due to its massive advancements in science, art, and math?
Gupta Empire
In Rome, what was the name of the group of 300 men who advised the leaders and made laws?
The Senate
What do we call the tax that conquered people were forced to pay to a more powerful empire, like the Aztecs or Romans?
Tribute
What group was at the top of the Caste System?
Brahmins
What is the specific name for the arc of rich, fertile farmland extending from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea?
The Fertile Crescent
What is the Buddhist term for a state of perfect peace and an end to suffering?
Nirvana
Which Indian empire was the first to unify most of the Indian subcontinent under a single government?
Mauryan Empire
What is the name of the person who has absolute power to rule a country, often used in Rome during times of emergency?
Dictator
What was the main economic reason why the Phoenicians established colonies all across the Mediterranean coast?
To set up trade posts (or Trade Centers).
What is the term for a family-centered social structure where children are taught to show extreme respect for their parents and elders?
Filial Piety