Origins of Civilization
This region of land, shaped like a crescent, was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
What is the Fertile Crescent?
This civilization developed one of the earliest known writing systems, called cuneiform.
What are the Sumerians?
This Akkadian ruler created one of the first large empires in Mesopotamia by conquering several Sumerian city-states.
Who is Sargon?
This theme of geography answers the question, “Where is it?” and can describe an exact or specific position on Earth.
What is Location?
Define representative democracy.
People elect leaders to make laws and govern on their behalf.
This is the extra food produced by farmers that could be stored or traded.
What is a surplus?
This Babylonian king is famous for creating a written set of laws known as the Code of Hammurabi.
Who is Hammurabi?
The Code of Hammurabi is an example of this because it was a written set of rules that established punishments for different crimes.
What is a code of laws?
Climate, landforms, languages, religions, and types of buildings can all be used to describe this theme.
What is Place?
Define authoritarian government.
a government where all the power is held by a single person or a small group.
Name two characteristics that historians often use to identify a civilization.
What are cities, government, religion, social classes, job specialization, writing, or advanced technology?
This empire was one of the first to make widespread use of this metal, which gave its armies an advantage in warfare.
What is iron?
The Hittites helped spread the use of iron and were also known for developing this military technology, which helped their armies move quickly.
What are chariots?
When people build dams, clear forests, or create irrigation systems, they are demonstrating this theme.
What is Human-Environment Interaction?
Define theocracy.
A government run by a religious power.
The development of this allowed people to bring water to crops and grow food in areas with little rainfall.
What is irrigation?
The Phoenicians were famous traders and sailors who developed an alphabet that influenced this later writing system.
What is the Greek alphabet?
Because the Phoenicians lived along the Mediterranean coast, they became especially successful at this activity.
What is trade?
The spread of foods, languages, religions, ideas, and inventions from one area to another is an example of this theme.
What is Movement?
What is desalination?
technology used for the removal of salt from sea water.
Explain how the development of agriculture helped lead to the growth of civilizations.
What is farming created a reliable food supply and food surpluses, allowing populations to grow and people to settle in permanent communities?
This Mesopotamian empire was known for its powerful army, use of iron weapons, and harsh treatment of conquered peoples.
What are the Assyrians?
The Assyrians built a powerful empire through their use of this strategy.
What is military conquest?
The Midwest is an example of this theme because it is an area that shares certain characteristics, such as geography, culture, or economy.
What is Region?
What is a failed state?
a country with a government that cannot control its territory or provide effective government services to its citizens.