Neolithic Rev. & Rivers
Mesopotamia & Egypt
Religions
China
Indus River Valley
100
The major turning point in human history that marked the shift from hunting and gathering to farming and permanent settlements.
Neolithic Revolution
100
These massive stone structures were built as tombs for pharaohs and are among the most iconic symbols of ancient Egypt.
Pyramids
100
This belief system involves worshiping many gods and was practiced by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Mesopotamians.
Polytheism
100
These were used by Shang priests to predict the future and are one of the earliest forms of Chinese writing.
Oracle Bones
100
Seasonal winds known as _________ brought heavy rains that helped farmers in the Indus River Valley grow crops—but could also cause dangerous flooding.
Monsoons
200
A long-term effect of the Neolithic Revolution (aka Agricultural Revolution) was that hunter-gatherers took on other roles in society like farmers, potters, weavers, and blacksmiths. What element of S.T.A.I.R. would this fall under?
Specialized workers
200
Ancient Egyptians used this plant-based material to write on, making it one of the earliest forms of paper.
Papyrus
200
This belief in one god, which is a key feature in Judaism, is called what?
Monotheism
200
This river that flows through central China is south of the Huang He River and is the longest river in Asia.
Yangtze River
200
This mountain range was a natural boundary that shielded the Indus and Ganges Valleys from invaders to the north.
Himalayan Mountains
300
Early civilizations settled near river valleys because these areas provided _________, a key benefit for growing food.
Fertile soil (would also give half points for fresh water/irrigation)
300
This king of Babylon unified his people under one strict set of laws and one culture.
Hammurabi
300
In Hinduism, this belief teaches that a soul is reborn into a new body after death, continuing a cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Reincarnation
300
The Shang practiced this type of government, where power was passed down through family lines.
Dynasty
300
This small, carved item from the Indus Valley may have been used for trade or identification, often featuring animals and symbols.
Seals/Harappan Seals
NOTE: Harappan language has not been translated!
400
Tools like plows, pottery, and weaving techniques were developed during the Neolithic Revolution when humans began settling in permanent villages. What category of S.T.A.I.R. would these fall under?
Technology
400
Because the Nile flooded predictably, Egyptians believed their gods were kind and orderly. In contrast, this civilization saw their gods as harsh and unpredictable due to violent floods from the Tigris and Euphrates.
Mesopotamia
400
This sacred text contains the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and is considered the most important religious document in Judaism.
Torah
400
Shang artisans were known for crafting ceremonial objects and weapons from this metal.
Bronze
400
Name two things that distinguished the cities of the Indus River Valley from other societies of the same time period.
1. The cities were planned in a grid system
2. They had plumbing and sewage systems
3. They used oven-baked bricks
4. Citadel
500
When people around the world eat McDonalds, wear jeans, or celebrate holidays like Halloween outside the U.S., they are experiencing this process of spreading cultural traits.
Cultural Diffusion
500
This type of government is ruled by religious leaders who claim to govern in the name of a divine power.
Theocracy
For Bonus Points: Who was the leader of the theocracy in ancient Egypt?
500
In Hinduism this is the spiritual release from human form (aka "enlightenment").
Moksha
500
This cycle explained how Chinese dynasties rose, ruled with the Mandate of Heaven, declined, and were replaced by new dynasties.
Dynastic Cycle
500
When the Aryans migrated to northern India, they introduced this rigid social structure that divided people into classes based on birth, occupation, and purity in Hinduism.
Caste system
