Geography
A river with a fertile soil called loess in it, which gave it a yellow tint
Yellow River (Huang He)
Large bank of earth and stone that holds back water
Dike
King of ancient Egypt; considered a god on earth
Pharaoh
The first written language that was developed in Sumer
Cuneiform
Monumental architecture typical of Old Kingdom Egypt; used as burial sites for pharaohs
Pyramids
The world's longest river, which flows northward through East Africa into the Mediterranean Sea, home to early kingdoms in Egypt
Nile River
Supplying land with water through a network of canals
Irrigation
A major city of ancient Mesopotamia, famously contained one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World - the Hanging Gardens
Babylon
Pictogram written language invented by the Egyptians
Hieroglyphics
Connected China, India, and the Middle East. Traded goods, especially silk from China, and helped to spread culture
Silk Road
A large mountain range creating the border between ancient civilizations in India and China
Himalaya Mountains
A set of laws that governed life in the Babylonian empire and would set the example for future legal systems
Hammurabi's Code
Nomads from Europe and Asia who migrated to India and finally settled, taking over the Indus River Valley area; Vedas from this time suggest beginning of caste system
Aryans
Writing form developed in ancient China, eventually unites all of China
Calligraphy
Animal bones carved with written characters which were used for telling the future during the Shang Dynasty in ancient China
Oracle Bones
Ancient civilization created in between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in an area known as the Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia
The time when human beings first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering
Agricultural Revolution
One of the first Chinese dynasties, ruled for 600 years, use of Oracle bones was common
Shang Dynasty
Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism
Vedas
A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life
Caste System
An ancient civilization that included the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in India, both very well planned out on a grid system and had a very advanced plumbing system
Indus River Valley
New tools and techniques to solve problems that emerge
Advanced Technology
Longest dynasty in Chinese history to rule (800 years). Established the "Mandate of Heaven" and a new political order with king at the highest level, then lords and warriors and then peasants
Zhou Dynasty
Provided a new way of communication and a way to keep records of history and pass information to the next generation
Record Keeping & Writing
Belief in more than one god
Polytheism