Download Hominids Neolithic Agricultural Revolution The early members of the

Hominids
Neolithic
Agricultural
Revolution
The early members
of the family of
humans. Many
scientists believe
the earliest humans
lived in East Africa.
The transition from
nomadic hunting
and gathering
communities to
agriculture and the
development of
civilizations.
Paleolithic
Era
Surplus
A prehistoric era
distinguished by the
development of the
first stone tools;
also called the Old
Stone Age.
In early civilizations,
irrigation made more
farming possible and
provided extra or
excess food, a surplus.
Having a surplus
allowed
Mesopotamians more
time to develop new
ideas and technologies.
Hunters and
Gatherers
Paleolithic humans
who wandered in
small bands of
approximately 20
people in search of
ripened fruit and wild
game.
City-State
A political unit made
up of a city and its
surrounding lands.
City-states developed
when new
civilizations joined
together to form
governments and
defense systems.
Ziggurat
A pyramid/temple
dedicated to the
chief god or
goddess of an
ancient Sumerian
city-state.
Cuneiform
Wedge-shaped
writing of the
ancient Sumerians;
one of the earliest
known forms of
written expression.
Fertile Crescent
A crescent-shaped region
in the Middle East
incorporating Ancient
Mesopotamia and
Ancient Egypt, known as
the "Cradle of
Civilization." The region
was named the "Fertile
Crescent" because of its
rich soil and half-moon
shape.
Nile River
A river in Africa
that provided an
endless source of
fresh water, fertile
soil, and food for
Ancient Egyptians
in the midst of the
sun-baked desert.
Defensive Walls
A defensive wall is
a fortification used
to defend a citystate or settlement
from attack.
Pharaohs
In Ancient Egypt,
the Pharaoh was an
all-powerful ruler
and was considered
to be the god,
Horus, in human
form.
Mummification
It was believed in Ancient
Egypt that if a body was
decayed or
unrecognizable, the "ka"
or spirit could not return
to find sustenance.
Mummification was
therefore dedicated to the
prevention of decay.
Rosetta Stone
Ancient Egyptian
artifact that was
instrumental in
advancing the modern
understanding of
hieroglyphic writing.
The stone is carved
with three translations
of a single passage
(Two Egyptian and one
Greek).
Egyptian Afterlife
Wisdom
Literature
The Egyptians believed
that each soul had to
pass a test in order to
win eternal life. The
soul would be ferried
across a lake of fire to a
great hall where the
god Osiris would
weigh the dead
person’s heart against
the feather of truth.
Egyptian writing
characterized by
sayings of wisdom
intended to teach
about divinity and
about virtue.
Hieroglyphics
Babylon
A form of picture
writing developed by
the ancient
Egyptians; only a
small group of
Egyptians could read
and write; the
language could only
be mastered by years
of study at special
schools.
A city in Ancient
Mesopotamia that
flourished under the
rule of Hammurabi.
The Hanging
Gardens of Bablylon
were one of the
Seven Wonders of
the Ancient World.
Code of
Hammurabi
Persian Empire
The legal code of King
Hammurabi (1792 BC to
1750 BC) of
Mesopotamia. The code
was influential in the
establishment of Hebrew
and Islamic law and in the
U.S. judiciary system. It
specified crimes and
punishments to help
judges impose penalties.
In 539 B.C., Babylon
fell to armies of Cyrus
the Great of Persia.
The Persian Empire
was united in 522 B.C.
under Darius who built
a massive road system
and made it easier to
communicate with
different parts of the
empire.
Hittites
Invaded Mesopotamia
in approximately 1400
B.C. They had learned
how to extract iron
from ore and were able
to arm more warriors at
less expense.
Phoenician Sea
Traders
The Phoenicians gained
fame as sailors and
traders. They occupied
cities along the eastern
Mediterranean, and
developed an alphabet.
This allowed them to
conquer and trade with
other civilizations, as
well as record beliefs
and ideas.
Assyria
Assyria was located on
the upper Tigris River.
For 500 years, they
earned a reputation for
being the most feared
warriors in history.
Despite their fierce
reputation, Assyrian
rulers encouraged a
well-ordered society.
Prophets
A spiritual leader
believed to be
interpreting and
speaking God’s
will.
Monotheistic
Belief in one God;
Ancient Israelites
believed there was one
God (Yahweh) who
revealed the
Ten Commandments
were revealed to
Moses.
Diaspora
In 586 B.C., the
Babylonian king
Nebuchadnezzar
captured Jerusalem
and exiled the
Israelites to
Mesopotamia.
Israelites
The dominant group
living in the Israel
until they were
conquered by the
Babylonians in 586
B.C. and taken into
exile.
Abraham
Israelites believed God
promised Abraham that
through his offspring, all
the nations of the world
would come to be
blessed. Judaism,
Christianity and Islam are
sometimes referred to as
the "Abrahamic
religions," because of role
Abraham plays in their
holy books.