AP World History Period 1

Commonly used term for southern Mesopotamia (in present-day Iraq)

process of getting more in return for less; e.g., growing more food on a smaller plot of land.

famous extant literary work Mesopotamia, it tells the story of one man's quest for immortality.

The "land between the rivers" Tigris and Euphrates, in what is now Iraq.

Region sometimes known as Southwest Asia the earliest home of agriculture.

civilization S of Egypt in Nile Valley, noted alphabetic writing system, ironworking industry.

major city of the Indus Valley civilization; flourished around 2000 B.C.E.

technological changes-4000 b.c.e., as people began to develop new uses for domesticated animals

Region along central coast of Peru, home of civilization that developed 3000-1800 B.C.E.

series of knotted cords, used for accounting and perhaps as a form of writing

Title ruler of China, first known from the Zhou dynasty.

king of Egypt. The term literally means "the palace" and only came into use in the New Kingdom

civilization in the area of present-day Lebanon, creators of first alphabetic writing system.

Site of important early agricultural settlement of perhaps 2,000 people in present-day Israel.

The wild ancestor of maize.

Period of Chinese history from 1766 to 1122 B.C.E.

Monumental tomb for an Egyptian pharaoh; mostly built during the Old Kingdom (2663-2195 B.C.E.)

animal bones that were heated and the cracks then interpreted as prophecies.

A major city of the Indus Valley civilization; flourished around 2000 B.C.E.

Period of Chinese history from 1122 to 256 B.C.E.

Wedge-shaped writing in the form of symbols incised into clay tablets;

series of laws-King of Babylon, number of laws that proclaim king's commitment to social order.

Ancient Egypt's most famous queen; reigned 1472-1457 B.C.E.

The taming and changing of nature for the benefit of humankind

A legendary series of monarchs of early China, traditionally dated to 2200-1766 B.C.E.

societal grouping governed by chief-relies on generosity, ritual status, or charisma

An Indo-European civilization established in Anatolia in the eighteenth century B.C.E.

human society relies on domesticated animals rather than plants as the main source of food;

buildup of minerals in soil, decreasing its fertility; can be caused by long-term irrigation.

known as Neolithic Revolution, this is the transformation of human (and world) existence

person believed to have ability to act as bridge between living humans and supernatural forces

An important Neolithic site in what is now Turkey.

Egyptian writing system; literally, "sacred carvings

home of major civilization that emerged in now Pakistan during the third millennium B.C.E.,

African-language family whose speakers gradually became dominant culture of E and S Africa

Village-based agricultural societies that functioned without a formal government apparatus

smaller civ. whose development of monotheistic faith provided foundation of modern Judaism

Asian-language family whose speakers gradually became dominant culture of the Philippines,

An advanced civilization that developed on the island of Crete around 2500 B.C.E.

An early civilization that developed along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico around 1200 B.C.E.

Literally "rule of the father"; a social system of male dominance.

Hoe-based agriculture, typical of early agrarian societies.

Mesopotamian stepped pyramid-solid structure of baked brick, an artificial hill at the summit

Chinese emperors, this was the belief that a ruler held authority by command of divine force

The gradual spread of agricultural techniques without extensive population movement.

pastoral group of unknown ethnicity invaded Egypt and ruled in north from 1650 to 1535 B.C.E.

The largest city of ancient Mesopotamia.

The largest city of ancient Mesoamerica; flourished around 500 C.E.