SSWH1 Analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of societies in the ancient world from 3500 BCE/BC to 500 BCE/BC

S. Miles (United States of America)
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. polytheistic
    worshipping or believing in more than one god
    A commonality in the three kingdoms is that the Egyptians were Polytheistic and believed in natural forces.
  2. ziggurat
    a rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound
    Cities were walled with a central Ziggurat, which served as a religious and political center (theocracy).
  3. monotheistic
    believing that there is only one god
    Although most Mesopotamians and early civilizations were polytheistic (believed in many gods) there were two major monotheistic (belief in one god) religions in the region.
  4. theocracy
    a political unit governed by a deity
    Cities were walled with a central Ziggurat, which served as a religious and political center (theocracy).
  5. cuneiform
    an ancient wedge-shaped script used in Mesopotamia
    Both the Mesopotamian’s (cuneiform) and Egyptian’s (hieroglyphics) had systems of writing.
  6. caste
    a hereditary social class among Hindus
    Over time the Aryans imposed a very strict class system, known as the caste system.
  7. dynasty
    a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
    In legend the first Chinese dynasty is the Xia dynasty which helped control the water in China.
  8. hieroglyphic
    a writing system using picture symbols
    Both the Mesopotamian’s (cuneiform) and Egyptian’s (hieroglyphics) had systems of writing.
  9. bureaucracy
    a government administered primarily by nonelective officials
    Under the Shang, government was centralized with a strong bureaucracy.
  10. agricultural
    relating to or used in or promoting farming
    The economy was primarily agricultural with some commerce and industry.
  11. migration
    the movement of persons from one locality to another
    Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture.
  12. belief
    any cognitive content held as true
    These beliefs reflected the societies these religions developed in.
  13. religion
    a strong belief in supernatural powers that control destiny
    The disorder of the environment and warfare also influenced their religion and they viewed their gods and religion as being very unpredictable.
  14. empire
    the domain ruled by a single authoritative sovereign
    Many empires conquered this area and the city-states (which were politically divided) were often at war with one another.
  15. invasion
    any entry into an area not previously occupied
    Deserts provided natural barriers to invasion, and provided a confidence in the stability of things.
  16. legend
    a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
    In legend the first Chinese dynasty is the Xia dynasty which helped control the water in China.
  17. export
    sell or transfer abroad
    Over time Egyptian culture was exported to other kingdoms in the region.
  18. settlement
    the act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies
    Bantu’s were hunter gatherers, but over time settled down into agricultural settlements, and became the basis for most future civilizations.
  19. annual
    occurring every year
    In Egypt the Nile River flooded annually, which lead to a surplus of food.
  20. sacred
    made, declared, or believed to be holy
    The Hebrews had a series of laws called the Ten Commandments, and a sacred book called the Torah.
  21. valley
    a long depression in the surface of the land
    Civilization developed along the Ganges and Indus River, with the Indus River Valley being the 2 most important.
  22. ancient
    belonging to times long past
    The city-states of ancient Mesopotamia developed in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates.
  23. government
    the system or form by which a community is ruled
    Religion and government were very much connected=THEOCRACY.
  24. economy
    the system of production and distribution and consumption
    The economy was primarily agricultural with some commerce and industry.
  25. Yahweh
    a name for the God of the Old Testament as transliterated from the Hebrew consonants YHVH
  26. Zoroastrianism
    system of religion founded in Persia in the 6th century BC by Zoroaster; set forth in the Zend-Avesta; based on concept of struggle between light (good) and dark (evil)
  27. commandment
    an order or strict rule imposed by an authority
  28. Aryan
    a member of the prehistoric people who spoke Proto-Indo European
  29. Bantu
    of or relating to the African people who speak one of the Bantoid languages or to their culture
  30. Bering Strait
    a strait connecting the Bering Sea to the Arctic Ocean
Created on Sun Aug 30 15:45:45 EDT 2020 (updated Sun Aug 30 16:08:02 EDT 2020)

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