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JCHS-WH-Unit 1
Ancient Civilizations
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Fertile Crescent | An arc of rich farmland in Southwest Asia, between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. |
Cultural Diffusion | the spreading of ideas or products from one culture to another. |
monotheism | worshipping one god; Abraham Founder of Judaism who, according to the Bible, led his family from Ur to Canaan in obedience to God's command. |
polytheism | belief in many gods. |
pharaoh | Egyptian god-kings |
dynasty | a succession of rulers from the same family |
Mandate of Heaven | The Chinese philosophical concept of the circumstances under which a ruler is allowed to rule |
civilization | a form of culture characterized by cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology |
social classes | a division of a society based on social and economic status |
caste system | a social structure in which classes are determined by heredity or family history |
mummification | The act of preserving the bodies of the dead; practiced in Egypt to preserve the body for enjoyment of the afterlife. |
city-state | a city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independent political unit. |
Hieroglyphics | an ancient Egyptian writing system in which pictures were used to represent ideas and sounds. |
Cuneiform | a system of writing with wedge-shaped symbols, invented by the Sumerians around 3000 B.C |
Theocracy | A government controlled by religious leaders. |