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W History - Topic 1
Topic 1 Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
prehistory | the long period of time before people invented writing |
historians | scholars who study and write about the historical past |
artifact | object made by humans |
anthropology | the field of study related to the origins and development of people and their societies |
culture | the way of life of a society, which includes its beliefs, values, and practices |
archaeology | the study of past people and cultures through their material remains |
technology | the skills and tools people use to meet their basic needs and wants |
nomad | person who moves from place to place to find food |
animism | the belief that the world was full of spirits and forces that might reside in animals, objects, or dreams |
domesticate | to raise in a controlled way |
surplus | more than is necessary |
steppe | dry grassland |
traditional economy | an economy that relies on habit, custom, or ritual and tends not to change over time |
civilization | a complex, highly organized social order |
polytheistic | the belief in many gods |
artisan | skilled craftsperson |
pictograph | simple drawing that looks like the objects they represent |
scribe | specially trained person who could read and write |
cultural diffusion | the spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another |
city-state | a political unit that included a city and its surrounding lands and villages |
empire | a group of states or territories controlled by one ruler |