Neolithic revolution
A change that occurred when people learned hot to plant, grow crops and herd animals.
Polytheism
Worship of multiple gods.
Code of Hammurabi
The earliest written law that covered daily life, aimed to ensure justice, punishment criminals harshly and treated nobles and commoners differently.
Theocracy
A political system governed by a religious leader
City-State
A political unit consisting of an independent city and the land surrounding it.
Hinduism
Religion developed in India that believes in many gods and goddesses, reincarnation, and that a person’s behavior in life determines his or her form or caste in the caste in the next life.
Civilization
A highly organized and complex society.
Cultural diffusion
The spread of ideas, invention other cultural elements, from nor society to another
Domestication
A process in which the physical characteristics of plants and animals change as a result of human intervention.
Hierarchy
A ranking of groups of people according to their importance, status or power
Nomads
People who move from place to place with no permanent home
Judaisn
Monotheistic religion from the Middle East, founded by Abraham, developed a moral code, the Ten Commandments
Sedentary
People who are settled or non-migratory
Monarchy
A system of government in which political power is inherited
Monotheism
A belief in one God
Dynasty
A succession of rulers descended from one family
Ten Commandments
According, to Jewish tradition, these commandments are the second covenant, a commitment to a moral and ethical life for all Hebrew, later adopted by Christians
Mandate of Heaven
A Chinese idea that the right to rule came from divine authority
Hellenistic
A blend of Greek, Indian, Persian, and Egyptian culture. This culture is largely due to the expansion of Alexander the Great’s empire.
Democracy
Government is controlled by its citizens
Oligarchy
Rule by the few
Republic
Rule through representatives who govern according to law
Silk Road
Land and ocean trade routes that connected Asia and Europe from the time of the Roman Empire onwards
Buddhism
A religion based on the idea of self-denial taught by Siddharta Gautama. Believers of the faith follow the four noble truths, and the eightfold path.
Primary source
Information created at the same time as an event or by a person directly involved in the event.
Secondary source
Information from somewhere else or by a person not directly involved in the event
Twelve table
The earliest attempt by the Romans to create a code of laws
Christianity
Religion based on the teaching of Jesus, who preached forgiveness, mercy and sympathy for the poor. A central belief is that Jesus was the son of God who sacrificed himself to save humankind.
Empire
A large political unit in which a number of different lands or peoples are governed by a single ruler
Confucianism
Chinese philosophy that emphasizes traditional values such as obedience and order.