Anthropology /Barron's AP World - Chapter 2 Early Societies
Barron's AP World - Chapter 2 Early Societies
This deck covers key concepts, figures, and developments from early societies as presented in Barron's AP World Chapter 2, including aspects of civilization, significant empires, and influential leaders.
aspects of a civilization
economic system based at least partly on trade and specialized labor
a government that provides leadership and enforces laws
a social system that is hierarchical, class-based, and to some degree urbanized
a moral or ethical code
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
aspects of a civilization
economic system based at least partly on trade and specialized labor
a government that provides leadership and enforces laws
a social system that is h...
Sumer
a delta of fertile soil in the southernmost reaches of Mesopotamia that was part of the fertile crescent
Fertile Crescent
part of a larger belt of land between Mesopotamia and Egypt in which one of the earliest civilizations of Southwest Asia began
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city-states
small, regional kingdoms composed of a city and the land surrounding it
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ziggurat
a multi-tiered temple whose height was designed to bring glory to the gods and to its builders
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polytheistic
believing in more than one god
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
aspects of a civilization | economic system based at least partly on trade and specialized labor
a government that provides leadership and enforces laws
a social system that is hierarchical, class-based, and to some degree urbanized
a moral or ethical code |
Sumer | a delta of fertile soil in the southernmost reaches of Mesopotamia that was part of the fertile crescent |
Fertile Crescent | part of a larger belt of land between Mesopotamia and Egypt in which one of the earliest civilizations of Southwest Asia began |
city-states | small, regional kingdoms composed of a city and the land surrounding it |
ziggurat | a multi-tiered temple whose height was designed to bring glory to the gods and to its builders |
polytheistic | believing in more than one god |
Epic of Gilgamesh | the first epic in world literature, it was part of Sumerian religion |
Sargon the Great | a Semitic invader who united the Sumerian city-states around 2,300 BC, establishing the short-lived Akkadian Empire |
Akkadian Empire (capital Akkad) | established by Sargon the Great, this lasted only 100 years but succeeded in spreading Sumerian culture throughout the Fertile Crescent |
Code of Hammurabi | law code set down by Hammurabi, ruler of Babylon; it dealt with issues of family, business, and criminal law |
Menes | a king of upper Egypt who united lower and upper Egypt around 3,100 BC; until this time they had always been divided |
theocracy | a government that is based on religion |
The Old Kingom (3,100-2,200 BC) | the first period of united Egyptian history, it was the era during which the Pyramids of Giza were constructed |
The Middle Kingdom (2,100-1,650 BC) | a 2nd period of strong pharaohs in Egypt, it was during this time that the Grand Canal was dug |
The New Kingdom (1,550-700 BC) | the 3rd and final era of strong pharaohs in Egypt, it saw the construction of massive public buildings and great cities; it was followed by centuries of decline which culminated in the Persian conquest of Egypt in 525 BC |
Grand Canal | a canal that was dug between the Nile River and Red Sea during the time of the Middle Kingdom |
Hyksos | a people south of the Egyptians who invaded Egypt c. 1,650 BC, in between the Middle and New Kingdoms; it literally means “shepherd king” |
Akhenaton | an Egyptian pharaoh who tried to abolish the old, complex religion, and establish a new one that was centered on the pharaoh as god; he failed due to opposition from the Egyptian priesthood |
hieroglyphics | the ancient Egyptian system of writing, it was based on the use of pictures of objects to represent the words they expressed |
papyrus | a thin parchment made from reeds that grew along the banks of the Nile, it was what the ancient Egyptians wrote on |
Rosetta Stone | found in 1798 AD by French soldiers serving under Napoleon in Egypt, this was a stone that had the same thing written in 3 different languages, one of which was Greek; since Greek is known, it allowed linguists to decipher the other two languages, which were Demotic and hieroglyphics |
Jean Francois Champollion | a French linguist who in the 1820s used his knowledge of Greek to decipher the hieroglyphics of the Rosetta Stone |
Queen Ahhotep | an Egyptian queen who helped to drive out the Hyksos |
Hatshepsut | an Egyptian queen during the new kingdom who seized the throne while acting as regent for her stepson, the rightful heir; she is known for her promotion of trade |
Harappa | along with Mohenjo Daro, this was one of the major urban complexes of the Harappan civilization; it was laid out on a planned grid pattern; had around 35,000 people |
Khyber Pass | a opening through the Hindu Kush Mountains that allows easier access to the Indian subcontinent; it was used by both traders and invader throughout the years, such as the Aryans c. 1,500 BC |
Vedas | hymns and chants of the ancient Indians that later became part of the Hindu religion |
Mahayana Buddhism | a 2nd branch of Buddhism that spread through Vietnam, Korea, China, and Japan |
Legalism | an early Chinese political philosophy that advised rule through an iron fist and suppression of dissent; it's central tenet was that allowing people freedom caused disorder |
Shang Yang | the founder of Legalism in 350 BC, during the period of political chaos after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty |