| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Prehistory | time before written history |
| Hominids | members of the group that includes human beings and earlier human-like creatures |
| culture | the way of life of a given people at a given time, including language, behavior, and beliefs |
| technology | the skills and knowledge used by people to make tools and do work |
| cuneiform | Sumerian system of writing using wedge-shaped markings |
| agriculture | the process of growing food and cultivating crops |
| civilization | highly organized society marked by advanced knowledge of trade, government, arts, science, and often written language |
| specialization of labor | the process of artisans focusing on a certain job and doing it efficiently |
| migration | moving from one place to another |
| cultural diffusion | the exchange of goods, ideas, and customs among different cultures |
| polytheism | worship of many gods |
| dynasty | a line of rulers who belong to the same family |
| pharaoh | title of rulers of ancient Egypt |
| theocracy | government headed by religious leaders or a leader regarded as a god |
| bureaucracy | a group of government officials headed by an administrator |
| monsoon | seasonal wind that affects climates and ways of life in southern Asia |
| mandate of heaven | in ancient China, authority granted by heaven to deserving rulers |
| confederation | a loose alliance or union of several city states or groups |
| alphabet | system of symbols or characters that represent the sounds of a language |
| barter | a system of trade in which goods, not money, are exchanged |
| monotheism | belief in one God |
| covenant | a solemn pledge or agreement |
| exodus | the departure of a large group of people |
| satrap | governor of a Persian province |
| polis | city - state of ancient Greece |
| citizen | in ancient Greece, a person who took part in the government of a city-state |
| city-state | an independent state consisting of a city and the surrounding land and villages |
| aristocrats | members of the nobility or the upper class |
| phalanx | in ancient Greece, a military formation in which foot soldiers stood so that their shields overlapped |
| tyrant | in ancient Greece, a person who seized power and established one-man rule |
| oligarchy | form of government in which a small group holds political power |
| democracy | form of government in which the citizens hold power |
| constitution | plan of government |
| rhetoric | art of effective public speaking |
| tragedy | story or play in which the central character struggles against destiny but meets an unhappy end |
| comedy | story or play intended to entertain and amuse, usually with a happy ending |
| philosopher | a thinker or lover of wisdom |
| patricians | a member of the wealthy aristocratic class of ancient Rome |
| republic | a government in which citizens elect leaders |
| plebeian | a citizen of ancient Rome who was not an aristocrat |
| consuls | in ancient Rome, the two officials who headed the executive branch |
| dictator | in ancient Rome, a leader given temporary absolute power during a crisis |
| tribunes | in ancient Rome, an official who represented the Plebeians |
| legionaries | soldiers in the Roman army, which fought in a military unit called a legion |
| Carthago delenda est | Cato's war cry which meant, "Carthage, it must be destroyed" |
| triumvirate | in ancient Rome, a three-person ruling group |
| Pax Romana | the age of peace starting with Augustus, and ending with Marcus Aurelius which was the Golden age of the Roman empire |
| aqueduct | a channel built to carry water |
| lingua franca | the common language of the empire |
| yeshivas | Jewish academies |
| disciples | active followers of a teacher |
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