1. SSWH1
Unit 1 Vocabulary

2. Mesopotamia
The region that was the home of the early civilizations of Sumeria and Babylon
The word “Mesopotamia” from words meaning “between the rivers”
Tigris River and Euphrates River
Area known as the “Fertile Crescent”

3. Sumeria The first empire of Mesopotamia
3500 BCE – 2000 BCE
Many different City-States led by priests and/or kings.
Ziggurat = religious and government building
Sumerian Script = early written language

4. Babylon The empire that came after the Sumerians in Mesopotamia
Most important emperor = Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi
A code of written laws that applied to all Babylonians.
Rich and poor could be punished differently

5. Polytheism Belief in many different gods
“poly” = many
“theos” = gods
Sumeria and Babylonia were both polytheistic societies

6. City-State A city that is also an independent state/nation.
Has its own government
(usually a king)

7. Theocracy A government that is led by a representative of god or gods.
Priests
God-kings

8. Pharaoh The title given to the kings of ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptians believed that the Pharaohs were gods.
This means politics and religion were linked together.

9. Ancient Written Languages
Sumerian = Cuneiform
Usually written on clay tablets
Egyptian = Hieroglyphics
Written on either clay or papyrus
Papyrus = paper made from reeds

10. Impact of Phoenicians
The Phoenicians were people who focused mainly on trade
Excellent ship-builders and sailors
Their main contribution to the ancient word was their language.
Alphabet of letters that stood for sounds
United other ancient languages together

11. Zoroastrianism