World History I

Early Civilizations Study Guide2014

Name: ___________________________

Egypt

1.) Around what major African river did the Egyptian civilization settle? In what direction does this
river flow (north, south, east, or west)?

2.) What is generally left behind after a rivers flood waters recede?

3.) What was used to symbolize the 2 different kingdoms in early Egypt? What were their colors?

4.) What man united Upper and Lower Egypt? Where did he establish his capital?

5.) The Great Pyramids of Egypt were constructed during the Old Kingdom. For what purpose did
the pyramids serve?

6.) For whom was the 1st step pyramid built?

7.) For whom was the Great Pyramid at Giza built?

8.) Describe the process of mummification.

9.) What group of foreigners invaded and ruled the Egyptians during the Middle Kingdom?

10.) Who was Ahmose and why was he so important?

11.) Who was the 1st female ruler (pharaoh) of Egypt?

12.) What pharaoh wanted to change the Egyptians polytheistic faith into a monotheistic faith?

13.) How long did Ramses II rule over Egypt?

14.) What were the different levels of society in Egypt?

15.) Why was the Rosetta Stone so important to historians and scientists?

Fertile Crescent

1.) What does the word Mesopotamia mean in English?

2.) What are the 2 main rivers in the Fertile Crescent region?

3.) What were the 3 major Sumerian city-states?

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 4.) What is a ziggurat?

5.) What rights did men have in Sumerian society? What rights did women have in Sumerian
society?

6.) Describe Sumerian religion.

7.) What man created the 1st empire in Mesopotamia? He was the leader of the Akkadians.

8.) Why was Hammurabi so important?

9.) What were some of the Sumerians inventions?

Trading Peoples (Aramaeans, Phoenicians,Lydians, Hebrews) :

1.) Which early trading civilization controlled the land trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia?
Where did this civilization make its capital? What language did these people speak?

2.) The Phoenicians settled in Canaanbasically a desert. What did the Phoenicians do to survive?
What wood did they use to construct their ships?

3.) What make the Phoenician alphabet so special? Who could read and write in Phoenicia?

4.) What are the 3 Phoenician port city-states?

5.) Phoenicia also created colonies. What was the name of the colony that Phoenicia created in
Northern Africa?

6.) Where did the Lydian civilization settle? (Hint: It is modern day Turkey)

7.) What product made the Lydian civilization very wealthy?

8.) From what piece of literature have people learned the most about the Hebrews?

9.) What is the Hebrew word for God?

10.) The Hebrew ideas of religion have led to three very popular religions. What are the three
religions that developed out of the Hebrew teachings?

11.) Who is considered the father of all the Hebrews?

12.) How many Israelite tribes existed? (Hint: Jacob had this many sons)

13.) Why were the Israelites forced to go into Egypt?

14.) Who led the Hebrews out of Egypt? Where did he lead the Hebrews? What is the name of the
Hebrew laws created?

15.) He led the Hebrews back into Canaan?

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 16.) Who was the 1st unified king of the Hebrews?

17.) What Israelite king created a capital at Jerusalem?

18.) After the death of King Solomon, the Israelites split up again, this time into 2 kingdoms. What
were the names of the 2 separate kingdoms?

19.) What was the job of the Hebrew prophets?

20.) What man is given credit as the creator of the Torah?

21.) What are the 5 books of the Torah?

22.) What Persian king allowed the Hebrews (Jews) back into the city of Jerusalem?

Powerful Empires (Hittites, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians):

1.) On what plateau did the Hittites build their kingdom?

2.) What made the Hittite armies so strong and devastating?

3.) The Assyrians have very strong weapons. What were their weapons constructed from?

4.) Who is considered the greatest king of the Chaldean empire?

5.) Which 2 of the 7 wonders of the world were located in the city of Babylon?

6.) What new science did the Chaldeans develop?

7.) Who are the 3 most powerful Persian kings?

8.) The Persians built a very important road. What was the name of this road?

9.) What were the 2 Persian gods of good and evil?

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