AP World History Unit 1 & 2 Notes/Summary +
AMSCO Book Summaries
1). Hunting and gathering
Ans: Means of obtaining subsistence by humans before the mastery of sedentary
agriculture; normally typical of tribal social organization
2). Neolithic
Ans: The New Stone Age between 8000 and 5000 B.C.E.; period in which adaptation of
sedentary agriculture occurred; domestication of plants and animals accomplished
3). Nomads
Ans: Cattle- and sheep-herding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized
societies; commonly referred to as "barbarian" by civilized societies
4). Culture
Ans: Combination of ideas, objects, and patterns of behavior that result from human
social interaction
5). Neolithic/agricultural/agrarian revolution
Ans: Occurred between 8000 and 5000 B.C.E.; transition from hunting and gathering to
sedentary agriculture
6). Pastoralism
Ans: A nomadic agricultural lifestyle based on herding domesticated animals; tended
to produce independent people capable of challenging sedentary agricultural societies
7). Mesopotamia
Ans: Literally "between the rivers"; the civilization that arose in the alluvial plain of the
Tigris-Euphrates river valleys
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, 8). Sumerians
Ans: People who migrated into Mesopotamia circa 4000 B.C.E.; created the first
civilization within the region; organized area into city-states
9). Cuneiform
Ans: A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge-shaped stylus and
clay tablets
10). City-state
Ans: A form of political organization typical of Mesopotamian civilization; consisted of
agricultural hinterlands ruled by an urban-based king
11). Ziggurats
Ans: Massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple connections
12). Babylonian empire
Ans: Unified all of Mesopotamia circa 1800 B.C.E.; collapsed due to foreign invasion
circa 1600 B.C.E.
13). Hammurabi
Ans: The most important Babylonian ruler; responsible for codification of the law
14). Pharaoh
Ans: The term used to denote the kings of ancient Egypt; considered a god as well as a
political and military leader. The term, "great house" refers to the palace of the pharaohs
15). Pyramids
Ans: Monumental architecture typical of Old Kingdom Egypt; used as burial sites for
pharaohs
16). Hieroglyphs
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AMSCO Book Summaries
1). Hunting and gathering
Ans: Means of obtaining subsistence by humans before the mastery of sedentary
agriculture; normally typical of tribal social organization
2). Neolithic
Ans: The New Stone Age between 8000 and 5000 B.C.E.; period in which adaptation of
sedentary agriculture occurred; domestication of plants and animals accomplished
3). Nomads
Ans: Cattle- and sheep-herding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized
societies; commonly referred to as "barbarian" by civilized societies
4). Culture
Ans: Combination of ideas, objects, and patterns of behavior that result from human
social interaction
5). Neolithic/agricultural/agrarian revolution
Ans: Occurred between 8000 and 5000 B.C.E.; transition from hunting and gathering to
sedentary agriculture
6). Pastoralism
Ans: A nomadic agricultural lifestyle based on herding domesticated animals; tended
to produce independent people capable of challenging sedentary agricultural societies
7). Mesopotamia
Ans: Literally "between the rivers"; the civilization that arose in the alluvial plain of the
Tigris-Euphrates river valleys
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 10
, 8). Sumerians
Ans: People who migrated into Mesopotamia circa 4000 B.C.E.; created the first
civilization within the region; organized area into city-states
9). Cuneiform
Ans: A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge-shaped stylus and
clay tablets
10). City-state
Ans: A form of political organization typical of Mesopotamian civilization; consisted of
agricultural hinterlands ruled by an urban-based king
11). Ziggurats
Ans: Massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple connections
12). Babylonian empire
Ans: Unified all of Mesopotamia circa 1800 B.C.E.; collapsed due to foreign invasion
circa 1600 B.C.E.
13). Hammurabi
Ans: The most important Babylonian ruler; responsible for codification of the law
14). Pharaoh
Ans: The term used to denote the kings of ancient Egypt; considered a god as well as a
political and military leader. The term, "great house" refers to the palace of the pharaohs
15). Pyramids
Ans: Monumental architecture typical of Old Kingdom Egypt; used as burial sites for
pharaohs
16). Hieroglyphs
PaperStoc.com Page 2 of 10
