Chpt. 2

Fertile Crescent-A crescent-shaped area of fertile land in the Middle East that extends from the eastern Mediterranean coast through the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to the Persian Gulf. It was the center of the Neolithic development of agriculture (from 7000 bc), and the cradle of the Assyrian, Sumerian, and Babylonian civilizations

Mesopotamia-An ancient region of southwestern Asia in present-day Iraq, lying between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Its alluvial plains were the site of the civilizations of Akkad, Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria

Sumerians-An ancient region in southwestern Asia, in present-day Iraq, comprising the southern part of Mesopotamia. From the 4th millennium bc it was the site of city-states that became part of ancient Babylonia (those who inhabited sumer)

City-state-An independent, self-governing city that incorporated its surrounding territory, including smaller towns and villages.

Dynasty- A succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field

Ziggurats-a rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound erected by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians

Cuneiform-an ancient wedge-shaped script used in Mesopotamia and Persia

Empire-A government in which the head of state is an emperor or empress

Hammurabi-(died 1750 bc), the sixth king of the first dynasty of Babylonia, reigned 1792–1750 bc. He extended the Babylonian empire and instituted one of the earliest known collections of laws

Unification of Egypt- Narmer-

Pharaohs- the title of the ancient Egyptian kings

Hieroglyphics-written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols (egyptian)

Subcontinent- A large, distinguishable part of a continent, such as North America or southern Africa

Monsoons- A seasonal prevailing wind in the region of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (the wet