Ancient River Valley Vocab Part 1

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Cuneiform

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One of mankind's earliest writing forms, consisting of wedge-shaped inscriptions on clay tablets (Mesopotamia).

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Epic of Gilgamesh

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The first epic story (long poem) about King Gilgamesh and the loss of his friend Enkidu. Once he lost his friend, he went on a quest searching for everlasting life.

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Hammurabi's Code

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One of the first codes of written laws. Philosophy could be summed up as "An eye for an eye."

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Mesopotamia

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"The land between the rivers." A region within the Fertile Crescent that lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Sumer was the first civilization of many.

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Ancient Egypt

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Ancient civilization located along the Nile River in Northeast Africa. Lasted from about 2500 BCE - 30 BCE.

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Mummification

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An embalming process from ancient Egypt that involved removing organs and drying and wrapping the body.

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Necropolis

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Literally a "city of the dead." These burial sites were built outside of the city. These cities were on the western bank of the Nile River.

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The Great Pyramids

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Large tombs that contain tombs of kings from the Old Kingdom dating to roughly 2500 BCE - oldest and only ancient wonder of the world that still exists.

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Irrigation

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A way of supplying water to an area of land, allowing for agriculture.

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Hieroglyphics

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Ancient Egyptian writing system using picture symbols for ideas or sounds.