River Valley Civilizations Vocab - Glossary of Key Terms

A people who overtook the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 2270 BC are known as ________.

• Akkadians

• Babylonians

• Hittites

• Assyrians

Answer explanation

The Akkadians, led by Sargon, conquered the Sumerians around 2270 BC, establishing the first known empire in history. This marked a significant shift in power in Mesopotamia, making Akkadians the correct answer.

Land suitable for growing crops is called ________.

• Arable Land

• Barren Land

• Desert Land

• Rocky Land

Answer explanation

Land suitable for growing crops is referred to as arable land. This type of land has the right conditions for agriculture, unlike barren, desert, or rocky land, which are not suitable for crop production.

One of the five major oceans, located around the North Pole, is the ________.

• Arctic Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

Answer explanation

The Arctic Ocean is one of the five major oceans and is located around the North Pole, making it the correct answer. The other options, Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, are not situated in that region.

A people who rose to power in Mesopotamia around 1900 BC, and whose empire later rose again, are called ________.

• Assyrians

• Phoenicians

• Hittites

• Sumerians

Answer explanation

The Assyrians rose to power in Mesopotamia around 1900 BC and established a significant empire. They are known for their military prowess and later resurgence, distinguishing them from the other groups listed.

One of the five major oceans, located between Europe/Africa and the Americas, is the ________.

• Atlantic Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Arctic Ocean

• Southern Ocean

Answer explanation

The Atlantic Ocean is the correct answer as it lies between Europe/Africa and the Americas, distinguishing it from the Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans, which are located in different regions.

A people who took control of Mesopotamia, known for King Hammurabi, are called ________.

• Babylonians

• Sumerians

• Assyrians

• Hittites

Answer explanation

The Babylonians, known for King Hammurabi, were a significant civilization in Mesopotamia. They are famous for creating one of the earliest written legal codes, the Code of Hammurabi, which established laws and justice.

The art of beautiful writing, developed from ancient Chinese characters, is called ________.

• Calligraphy

• Origami

• Pottery

• Sculpture

Answer explanation

The art of beautiful writing that evolved from ancient Chinese characters is known as calligraphy. It focuses on the aesthetic expression of writing, distinguishing it from other forms of art like origami, pottery, and sculpture.

Sections of the Nile River where jagged rocks and rapids make river travel difficult are called ________.

• Cataracts

• Deltas

• Basins

• Oases

Answer explanation

Sections of the Nile River with jagged rocks and rapids are known as cataracts. These areas make navigation difficult, distinguishing them from deltas, basins, and oases, which refer to different geographical features.

An ancient civilization in East Asia, centered along the Huang He River, with early agriculture around 4000 BCE and the Shang Dynasty from 1650-1027 BCE, is called ________.

• China (Shang Dynasty)

• Mesopotamia

• Indus Valley

• Ancient Egypt

Answer explanation

The civilization described is China, specifically during the Shang Dynasty, which is known for its early agriculture along the Huang He River and existed from 1650-1027 BCE.

A pictographic writing system developed in Mesopotamia, using wedge-shaped symbols on clay tablets to represent pictures, sounds, and ideas, is called ________.

• Cuneiform

• Hieroglyphics

• Kanji

• Runes

Answer explanation

Cuneiform is the correct answer as it refers to the ancient writing system from Mesopotamia that used wedge-shaped symbols on clay tablets to convey ideas, sounds, and pictures, distinguishing it from other writing systems like hieroglyphics.