Study of the earth's surface, climate, countries, people, and cultures.

Before Christ

Anno Domini; in the year of our Lord

The study of ancient people by means of recovering, preserving, and evaluating remains from the past.

Object from the past with historical interest.

Scientist who studies the past through excavations and artifacts

excavation site

document, account, or object that recalls firsthand an event in history

document that retells a firsthand account

documents that uses a secondary source to retell or summarize information

way of life

continents of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, Antarctica, and island nations of the Pacific, called Oceania

system of authority to govern people and punish evil

large group of people who think of themselves as one and are united under the same ruler and same general laws

land on which a nation dwels

government ruled by a chief

government whose leader is often born into office, makes and enforces the law, and rules until death

government ruled by military leader who often comes to power by force and takes away individual freedoms from the people; usually rules until death

government ruled by religious authority

government with a king or queen whose most powerful leaders are usually the prime minister, premier cabinet, or members of parliament.

government whose laws are decided by the voting majority

government run by representatives of the people

long, curved strip of land in western Asia known for its rich soil and historic past; also known as the Cradle of Civilization

"between the rivers"; the area of the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates

river of the Fertile Crescent whose name means "arrow"

river of the Fertile Crescent whose name means "that which makes fruitful"

group of people who share a culture

Arab nomads who wander from place to place with their herds and belongings

ancient civilization along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

supplying land with water

most important and best-preserved ancient city in Mesopotamia

citizen or Ur; father of the Jewish nation

British archaeologist who excavated Ur

southern part of Sumer

powerful ruler of Ur

best-preserved ziggurat in Mesopotamia

part of modern day Israel

people whose ships connected the civilizations of the Middle East through trade and travel; first great sea traders of the ancient world

trading post; one of the greatest cities of ancient times

early seaport and shipbuilding center

plant use for making a paper-like material

Phoenician cities famous for producing purple dye and blown glass

sea snail from which purple dye was made

small, rich nation on the western coast of Asia Minor

people traveling in groups with their pack animals

to trade or exchange goods without the use of money

last king of Lydia

source of the Jordan River

Longest and most important river in Israel

Crack in the earth's surface

Israel's largest freshwater lake; also known as Lake Tiberias

Lowest place on the earth's land surface; on of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth

Hebrews; descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

king of Egypt

God's chosen man to lead the Israelites our of slavery

peninsula between Egypt and the Promised Land

mountain where God gave the Ten Commandments or Israelites

God's basic laws for right and wrong

God's chosen man to lead Israelites into Canaan

most well known Canaanite god

walled city conquered by Israel

leader to deliver the Israelites from their conquerors

Israel's first king

Israel's second king

Israel's third king

location of Solomon's Temple

made of the ten tribes of Israel; still called Israel

made of two tribes of Israel; called Judah; location of Jerusalem

capital of Assyria

powerful king of Assyrian Empire who controlled most of Fertile Crescent, part of Asia Minor, and part of the land of Egypt

Assyrian king who attacked the two tribes of Judah and whose army was destroyed by God

ancient city on banks of Euphrates River; center for world trade; considered a powerful empire

great ruler during the First Babylonian Empire

nearly 300 laws written by Hammurabi about marriage, business, farming, and the everyday life of Babylonians

people of southern Mesopotamia who overthrew the Assyrian Empire

Chaldean king who overthrew Assyrian Empire

established by Chaldean King Nabopolassar

Chaldean king; son of Nabopolassar who hoped to make Babylon the world's most beautiful city

Jewish captive who was trained to serve the king of Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar's grandson who ruled Babylon

leader of Persia who invaded Babylon, killed Belshazzar, and conquered the Second Babylonian Empire

one of the largest empires in history under the Cyrus the Great

Greek ruler who invaded and defeated the Persian Empire

last king of the Persian Empire

materials found in God's creation that helpful to man

four geographical areas of the Middle East

Israel's longest and most important river

temporary river that appear in heavy rains

areas of high, level land

highest peak in the Middle East

area that receives less than ten inches of rain per year; land too dry or too cold to grow many plants

weather conditions that include hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters

weather condition with little rainfall

head of a Bedouin tribe

founder of Islam

largest religion in the Middle East; official religion in most Middle Eastern countries

religion of those who follow Old Testament and Talmud teachings

collection of teachings on Jewish law

Jewish place of worship

leader of Jewish worship

belief that Jesus is the promised Messiah and that His death and resurrection make salvation possible

countries of the Fertile Cresent

movement that urged Jewish people from other countries to return to Israel

first prime minister of Israel