CHAPTER 2 Main Idea Activities 2.4 (pp. 35 40) The First Civilizations VOCABULARY Some terms to understand: related languages (35): languages that share an original source (come from the same place) to adopt a culture (37): to take on the beliefs or customs (ways of doing things) of a culture that is not your own smelt (37): to melt metal; refine epic (38): a long narrative poem that tells the story of a hero (person who does great things) eclipse (38): the hiding of the sun by the moon; a shadow on the moon created by the Earth secret agents (39): spies held in check (39): made to behave (act in the right way) universal struggle (40): a struggle (fight against something) that is common to all people Holt World History: The Human Journey 11a Main Idea Activities
ORGANIZING INFORMATION Fill in the boxes to complete the chart below. (An example has been completed for you.) Akkadian Assyrian Babylonian Chaldean Hittite Persian EMPIRES OF THE FERTILE CRESCENT IMPORTANT EVENTS Sargon s great empire extended (went) as far as the Mediterranean (sea). Akkadian EMPIRES Hammurabi wrote his code of laws concerning (about) all aspects (parts) of life. People began to smelt (melt) iron. The cavalry soldiers on horseback was used for the first time. Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon into a magnificent (beautiful) city with Hanging Gardens. Conquered (taken over) peoples were allowed to keep their own religions and laws. Holt World History: The Human Journey 11b Main Idea Activities
EVALUATING INFORMATION On the lines provided, write T if the statement is true, or write F if the statement is false. (An example has been completed for you.) T 1. Under the code of Hammurabi, punishment was extremely (very) harsh (tough). 2. Under Hittite law, even minor (small) crimes (actions against the law) received the death penalty (led to the death of the person who broke the law). 3. The Assyrians enslaved (made slaves of) the people they conquered (took over). 4. Of all the empires, only the Chaldeans did not make advances (improvements) in astronomy (the study of stars, planets, and other objects in space) and mathematics. 5. Trade in Babylon prospered (did very well) because of the city s impressive (very good) roads. 6. Secret agents (people working for the government) known as (called) the King s Eyes and Ears first appeared during the rule (control) of Cyrus the Great. Holt World History: The Human Journey 12a Main Idea Activities
REVIEWING FACTS Fill in the blanks with the word or phrase that correctly completes each sentence. (An example has been completed for you.) Nineveh Semitic Assyrian Seven Wonders of the World Semitic 1. The Akkadians spoke a language. 2. The city of was the heart (center) of the Assyrian civilization (organized human culture) in the Fertile Crescent. 3. Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife, and the Greeks regarded (thought) them as one of the. 4. The king had absolute (total) power and was answerable only to (only had to listen to) the god Ashur. Holt World History: The Human Journey 12b Main Idea Activities
REVIEWING FACTS Fill in the blanks with the word or phrase that correctly completes each sentence. Alexander the Great Royal Road Epic of Gilgamesh Zoroastrianism 5. One of the oldest works of literature (writings or books) kept by Assyrian scholars (people who study things) is the _. 6. The Persian Empire built the to connect its cities and expand (increase) trade. 7., which centered (focused) on the struggle (fight) between good and evil, may have influenced (affected) Jewish and Christian thought. 8., a Greek, conquered (took over) the Persian Empire in 331 B.C. Holt World History: The Human Journey 12c Main Idea Activities