Key Terms in Early Civilizations

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Surplus

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An amount of something left over when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply over demand.

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Traditional Economy

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An economic system in which traditions, customs, and beliefs shape the goods and the services the economy produces.

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Civilization

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The stage of human social and cultural development and organization that is considered most advanced.

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Steppe

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A large area of flat unforested grassland in southeastern Europe or Siberia.

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Polytheistic

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Belief in or worship of more than one god.

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Artisan

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A worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.

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Pictograph

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A pictorial symbol for a word or phrase. Pictographs were used as the earliest known form of writing.

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Scribe

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A person who copies out documents, especially one employed to do this before printing was invented.

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Cultural Diffusion

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The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

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City-State

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A city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.