SOCIAL STUDIES VOCABULARY: CHAPTER 1
History: Written and other recorded events of people
Prehistory: Time before writing was invented
Archaeologist: Scientist who examines objects to learn about the
human past.
Oral Traditions: Stories passed down by word of mouth
Geography: The study of earth’s surface and the processes that
shape it
Stone Age: A period of time during which early humans made
lasting tools and weapons mainly from stone; the
earliest known period of human culture
Nomad: A person who has no settled home
Fertile: Rich in the substances plants need to grow well; describes
soil and land
Domesticate: To adapt wild plants for human use; tame wild
animals and breed them for human use
Irrigation: Supplying land with water through a network of canals
Surplus: More than is needed
Artisan: A worker who is especially skilled at crafting items by hand
Civilization: A society with cities, a central government, job
specialization, and social classes
Social Class: A group of people with similar backgrounds, incomes,
and ways of living