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History and Archaeology

ACT Humanities / History and Archaeology

History and Archaeology

30 Words

15m

1
Renaissance
re
nai
ssance
Noun

the period between the 14th and 16th centuries in Europe, marked by a rise of interest in Greek and Roman cultures, which is dominant in the art, philosophy, etc. of the times

The Renaissance period is known for its remarkable achievements in art, science, and literature.

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2
mesopotamia
me
so
po
ta
mia
Noun

an ancient region located in the eastern Mediterranean, primarily within modern-day Iraq, and parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey

The ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, such as the Sumerians and Babylonians, made significant contributions to human history.

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3
clay tablet
Noun

a small, flat piece of clay that has been molded and hardened, typically used as a medium for writing or inscribing information in ancient civilizations

In ancient Mesopotamia, clay tablets were used for recording administrative documents such as inventories, contracts, and receipts.

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4
scribe
scribe
Verb

score a line on with a pointed instrument, as in metalworking

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5
predate
pre
date
Verb

to exist or occur at an earlier time than something else

Fossils of dinosaurs predate modern humans by millions of years.

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6
ancestral
an
cest
ral
Adjective

inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent

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7
contemporary
con
tem
po
ra
ry
Adjective

belonging to the current era

We studied the contemporary political landscape to understand today's issues.

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8
ca
ta
comb
Noun

an underground burial place with tunnels and chambers for tombs or graves

The catacombs beneath the city were used for centuries as burial sites.

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9
hieroglyph
hie
rog
lyph
Noun

a system of writing used in ancient Egypt, consisting of pictorial symbols or characters that represent objects, ideas, or sounds, and were commonly used for inscriptions on temple walls, tombs, and other monumental structures

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10
genealogy
ge
nea
lo
gy
Noun

the study of family lineages and the history of descent

Thanks to advancements in technology and online databases, conducting genealogy research has become more accessible to individuals interested in their family history.

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11
antiquity
an
tiq
ui
ty
Noun

the historical period before the Middle Ages, especially before the sixth century when Greeks and Romans were the most prosperous

Antiquity refers to the period in history before the Middle Ages, encompassing the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome.

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12
epoch
e
poch
Noun

a period of time in history or someone's life, during which significant events happen

The Renaissance was an epoch of great cultural and artistic achievements in Europe.

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13
ancient
an
cient
Adjective

related or belonging to a period of history that is long gone

She studied ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks in her history class.

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14
monument
mon
u
ment
Noun

a structure built in honor of a public figure or a special event

The towering monument was erected in honor of the soldiers who fought bravely in the war.

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15
relic
re
lic
Noun

an object or part of an object surviving from the past, typically with historical or emotional value, often linked to a person, event, or era

The museum displayed a relic from the Bronze Age, drawing historians from all over the country.

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16
mummify
mu
mmi
fy
Verb

dry up and shrivel due to complete loss of moisture

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17
pre
in
dust
rial
Adjective

relating to the period of time before the widespread adoption of industrial processes and technologies

Life expectancy was generally shorter in pre-industrial societies due to limited access to healthcare and sanitation.

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18
provenance
pro
ve
nance
Noun

the origin or source of a particular thing

The provenance of the painting was traced back to the 18th century.

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19
archeologist
ar
cheo
lo
gist
Noun

a person whose job is to study ancient societies using facts, objects, buildings, etc. remaining in excavation sites

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20
radiocarbon dating
Noun

a method used by scientists to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 they contain

Scientists use radiocarbon dating to estimate the age of ancient artifacts and fossils.

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21
paleolithic
pa
leo
li
thic
Noun

a prehistoric period characterized by the development of the first stone tools, spanning from about 2.5 million years ago to around 10,000 years ago

The Paleolithic era is known for the emergence of early human societies and their use of simple stone tools.

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22
prehistoric
pre
his
to
ric
Adjective

relating or belonging to the time before history was recorded

Archaeologists discovered prehistoric artifacts in the cave.

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23
excavate
ex
ca
vate
Verb

to dig a hole or make a channel in the ground

The workers excavated a trench to lay down the foundation for the building.

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24
artifact
ar
ti
fact
Noun

a man-made object, tool, weapon, etc. that was created in the past and holds historical or cultural significance

Artifacts of early tool-making like stone knives and projectile points show the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Paleolithic humans.

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25
preservationist
pre
ser
va
tio
nist
Noun

a person who advocates or works to protect and maintain natural, historical, or cultural resources from decay, destruction, or neglect

The preservationist campaigned to save the historic building from demolition.

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26
paleontologist
pa
leon
to
lo
gist
Noun

a scientist who studies fossils and ancient life forms to understand the history of life on earth

The paleontologist discovered a new dinosaur species in the fossil-rich region.

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27
cryp
tog
ra
pher
Noun

a specialist who studies and develops systems for secure communication and information protection

The cryptographer devised a new encryption algorithm to enhance data security.

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28
pa
leo
bio
lo
gist
Noun

a scientist who studies ancient life forms, their evolution, behaviors, habitats, and interactions with the environment through the analysis of fossils and other remnants of past life

The paleobiologist excavated fossils from the ancient riverbed to study the evolution of early amphibians.

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29
me
die
va
list
Noun

a scholar or researcher who specializes in the study of the Middle Ages

The renowned medievalist published a groundbreaking study on medieval manuscript illumination.

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30
alchemy
al
che
my
Noun

the ancient practice of trying to turn common metals into gold

While no one succeeded in using alchemy to create gold, it led to modern chemistry's birth.

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