Early River Early River CivilizationsCivilizations

MesopotamiaMesopotamia”Land between the Rivers””Land between the Rivers”

► Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent► Euphrates and Euphrates and

Tigris RiversTigris Rivers► Rivers flood leaving Rivers flood leaving

mud or silt for cropsmud or silt for crops► Surplus of crops Surplus of crops

allowed villages to allowed villages to growgrow

►Multiple Multiple city-statescity-states developdevelop

Environmental Challenges Environmental Challenges

PROBLEMS► Unpredictable Unpredictable

floodingflooding►No natural barriersNo natural barriers►No natural No natural

resourcesresources

SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS► Irrigation ditchesIrrigation ditches►Walls of mud bricksWalls of mud bricks► Trade for raw Trade for raw

materialsmaterials

Sumerian technology & invention (3300 Sumerian technology & invention (3300 b.c.)b.c.)

► The wheel, the sail, the plow, use bronzeThe wheel, the sail, the plow, use bronze► Arithmetic and geometryArithmetic and geometry► Architectural innovations: arches, columns, Architectural innovations: arches, columns,

ramps, zigguratramps, ziggurat

► The 4,000-year-old ziggurat (temple tower) at Ur honored the moon god Nanna. A statue of the god once stood at the top of the temple and was washed, clothed, and fed by priests.

http://wn.com/Ziggurat_of_Ur

► Cuneiform-system of writing. Not Cuneiform-system of writing. Not pictographspictographs

►Negative view of afterlifeNegative view of afterlife► PolytheismPolytheism – belief in many gods – belief in many gods

Cont. Cont. ► Sargon of AkkadSargon of Akkad (2350 b.c.) defeated Sumer. Created (2350 b.c.) defeated Sumer. Created

first world empire. first world empire. ► (2000 b.c.) Amorites invade and conquer mesopotamia.(2000 b.c.) Amorites invade and conquer mesopotamia.► HammurabiHammurabi, King of Amorites, puts together code of , King of Amorites, puts together code of

laws (282) & displayed throughout empirelaws (282) & displayed throughout empire

HammurabiHammurabi

► http://http://www.wsu.edu:8080/www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/world_civ_reader_1/hammurabi.htmlhammurabi.html

Egypt

►Nile River, flows northward into Mediterranean►Longest river in the world (4,100 miles)►River worshipped as a god►Egypt was “gift of the Nile”

Egypt

►Nile flooded same time each year►Kings were gods – Pharaohs ►Theocracy –rule based on religious

authority►Lower and Upper Egypt was united by

king Narmer. (3000 b.c.)

PyramidsPyramids

► Belief that Kings rule after death. Burial Belief that Kings rule after death. Burial very important.very important.

►Use 2 million blocks that weigh at least 2.5 Use 2 million blocks that weigh at least 2.5 tons each, structure covers 13 acrestons each, structure covers 13 acres

SphinxSphinx► ““Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening

upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?” She strangled and devoured upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?” She strangled and devoured anyone unable to answer anyone unable to answer

► "There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the "There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first." first."

Religion

►Egypt was polytheisticEgypt was polytheistic►Believe in afterlifeBelieve in afterlife►Royal Egyptians were preserved by Royal Egyptians were preserved by

mummification – embalming & drying mummification – embalming & drying a corpse to prevent decay.a corpse to prevent decay.

►Fill coffin with items for use in Fill coffin with items for use in afterlifeafterlife

► First they draw out the brains through the nostrils First they draw out the brains through the nostrils with an iron hook… Then with a sharp stone they with an iron hook… Then with a sharp stone they make an incision in the side, and take out all the make an incision in the side, and take out all the bowels… Then, having filled the belly with pure bowels… Then, having filled the belly with pure myrrh, cassia, and other perfumes, they sew it up myrrh, cassia, and other perfumes, they sew it up again; and they steep it in mineral salt, leaving it again; and they steep it in mineral salt, leaving it under for 70 days… At the end of the 70 days, they under for 70 days… At the end of the 70 days, they wash the corpse and wrap the whole body in wash the corpse and wrap the whole body in bandages of waxen cloth.bandages of waxen cloth.

► Egypt developed Egypt developed hieroglyphicshieroglyphics – – writing systemwriting system

►Write on papyrus Write on papyrus (plant) reeds.(plant) reeds.

HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics

Indus River ValleyIndus River Valley►Mountains separate from worldMountains separate from world►DesertsDeserts►Ganges and Indus Rivers support providing Ganges and Indus Rivers support providing

fertile landfertile land►Monsoons dominate India’s climateMonsoons dominate India’s climate

Settlements/BuildingsSettlements/Buildings

►Planned cities (Roads, plumbing, wallsPlanned cities (Roads, plumbing, walls

► Road systemRoad system► Advanced plumbingAdvanced plumbing► Bricked citiesBricked cities

► Prayed for safetyPrayed for safety► Theocracy Theocracy ► Worship ShivaWorship Shiva► PriestsPriests► Sacred animals Sacred animals

► Trade (gold, silver, jewels) for goodsTrade (gold, silver, jewels) for goods► Use River for transporting goodsUse River for transporting goods► Strong central gov’tStrong central gov’t► Trade w/ Mesopotamians Trade w/ Mesopotamians

► Known as Harrappan civilization Known as Harrappan civilization ► Known for city planning, advanced plumbing Known for city planning, advanced plumbing

system, standard size brickssystem, standard size bricks

ReligionReligion

►Worshipped Shiva, cattle, fertility imagesWorshipped Shiva, cattle, fertility images

Economic LifeEconomic Life

►Farming, long-distance tradeFarming, long-distance trade

ChinaChina►1. Himalaya Mountains, Huang He 1. Himalaya Mountains, Huang He

(Yellow River) and Yangtze rivers, (Yellow River) and Yangtze rivers, Yellow Sea, Deserts, plateau of TibetYellow Sea, Deserts, plateau of Tibet

►2. Flooding rivers, Isolation, supplied 2. Flooding rivers, Isolation, supplied own goods, invasionsown goods, invasions

►3. Walled Cities, palaces, tombs, 3. Walled Cities, palaces, tombs, settlements are now modern cities, settlements are now modern cities, farming, 1farming, 1stst dynasties formed from dynasties formed from settlementssettlements

ChinaChina

►4. warrior nobles & Peasants4. warrior nobles & Peasants

►5. Central Authority. Elderly have special 5. Central Authority. Elderly have special rights. Women treated as inferiorrights. Women treated as inferior

►6. Worshipped spirits of family 6. Worshipped spirits of family ancestors, consulted gods through ancestors, consulted gods through oracle bonesoracle bones

ChinaChina

►7. many written characters 7. many written characters representing an idearepresenting an idea

►8. manufactured weapons bronze 8. manufactured weapons bronze work, iron, roads, canals, coined work, iron, roads, canals, coined money, blast furnacesmoney, blast furnaces

►9. Embroidered silk clothing9. Embroidered silk clothing