River Valley CivilizationsRiver Valley Civilizations

EgyptMesopotamia

EgyptEgypt

Favorable GeographyFavorable Geography

Benefits of NileRich soilWaterTransportation

Natural Boundaries

Egyptian HistoryEgyptian HistoryEarly gov’ts to control NileEventually combined:

Lower Egypt (north)Upper Egypt (south)

Old Kingdom 3,100-2,200 BCPyramids built as tombs

Egyptian HistoryEgyptian History

Middle Kingdom2,200-1,730 BCAge of NoblesCanal from Nile to Red SeaEnded by Hyksos with horses/chariots

Egyptian HistoryEgyptian History

New Kingdom1,570-1100 BCThe EmpireRamses IITutankhamen

Egyptian LifeEgyptian LifePharaoh=absolute monarchPrivileged aristocracy

Pharaoh & his familyNoblesPriests

Unprivileged massesPeasantsSlaves

Egyptian LifeEgyptian LifeEconomic activities

Depended chiefly on agriculture

GlassblowingImported timber and copper

Religious beliefsPolytheisticMummification

Egyptian ContributionsEgyptian Contributions Math

Surveyed land Art

Huge stone statuesCarved/painted various scenes

Architecture & engineeringPyramids and templesDams and irrigation canals

Egyptian ContributionsEgyptian ContributionsHieroglyphs on papyrus

HistoryScientific/Math knowledgeGovernment/Business records

ScienceSolar-year calendar (365 days)Prepared mummies Recognized/Treated diseases

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Fertile CrescentFertile

CrescentDivided into:

EastTigris and Euphrates river valleys (Mesopotamia)

WestEastern Mediterranean coast

Influence of GeographyInfluence of Geography

Rivers/CoastlineSeaports/trade developed

Lack of stoneClay for construction & writing

Low, level plainsNo natural barriers to invasion

PeoplesPeoplesSumeriansBabyloniansHebrewsPhoeniciansLydians

HittitesAssyriansChaldeansPersians

SumeriansSumerians4,000BC-Independent city-states

ContributionsCuneiform on clay tabletsSystem of numbers based on 60Basis of time and rotation units

ArchitectureInvented archBuilt ziggurats

Babylonians

Babylonians

1750 BC led by HammurabiConquered other city-states

ContributionsCode of Hammurabi Astronomy

Led to astrology

HebrewsHebrews1400-1200 BC-moved from SE tip of Fertile Crescent to SWConquered by various Mesopotamian peoples

ContributionsMonotheismOld TestamentEmphasis on high moral principles

PhoeniciansPhoenicians1200-800 BC-north of Palestine

on Mediterranean coast Traded throughout MediterraneanEstablished coloniesSpecialized in purple (royal color)

ContributionsMissionaries of civilizationAlphabet

LydiansLydians

After 1000 BC lived in Asia Minor

ContributionCoinage of money

HittitesHittites

About 2000 BC appeared in northern Asia Minor (area rich in iron)

ContributionIron

AssyriansAssyrians After 800 BC built an empire

Learned about iron from Hittites Conquered Fertile Crescent/Egypt Terrorized enemies and subjects

Contributions Government

Divided empire into provincesBuilt military roads

Library Art

ChaldeansChaldeans612 BC overthrew AssyriansGained control of Fertile CrescentEstablished 2nd Babylonian Empire

ContributionsArchitecture

Nebuchadnezzar-Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Astronomy

PersiansPersians 6th century BC expanded from

Plateau of IranLargest empire yet seen

ContributionsGovernment

Provinces ruled by satrap Eyes and Ears of the King

Roads for military and tradeCoined money

Persians (cont’d.)Persians (cont’d.)Contributions

Spread of cultureTreated subject peoples humanely Adopted ideas and practices from their conquered peoples

Stimulated interchange among peoples

ReligionGood and evil

River Valley CivilizationsRiver Valley Civilizations

EgyptMesopotamia