THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONSChapter 1, Section 1

Glencoe World History Modern Times

Ancient Mesopotamia• Main Idea: In ancient Mesopotamia, city-states elaborated the concept of the law code

and divine kingship• First civilizations were born near rivers in four areas

• Mesopotamia• Egypt• India • China

• The city-states of Mesopotamia• Cities which had control of surrounding countryside• Topography made city-states vulnerable to invasion• Some fought over resources & others merged to form

empires

What makes a civilization? (Much debate!)Geography Population Tradition/customsFood/Goods Surplus (trade) State Systems Urban CentersSocial Stratification Accumulated learning State ReligionMonumental Art Specialized Occupations

• Empire of Hammurabi

• Based in Babylon• Gained empire through divide & conquer by well-disciplined army• Claimed himself “sun of Babylon, the king who made the four corners of the world

subservient” • Creator of earliest law code that is preserved

• Code of Hammurabi• 282 laws• Strict justice with severe consequences

• No account of motive or accidental circumstances• “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”• Penalties differed among classes

• Many laws focused on family• Arranged marriages that were contractual• Patriarchal

• Women’s duties were in the home• Husband could divorce or harshly punish wife• Father could rule children severelyQ1

Egypt & Divine Kingship

• Main idea: The divinity of the pharaoh and religious belief contributed to the long life of Egyptian culture

• One of the oldest civilizations in the world, built on the Nile River• Nile flooded at regular intervals

• Farmers could plan• Provided irrigation for crops

• Led to security and stability• Egypt’s Three Kingdoms

• Old Kingdom• Monarchs of many titles, most common was pharaoh• Kingship thought to be divine & pharaoh was equal to deities

• Part of universal order• Obedience to Pharaoh helped maintain prosperity

Something to think about.. If obedience to Pharaoh helped maintain prosperity, then who was blamed when times were bad?

• Middle Kingdom• Ended around 1652 BC by invasion

• Hyksos people drove horse-drawn chariots• Egyptians possessed donkey carts• Egyptians learned to make war chariots & bronze weapons

• Drove Hyksos out, leading to ……

• New Kingdom• Built empire

• Considered most powerful state in Southwest Asia• Grew too big and could not maintain frontiers• Collapsed from invading “Sea Peoples” (Aegean Sea) 1085BC

Q2

The Israelites• Main idea: Key beliefs of Judaism that became important to the West

developed during ancient times• History of the Israelites

• Israel• Established under King David• Capital was Jerusalem• Solomon expanded government and building the temple

• Symbol for their religion and the kingdom itself• Tribes of Solomon divided after his death

• Israel• Judah

• Both experienced invasion, those of Judah survived• Became known as Jews• Judaism became term for their religion• Survived as a people without a state

• Maintained identity through faith

• Spiritual Dimensions of Israel- Identity of the Jews, Foundation for Western beliefs• Monotheistic

• Yahweh• Creator & Ruler of the world• All people were His servants, whether or not it was/is understood• Above everything in nature, rather than in nature

• Differed from other religions

• Markers of the Western tradition• Humans are separate from nature & must struggle against it• Humans have particular relationship to a Supreme Being• These beliefs not prominent in Eastern civilizations

• Jewish ideas can be traced in 3 aspects of their religion• Covenant• Law

• Given to Moses• God would guide them if contract was followed

• Prophets• Religious teachers 900-500BC• Provided ideals for social justice Q3

Ancient India• Main idea: Hinduism became a conservative force in Indian society that has lasted

to this day• This civilization developed in fertile Indus River valley

• Known as Indus or Harappan civilization• Advanced

• Well planned cities w/piped water supply & bathrooms• Bathing & washing important to religion

• Believed to have ended via internal problems/perhaps flood

• Aryans -1500 BC• Dominated most of the subcontinent• Use of metal tipped spears• Used distinct social hierarchies called the Four Varnas

• Priestly class, the Brahmins (highest class)• Warriors, Kshatriyas (ku-SHA-tree-yuhs)• Commoners, Vaisyas (VYSH-yuhz)• Peasants, Sudras (SHOO-druhz)

• Ancient India- The Caste System• Social and religious discrimination• Based on occupation and extended family networks

• Born into social station• Difficult to escape due to belief about religious purity

• Higher castes had higher religious purity• Lower castes considered “polluted”• “Untouchables” were seen as most polluted and not included in caste

• Given menial, degrading tasks that were not accepted by other Indians• Required to tap 2 sticks together so others could move away from them

• Benefit is considered sense of order in chaotic time• Modern government trying to eliminate, old

tradition difficult to penetrate-esp. in rural areas

Q4

Hinduism• India was home to two world religions

• Hinduism• Derived from Aryan religion, but included many other beliefs• Stressed the Brahman

• Single force, ultimate reality• If individual self, Atman, sought to know Brahman, then he would merge

with Brahman after death• Reincarnation

• 6th Century• Reborn into another form after death• Karma refers to belief in what one does in this life affects future life

• Justifies caste system

Buddhism• Siddhartha Gautama

• A.K.A. Buddha• Thousands of devoted followers, still practiced• Claimed to be “awakened”

• Concepts• Dukkha

• Suffering: caused by the clinging & craving of things of this life• Can be overcome through Nirvana

• Rebirth• Liberation

• State of “awakening”, bliss

Ancient China

• Main idea: The lessons of Confucius influenced basic Chinese attitudes of deference and loyalty to family

• Zhou Dynasty• Political belief that a ruler was ruler because Heaven had given him a mandate

• “Mandate from Heaven”• Invasion or economic crisis could allow people to doubt mandate & withdraw support

• Family core of society• Father head of household with high position• Devotion to family and ancestors resulted in stable society

• Confucius- Confucuianism• Philosopher who traveled length of China• Lived during time of great confusion – rival armies constantly fighting

• Sought to answer moral question: How do we restore order to our society?• Acting morally, people naturally good• Every person could acquire knowledge & virtue• Obedience to superiors