Early River Valley Civilizations

1. Early River Valley Civilizations Chapter 2

2. Vocabulary I Fertile Crescent: Fertile land located between Tigris/Euphrates and extends into the Nile River Delta Mesopotamia: The land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Floods/Silt) City-State: A city and its surrounding lands that act as a government (Sphere of influence) Dynasty: Leaders from the same family Cultural Diffusion: The spread of ideas, customs and technologies from one people to another Polytheism: Belief in many gods Empire: A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler Hammurabi: Babylonian Ruler: 1st set of written laws

3. Vocabulary II Pharaoh: God/King, ruler of Egypt Theocracy: Government ruled by Religion Hieroglyphics: Picture based writing Subcontinent: “Subsection” of a continent Monsoon: Seasonal rains that bring floods Oracle Bones: Spiritual bones that predict the future Mandate of Heaven: Devine, “God(s)” approval to rule Feudalism: Rulers give land away in return for services

5. City-States in Mesopotamia Chapter 2:1

6. Geography of the Fertile Crescent • Fertile Plains • Tigris and EuphratesRivers flood Mesopotamia once a year • Unpredictable Floods!!! • Farmers planted crops in silt, or fertile soil left behind from flood • Sumerians came to settle in region

8. Geography of the Fertile Crescent • Environmental Challenges • Flooding unpredictable • Defenseless from attack • Limited natural resources (wood, stone, metal) • Creating Solutions • Dug irrigation canals to bring water from river • Built protective walls from mud bricks • Traded food for materials they lacked

9. Sumerians Create City States • Power of Priests • Acted as the Middle-man between farmers and gods • Demanded a portion of every farmers crop for taxes • Monarchs take control • Soldier kings began to take over from priests after 3000 BC • Kings formed dynasties, or rule by a single family

10. The Spread of Cities • By 2500 BC Sumerian cities had expanded well beyond fertile crescent • Cultural Diffusion:a new idea or product spreading from one culture to another • Examples of Cultural Diffusion…. • Work with a partner and come up with a list of 5 examples!!!

11. Sumerian Culture • A Religion of Many Gods • Polytheism:Belief in many gods • Gods were all powerful but acted much like humans • Life in Sumerian Society • Hierarchy of SumerianSociety King Landholders, Priests Wealthy merchants Peasants (working in fields or workshops) Slaves

12. Science and Technology! Invented wheel, sail, cuneiform (system of writing), geometry, Measurement (60 seconds = 1 minute, 360 degrees in a circle) Developed architectural designs such as ramp, arches, columns, and pyramids Advanced!!!

13. The First Empire Builders • Babylonian Empire • Nomadic warriors conquered Sumerians around 2000 BC • Most famous king was Hammurabi • Code of Hammurabi • Oldest known written law code • Harsh set of rules for society • “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” • Not Equal!!!! (Social Class Divisions)

14. You be the Judge! Decide what you think is a fair way to deal with the problem. Then, see what Hammurabi declared using his laws. What if…a carpenter builds a house that falls down and kills the owner?

15. Hammurabi as Judge! If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make its construction sound, and the house which he has built collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house, the builder shall be put to death. Code # 229

16. You be the Judge! What if…a man is unable to pay his debts?

17. Hammurabi as Judge! If a man be in debt and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them over to service. For three years they shall work in the houses of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom. Code # 117

18. You be the Judge! What if…a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back?

19. Hammurabi as Judge! If a man takes in his own home a young boy as a son and rears him, one may not bring claim for that adopted son. Code # 185

20. You be the Judge! What if…a boy slaps his father?

21. Hammurabi as Judge! If a son strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand. Code # 195

22. You be the Judge! How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?

23. Hammurabi as Judge! If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser. Code # 2

24. Main Idea Questions Why is Hammurabi’s Code significant? How did the environment/geography influence the development of Sumeria?

25. Pyramids on the Nile Chapter 2:2

26. Pyramids on the Nile The Geography of Egypt • The Gift of the Nile • Yearly floods brought silt and water to desert land • Gift of the Nile • Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt • Lower Egypt the most prosperous with rich delta soil • Nile provided easy transportation between upper and lower Egypt

27. Nile River via NASA!!

28. Geography of Egypt • Environmental Challenges • Surrounded by vast and barren deserts • Isolated Egyptians but kept out invaders • Geographically Protected/Isolated! • Predictable Floods! • How is this different from Mesopotamia?

29. Egypt United Into a Kingdom • Pharaohs Rule as Gods • Head of government, army, and religion • Theocracy:is when a king is worshipped as a divine/Godlike ruler • Builders of the Pyramids • Kings ruled even after their deaths • More important than palaces they occupied during life. • Showed the organizational power of the Old Kingdom

30. Egyptian Culture • Religion and Life • Worshipped over 2,000 gods and goddesses • Positiveview of afterlife • Mummification: Preserved the dead to prevent decay of the body • Modern Day Mummy!

32. Life in Egypt King (pharaoh), Queen, and royal family Wealthy landholders, Priests, government officials, army officers Middle Class (Merchants and Artisans) Peasant farmers and laborers Slaves (later in Egypt’s history)

33. Egyptian Science and Technology • Egyptian Science and Technology • Developed a calendar that fell short of true solar year by six hours • Used advanced mathematical knowledge to build pyramids • Obsidian Surgical Blades

34. Invaders Control Egypt • Chariot Riders invade Egypt • Used horse drawn chariots to conquer Egypt • Hyksos ruled for 107 years

35. Main Idea Questions How did geography influence the development of Egypt? Why did Egyptians mummify bodies? Give examples of advanced technologies that the Egyptians are responsible for.

36. Planned Cities on the Indus Chapter 2:3

38. The Geography of South Asia • The Geography of South Asia • Rivers, Mountains, and Monsoons • Indus and Gangesrivers form fertile plain south of the Himalayas • Monsoonwinds produce dry air in the winter and heavy rain in the summer • Environmental Challenges • Indus river allowed Indians to trade across Indian Ocean • Mountains and deserts formed natural barrier to invasion • River flooding unpredictable

41. Civilization Emerges on the Indus River • Planned Cities • First cities began to appear around 2500 BC • Cities were planned in grid-like pattern • Like NYC (1st Street- 267th Street) • Culture and Trade • Indus river society was stable, with little violent conflict • Traded with Sumerians • Worshipped many gods

42. End of the Indus Valley Culture • End of Indus Valley Culture • Around 1750 BC, the wealth of the cities began to decline • By 1500, all major cities of the Indus valley had been abandoned resulting from natural disasters

43. Main Idea Questions What are the pros/cons for the seasonal monsoons in India? How were the “planned” cities of the Indus Valley different from other early cities?

44. River Dynasties in China Chapter 2:4

45. River Dynasties in China • The Geography of China • China’s Heartland • 90% of farm land located between Yangtze and Yellow Rivers • Over half of China’s total land is not livable/farmable • Isolated by Himalayas and Pacific Ocean • Environmental Challenges • Planted crops in loess brought by river • Floods unpredictable

47. Civilization Emerges in Shang Times • The First Dynasties • Shang Dynasty arose around 1500 BC • Learned to control Yellow River floods • Dames and Levees • Early Cities • Constantly waged war among each other

48. Social Classes Warrior nobles Peasants

49. The Origins of Chinese Culture • Family and Society • Most important part of Chinese life • Religious Beliefs • Worshipped the spirits of family ancestors • Also polytheistic, communicated to gods through oracle bones • Development of Writing • Written and spoken language two different things • Need to know over 10,000 characters to be a Chinese scholar

50. Zhou Bring New Ideas • Mandate of Heaven • Ruler had right to rule directly from Heaven • Brought about the pattern of the Dynastic Cycle • Dynasties lasted in China until the 1900’s