Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus River Valley, China, Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Nubians SOL Mrs. Gallitz

SOL 3a civilizations: time and place During the New Stone Age, permanent settlements appeared in river valleys and around the Fertile Crescent. River valleys provided water and rich soil for crops as well as protection from invasion.

River Valley Civilizations Where were the earliest civilizations located? When did these civilizations exist? River valley civilizations (about 3500 to 500 B. C. [ B. C. E.]) Mesopotamian civilization: Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys (Southwest Asia) Egyptian civilization: Nile River Valley and Nile Delta (Africa) Indian civilization: Indus River Valley (South Asia) Chinese civilization: Huang He Valley (East Asia) Why did ancient civilizations develop in river valleys? These river valleys offered rich soil and irrigation water for agriculture, and they tended to be in locations easily protected from invasion by nomadic peoples.

Other civilizations in Africa and the Fertile Crescent… Other early civilizations (about 2000 to 500 B. C.) Hebrews settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia). Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia). Nubia was located on the upper (southern) Nile River (Africa).

Phoenicians and Hebrews (part of the Fertile Crescent)

Nubia (Kush) Phoenicians and Hebrews

Mesopotamia— “between the rivers” Sumerians—1 st great civilization in Mesopotamia – Flooding—rivers Euphrates & Tigris; Built dikes & reservoirs – Writing—used pictograms, which represented objects; Later writing became cuneiform, which had groups of signs that stood for sounds – Wrote down stories—most famous Epic of Gilgamesh – Priests had the most power Babylonians—next empire in Mesopotamia – Ruled by hereditary rulers (rulers who inherit the throne from their fathers) – Babylonia was ruled by hereditary rulers, not priests – Best known ruler was King Hammurabi, who wrote a law code. Some basic ideas of the code were: punishments based on social classes retribution (an eye for an eye) Important rights extended to women – Rigid (strict) class structure; class division (slaves, common people, nobles) – Hammurabi’s Code strongly protected the privileges of the nobles Both Sumerians and Babylonians were polytheistic (religion). – Gods kept the cycle of seasons —priests were honored – Religion reflected people’s preoccupation with the flood control & irrigation

Egyptians Geography dominated Egyptian life Egypt is called the Gift of the Nile Early rulers, known as pharoahs, had a strong central government Pharoahs claimed to have divine powers (including the power to make the Nile River rise) – Egyptians created bureaucracy to carry out pharoah’s wishes – Bureaucracy is where a large number of administrators run department and create procedures – Egypt was an orderly society, symbolized by the Egyptian pyramids Egyptian technology – Pyramids required considerable skill in engineering & mathematics – Egyptians also developed other technology—they worked with copper and other metals, used plows in fields, and rode chariots in combat – Writing was called hieroglyphs, where pictures represented words, sounds, and ideas

China (Huang He River) The Huang He (aka Yellow River) was the center of gov’t. – Xia dynasty ruled first – followed by the Shang dynasty – Followed by the Zhou dynasty – Dynasty: a lines of rulers from the same family Shang dynasty – were sophisticated in crafts and production of weapons – Developed a complex and effective government bureaucracy – Created iron tools & iron-tipped plows – Managed sophisticated system of irrigation canals Zhou – Continued developing the achievements of the Shang

Indus River Valley Developed before China Ancient technology included a potter’s wheel and oxcart (these are still important in some villages today) 2500 BC—Two massive, important ancient cities were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa Thousands of farmers supported the cities; these farmers were protected by the city government Harappa – Used baked bricks for building (better than sun-dried) – They were literate (could read and write) and used pictographic writing system for trade and commerce – Their writings have not yet been translated – Harappan civilization lasted 1000 years; it ended in 1750 BC when Aryan invaders (nomadic & violent) from the Hindu Kush (Mts.) pushed south into India

Ancient Nubia (Kush) Major trading civilization (south of Egypt) Capital was Napata, later changed to Meroe – Meroe had a abundant natural resources and became the largest iron-smelting center in Africa Iron technology and iron goods spread from Meroe to sub-Saharan Africa traded with India & the Arabian peninsula for luxury goods – Rulers of Kush lived grandly, like Egyptian pharoahs – Kushites developed a system of writing, but it has not been deciphered yet – It is clear they had an script (alphabet) that may have been as good as the Phoenicians

Phoenicians Great traders of the Mediterranean Sea Famous for their dyes Famous for their cities: Byblos, Tyre, and Sidon Set up numerous trading colonies, including Carthage, which played a major role in later events Trade created needs for communication and record-keeping – Phoenicians developed an alphabet that is still used today in many parts of the world – Known for shipbuilding, exploration, & alphabet, which later became the basis of the Greek alphabet

Hebrews Lived south of the Phoenicians Left a huge legacy, despite their small numbers and nomadic lifestyle Believed in ONE god; this type of belief is called monotheism – Monotheism was very rare in the Ancient world – Hebrews had a covenant, or promise, with God – They believed they were God’s chosen people – They also believed in prophets, or teachers sent by God to inform the people – The prophets called for social justice and the value of all people: “learn to do good, devote yourselves to justice, aid the wronged, uphold the rights of the orphan, defend the widow – Therefore, in Hebrew justice, all people were equal before the law; Ten Commandments

SOL 3b development of social, political, and economic patterns, including slavery River valleys were the “Cradles of Civilization.” Early civilizations made major contributions to social, political, and economic progress.

What were the social characteristics of early civilizations? Development of social patterns Hereditary rulers: Dynasties of kings, pharaohs Rigid class system where slavery was accepted

Development of political patterns World’s first states (i.e., city-states, kingdoms, empires) Centralized government, often based on religious authority Written law codes (e.g., Ten Commandments, Code of Hammurabi) What were the political characteristics of early civilizations?

Development of economic patterns Use of metal (e.g., bronze, iron) tools and weapons Increasing agricultural surplus: Better tools, plows, irrigation Increasing trade along rivers and by sea (Phoenicians) Development of the world’s first cities Development of the practice of slavery within most cultures in the ancient world, taking various forms What were the economic characteristics of early civilizations?

SOL 3c development of religious traditions Religion was a major part of life in all early civilizations. What religious traditions developed in ancient civilizations? Development of religious traditions Polytheism was practiced by most early civilizations. Monotheism was practiced by the Hebrews.

SOL 3d origins, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Judaism The monotheism of Abraham became the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—religions that changed the world. The Hebrews were the first to become monotheists.

Hebrews—Judaism What were the essential beliefs of Judaism? Origins of Judaism (remember the BC calendar goes backward!) 2000 BC Abraham—father of Judaism; God spoke to Abraham and formed the covenant; Abraham led the Jews to Canaan/Palestine (promised-land) 1600 BC Exodus—the Jews had to leave Canaan due to ten-year drought; After 400 years in Egypt, 1200 BC Moses, raised by pharoah, discovered he was a Jew; God spoke to Moses and told him to lead the people back to their promised land; 1000 BC Establishment of Jerusalem Jew are said to have settled in Canaan, which they believed their god had given them. A Hebrew kingdom was formed by 1200 BC. Later it split into Israel and Judah Wars and famine often forced Hebrews to leave their “Promised Land.” The Hebrews came to be called Jews and their religion, Judaism

Hebrews—Judaism How did Judaism influence Western civilization? Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Judaism Belief in one God (monotheism) Torah, which contains the written records and beliefs of the Jews Ten Commandments, which state moral and religious conduct

Spread of Judaism Judaism is a non-prosletyzing religion, therefore Jews do not actively seek to add new members to their faith. Instead, you must be born Jewish to be one of God’s chosen people. Therefore, Judaism spread only when the Jews were forced to move from their “Promised Land” to other locations.

SOL 3e development of language and writing Language and writing were important cultural innovations. What forms of language and writing existed in early civilizations? Language and writing Pictograms: Earliest written symbols in Mesopotamia Cuneiform: (Sumer)—what pictograms developed into Hieroglyphics: Egypt Alphabet: Phoenicia