Five Themes of Ancient Civilizations By: Rebecca Huff

Ancient Egypt

Relative location: Absolute location:

Region and Human Environment Interaction The physical characteristics of Ancient Egypt was the vast desert, the Nile and the banks of the Nile, and all the man-made lakes. There is a lot of fertile soil along the Nile River and farmers used this soil to grow their crops. The “gifts of the Nile”, or resources of the Nile River, include fish, ducks, geese, other edible birds, and papyrus. The dark mud that was left behind after the annual flooding of the Nile was also one of the gifts of the Nile, and it enriched the soil and made farmland extremely productive. The papyrus was used for baskets and paper. The Growing Season of the Nile was when the Osiris came back, or when the annual flooding of the Nile occurred. The Egyptians adapted to the environment by using the Nile for transportation, a food source, and much, much more.

Economics and Movement Artisans produced many paintings for the pharaoh. When archaeologists found the tombs of many different pharaohs they found many different paintings inside of their tombs that explained their lives or what they wanted in the afterlife. The farmers of Egypt produced many different kinds of food. As far as we know Egypt did not have a money system. Instead they used the trade system. The Egyptians exchanged and traded their goods with neiboring countries using the Nile River as transportation. The slaves also helped the Egyptians produce food/objects. Many countries had to pay a tax to Ancient Egypt so that Egypt would not hurt of conquer them. This tax included anything that the Egyptians wanted from the country.

Political Science and Government The pharaoh ruled over all Egypt and he was considered a god. You must do whatever he says, you have no choice. The pharaoh makes up all the laws and whatever he says goes. Many different countries did what the pharaoh of Egypt asked them to do, or gave him what he asked them to give him because they were scared that he would hurt or conquer them if they did not do or give him what he wanted. When the pharaoh dies usually his first son inherits the throne. If not his first son, usually someone from his dynasty will inherit this huge task.

Knowledge, Education, and the Arts The Egyptians did/made many unique things that other civilizations may not have done, such as: Building a pyramid Having the same religion Building an Irrigation System Having hieroglyphics as their writing system Supreme ruler - Pharaoh Calendar - Osirus Paintings - Art Style Beliefs - About the afterlife Ect. We can learn from their architecture that the Egyptians were really intelligent about how/when they build things. Also we can learn that the Egyptians were really looking forward to the afterlife since the pharaoh was always building a pyramid or tomb for themselves. Egyptian music was usually played at festivals, and festivals were celebrated to honor the gods or goddesses. The Egyptian writing teaches us everything that the Egyptians wanted to record, the battles, their religion, and even everyday life. The Egyptians did/made many unique things that other civilizations may not have done, such as: Building a pyramid Having the same religion Building an Irrigation System Having hieroglyphics as their writing system Supreme ruler - Pharaoh Calendar - Osirus Paintings - Art Style Beliefs - About the afterlife Ect. We can learn from their architecture that the Egyptians were really intelligent about how/when they build things. Also we can learn that the Egyptians were really looking forward to the afterlife since the pharaoh was always building a pyramid or tomb for themselves. Egyptian music was usually played at festivals, and festivals were celebrated to honor the gods or goddesses. The Egyptian writing teaches us everything that the Egyptians wanted to record, the battles, their religion, and even everyday life.

Religion and Philosophy The Egyptians had over 3,000 gods and goddesses that they worshiped. They had a god or goddess for practically everything, from the Sun God Ra to the Ruler of the Underworld Isis. Their meaning of live was to serve the pharaoh and the gods/goddesses and to prepare for the afterlife. This affects their lives and the development of their culture because everyone wants to pass the feather of truth and make it to the underworld. Their belief was Polytheism, or the belief in many gods and goddesses.

Sociology The Egyptian Social Pyramid was in the following order: (the higher they are on this list, the more power they had) Pharaoh Priests Royal Family Nobles Scribes Artisans Farmers Slaves The Egyptians live in groups such as families. They usually have a mother, father, and some kids. They mothers usually gave birth in a shack and they usually stayed there for 14 days. Woman usually married at the age of 14, Men at the age of 20. The Egyptian children always took care of their parents when they got old or sick. The daily life of an Egyptian consists of the men going hunting, woman cooking, children doing their chores, worshiping their gods, and many other things. The Egyptian Social Pyramid was in the following order: (the higher they are on this list, the more power they had) Pharaoh Priests Royal Family Nobles Scribes Artisans Farmers Slaves The Egyptians live in groups such as families. They usually have a mother, father, and some kids. They mothers usually gave birth in a shack and they usually stayed there for 14 days. Woman usually married at the age of 14, Men at the age of 20. The Egyptian children always took care of their parents when they got old or sick. The daily life of an Egyptian consists of the men going hunting, woman cooking, children doing their chores, worshiping their gods, and many other things.

Mesopotamia / Sumer Relative Location: Between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Absolute Location: Relative Location: Between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Absolute Location:

Region / Human Environment Interaction Summer's soil was very fertile and floods were unpredicted. The region was very hot and dry. There was a fertile crescent that produced many beautiful harvests of wheat, barley, sesame, flax, and various fruits and vegetables. The farmers of Sumer depended on this harvest to adopt to the climate and environment in the area. The climate of Sumer ranged from cool to hot seasons, and often the temperatures there went up to, or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Sumer experienced moderate rainfall. The land of Mesopotamia was full of marshes and it brought food, protection, and life to the people there.

Economics and Movement Trade was developed in Sumer due to farmers learning how to irrigate their land. People could not grow more food then they were able to eat. Ur, a city-state in Mesopotamia was a major trade center. The temples were the location for commercial activity and the “chief employer”. People used the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to transport goods for trade. Using these rivers made trading easy and economical. Strong currents moved the boats downstream, but the current made it so they could only go one direction. People in the mountains needed wheat and barley but they could give timber, limestone, gold, silver, and copper. People from different areas of Mesopotamia traded what they had for what they needed. The Mesopotamians did not use money, but they used the barter system, or a developed writing system to keep track of buying and selling. Scribes kept accurate recordings of these transactions by writing on clay tablets.

Political Science and Government Sumer had many independent city-states. The priests governed all of Sumer’s city- states until about 3,000 B.C. when kings assumed command. The people of Sumer obeyed laws and pay taxes to declare their pilgrimage to their gods.

Knowledge, Education, and the Arts The Mesopotamians created many new ideas, and created many different “new” objects. Such as: The invention of the wheel The first writing system The twelve-month calender The development of bronze and iron The first irrigation system The world’s first cities were probably located in southern Mesopotamia. We can learn from their printing, sculpture, architecture, music, and festivals that Sumer was a very artistic culture. The Mesopotamians created many new ideas, and created many different “new” objects. Such as: The invention of the wheel The first writing system The twelve-month calender The development of bronze and iron The first irrigation system The world’s first cities were probably located in southern Mesopotamia. We can learn from their printing, sculpture, architecture, music, and festivals that Sumer was a very artistic culture.

Religion and Philosophy In Sumer each town was thought to have been protected by its own, uniqe god. The temple was the center of worship, and it was also the center of the city. 2,000 B.C. - Ziggurats, temple towers, wr built to link heaven and earth. Ziggurats are large, pyramid shaped structures wich on top a temple was built. Ziggurat of Babylon was known as Etemenankia or “House of the Platform between Heaven and Earth.” Tey were often decorated with pillars and other ornamentation. Gods and Goddesses There were over 3,000 gods and goddesses that were called digir in Sumerian. The gods/goddesses looked and acted like people. They had fiests, marriages, children, wars. They also had the same type of emotions as people, such as (they could be) jealous, angry, joyful, or kind. Every city had its own set of gods/goddesses (above) that they must obey, sing hyms for, say prayers, make sacrifices, and bring offerings to the local temple for. The priests told the people what the gods/goddesses wanted them to do, and they would do it. They believed that the gods/goddesses could punish or reward them. In Sumer each town was thought to have been protected by its own, uniqe god. The temple was the center of worship, and it was also the center of the city. 2,000 B.C. - Ziggurats, temple towers, wr built to link heaven and earth. Ziggurats are large, pyramid shaped structures wich on top a temple was built. Ziggurat of Babylon was known as Etemenankia or “House of the Platform between Heaven and Earth.” Tey were often decorated with pillars and other ornamentation. Gods and Goddesses There were over 3,000 gods and goddesses that were called digir in Sumerian. The gods/goddesses looked and acted like people. They had fiests, marriages, children, wars. They also had the same type of emotions as people, such as (they could be) jealous, angry, joyful, or kind. Every city had its own set of gods/goddesses (above) that they must obey, sing hyms for, say prayers, make sacrifices, and bring offerings to the local temple for. The priests told the people what the gods/goddesses wanted them to do, and they would do it. They believed that the gods/goddesses could punish or reward them.