Ancient Civilizations

What does ancient mean?  Ancient means very old.

What is a civilization?  A civilization is a culture that builds cities, has achievements in art, literature, science, and technology.

What are characteristics?  Characteristics are different traits.

What is a contribution?  A contribution is the act of giving or doing something.

What are some of the ancient civilizations that have made lasting contributions? China Egypt Greece Rome Mali

Lasting Contributions from Ancient China

The Chinese invented many things that we use today- –Kites –Silk cloth –The compass –Bronze –Fireworks –Paper money –Gunpowder---and many more

Lasting Contributions from Ancient Egypt

The Egyptians invented many things that we use today- –Paper made from papyrus –365 day calendar –Clocks

Ancient Greece

Where is Greece? Greece is located in the Mediterranean Sea.

Using Latitude and Longitude On your map find: –39° North –22° East

Greece is located in the eastern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere on the continent of Europe.

Greece is a landform called a peninsula. Peninsulas are landforms surrounded on three sides by water.

The land in Greece has many mountains and hills.

There is only a limited amount of rich soil in Greece.

How did the Greeks adapt to their environment? –Some Greeks were farmers –They used the limited rich soil and farmed on hillsides

–Some ancient Greeks were shipbuilders

–Some Greeks were traders –They traded with their neighbors across the Mediterranean Sea

Greece had small, independent communities because they were separated by many mountains.

What lasting contributions came from ancient Greece?

Architecture We put columns on our buildings, much like the ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks used three styles of columns in their buildings.

Doric Columns The doric style of column is plain and sturdy.

Ionic Columns Ionic columns are thinner and have a scroll type design at the top.

Corinthian Columns The Corinthian column was rarely used in ancient Greece. It has very fancy carvings of acanthus leaves at the top.

The Parthenon

If you think you’ve seen buildings like the Parthenon, you are right!

Government We use many of the ideas about government that the ancient Greeks used.

Ancient Greece is called the “Birthplace of Democracy”. Democracy means “rule by the people” Our government in the U.S. is a democracy.

Direct Democracy The ancient Greeks had a Direct Democracy. That means that each citizen directly cast his vote for each law.

Sports The Olympics we have today are fashioned after the Olympic Games started thousands of years ago in ancient Greece.

Art The ancient Greeks are famous for their mosaics and sculptures. There are many examples of Greek pottery that still remain intact today.

Literature The Greeks made contributions to literature in –Plays –Aesop’s Fables

Ancient Civilizations Rome

Where is Rome? Rome is a city located in the middle of the country of Italy. In ancient times, Rome was an empire, not just a city.

The country of Italy, where Rome is located, is a boot- shaped peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea.

Rome is surrounded by seven hills and is located along the Tiber River.

–Rome is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres.

How did the Romans adapt to their environment?

Some Romans were farmers. They used the limited amount of rich soil to grow crops. They farmed on hillsides and grew –Olives –Grapes –Wheat

Some Romans were roadbuilders. Many of the roads they built still exist today.

Who built the Roman roads? When soldiers were not training, fighting, or marching, they were kept busy quarrying stone and building roads. These roads were always straight as possible, so that the Army could travel quickly from one part of the Empire to another. The Romans preferred to tunnel through a hill rather than take the long way around it. Slaves also built Roman roads. When the Roman army conquered other lands, they often took the citizens as slaves for the Roman empire.

Some Romans were traders. They traded with their neighbors across the Mediterranean Sea. They could also use the many roads they built for trading with neighbors.

What lasting contributions did the Roman civilization make?

Architecture (buildings) One of the most famous Roman structures is the Colosseum. The Colosseum is a huge amphitheater. It can still be seen in Rome today.

Amphitheaters were used for- –Gladiator fights –Flooded for naval battles –Pageants and ceremonies

Aqueducts Another of the famous structures they Romans built were a series of aqueducts. These aqueducts carried water from the countryside to the cities. Many still remain today.

Arches The ancient Romans are famous for using arches in their buildings. The arches added strength to their structures.

Government Rome had a representative democracy –That is a form of government where the people (citizens) vote for, or elect, a smaller group of citizens to make rules and laws for everyone. –It is also called a Republican form of government.

The United States has a republican form of government.

Arts The ancient Romans made many contributions in the arts –Mosaics –Sculpture –Pottery

Ancient Civilizations Mali

Where is Mali located? Mali is a country located in Western Africa.

Mali is in the Northern Hemisphere. Mali is located in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres because the Prime Meridian runs through it.

Ancient Mali was located in the western part of Africa. It has desert-like conditions, but was near the Niger River.

How did the people of Mali adapt to their environment?

Some people in ancient Mali were: –Farmers - using the limited rich soil and water supply

Some people in ancient Mali were: –Miners – mining for gold and salt

Some people in ancient Mali were: –Traders- trading with their neighbors –They traded salt for gold –Salt was needed to preserve food

Mali was ruled by rich and powerful kings.

The king of Mali placed a tax on all things that were traded in Mali The kings became rich because so many things were traded in Mali

Timbuktu was an important trading city It had a large library containing Greek and Roman books.

What were the characteristics of the Mali civilization?

The people of Ancient Mali kept track of their history through oral story telling. The griot was the person who remembered and retold the stories of their history.

Mali was one of several great empires in Africa.

Ancient Civilizations China

Ancient China was located in Asia. The ancient Chinese fished, farmed, and irrigated land. They had a written language using characters and symbols.

Architecture The Chinese built the Great Wall, which is still here today.

Ancient Civilizations Egypt

Ancient Egypt was located in Africa. It is desert-like in much of Egypt. The Nile River flows through Egypt. The ancient Egyptians farmed and irrigated the land near the Nile River.

They had a written language using hieroglyphics.

Architecture The ancient Egyptians built the Pyramids, which are still here today.

Ancient Civilizations NATIVE AMERICANS

Eastern Woodlands The Native Americans in Virginia were the Powhatan. Their homes were made from the natural resources found in this area: wood and bark. They made dug out canoes from trees They were –Fishermen –Hunters and –Farmers

Powhatan Village with Longhouses

Plains One group of Native Americans that lived on the plains were the Sioux. Their homes were made from the natural resources found in their area: buffalo They rode horses They were hunters They lived in teepees

Sioux Teepees

Southwest One group of Native Americans that lived in the southwest were the Pueblo. Their homes were made from the natural resources found in their area: clay, straw, and some wood They walked They were farmers They lived in pueblos made from adobe

Southwest