Things to consider for quiz on political structure Control was essential for the building of massive irrigation projects and managing densely populated areas. There was ,often, little distinction between government and religion. Geography still a determining factor for the notable difference amongst political structures. Mesopotamia and Egypt( Middle East) Indus/Aryan (South Asia), China ( East Asia), Olmec and Chavin (Latin America) When: From 4000 B.C.E- 600 B.C.E in(where) the Middle East and East Asia both Mesopotamian and Chinese political structures controlled their populations through religious means (priest kings known as Lugals in Mesopotamia and the Mandate of Heaven of the Zhou Dynasty), both will utilize labor to build massive irrigation projects along river valleys, however Mesopotamian will develop the first code of law (Hammurabi) to maintain peace and order whilst China’s traditional ancestor veneration and emphasis on family will be the foundation of essential social order. From 4000 B.C.E-600 B.C.E The Olmecs in Latin America and Mesopotamia in the Middle East both had autonomous city states (San Lorenzo and La Venta in the Olmec and Sumeria and Ur in Mesopotamia), both developed a spiritual relationship with nature establishing deities on natural phenomena,the Olmec, however, were protected against invaders by the central lowlands of Mexico while the Mesospotamias were at constant threat by marauding nomads to the unprotected north.

Ancient Trade Routes Trade existed among the earliest of peoples to acquire needed goods. Although mostly regional, river valley civilizations would extend hundreds of miles. These exchanges would lead to cultural interactions, advancement of technology and diffusion of ideas.

Sailboats Used to navigate river and sea waterways carrying trading items from region to region identifying a new class of merchants who utilized surplus agriculture to get common and luxury products

Trading networks land and sea Mesopotamian Trade Networks Assyrian merchants traveled by donkey caravan from N. Mesopotamia to Kanesh Traded textiles African Societies Trade Networks transported along the Nile River between Egypt and Nubia Most prized exports: fine linen furniture Jewelry Rich exports such as ivory, ebony, leopard skins, ostrich feathers, gemstones, gold, and slaves from Nubia.

Harrapan Trade Exported pottery, tools, and decorative items, copper, ivory, pearls, stones Received wool, leather goods, and olive oil from Sumeria Traveled over Iranian peninsula or by ship in the Arabian Sea Clay seals from Harrapa have been found in Egypt and Mesopotamia

Beginnings of Mediterranean trade Both the Minoans and Phoenicians used the Mediterranean basin to develop lucrative trade connecting cultures , ideas, and the importance of an aristocracy class based on merchant wealth, Merchants would trade Tyrian purple (dye), Lapis lazuli and other luxury products while establishing colonial Ports across the Mediterranean

Overland Caravan Routes Before the silk route, regional caravanserai linked civilizations carrying perfumes, dyes, metal alloys and agricultural products. The nomads domestication of the camel made them the ideal diffusers of ideas and goods.

China’s Geography led to isolation The Pacific, Gobi and Himalayas initially isolated this “Middle Kingdom” leading to an ethnocentric view of the world facilitating the need to innovate bronze metallurgy, sericulture (silk production), and terrace farming to name just a few. The Zhou dynasty (after the Shang) would see increased decentralized feudal Warfare continuing its isolation but contributing To military technologies

Mesoamerican Trade Olmec trade of jade, rubber, peppers, corn and textiles around thriving centers like La Venta, San Lorenzo and Tabasco facilitated regional connection in the central valley of Mexico. Although no evidence of wheel or bronze metallurgy, Olmec priests exacted tribute from subjects.

Altiplano of Andes The diverse topography of the Deserts, Andes Mountains and Amazon rain forest, led to a diverse economy utilizing roads carved into the rock and terrace fields. The Norte Chico and Chavin were civilizations which were able to bring fresh fish from the Pacific to the top of the Andes illustrating their adaptation to their environment. Domesticating over 200 types of tubers (Potatoes) maintaining records through quipus.

Empires- a political unit characterized by centralized military control over neighboring territories Why is safe trade so important? The first empires like Assyrians and Persians Used their formidable military prowess to provide Safe trade while extracting lucrative tariffs.

2003: COT Silk Route trade 200 B.C.E-1450 C.E So how does this translate to the AP themes?:Interaction among economic systems 2003: COT Silk Route trade 200 B.C.E-1450 C.E 2008: COT Indian Ocean trade 600 C.E- 1750 C.E 2009: Comp Two regions Atlantic World 1492-1750 Tomorrow choose two regions and compare similarities 2013 COT: Mediterranean 600-1450

Lets try some thesis practice From 8000 B.C.E through 600 B.C.E both East Asia and Latin America developed trade and technology isolated from interregional trade, innovated agricultural surplus through terrace farming ,however, China’s Shang Dynasty would utilize bronze metallurgy while the Chavin would never develop past copper. During the ancient period, trade swelled amongst the civilizations in both Egypt (Middle East) and Harappa( South) Asia interconnecting these two river valley civilizations through trade. Both civilizations would trade textiles, surplus agriculture and metals. Harappa trade, however, would be discontinued by weather and invaders while Egyptian trade would predominate the Mediterranean basin. From 8000 B.C.E-600 B.C.E in South Asia and the East Asia both utilized the river valleys for natural resources which , ultimately led to a division of labor due to surpluses, however, civilizations like the Aryans utilized the seasonal monsoon winds to trade with the Middle East while China’s Shang and Zhou Dynasties were geographically isolated by the Gobi, Himalaya and Pacific. South Asia’s labor in their Vedic Age was regulated by the religious values of early Hinduism’s caste system while China’s labor was based primarily on family and tradition. Latin America and the Middle East in the Ancient world 8000 B.C.E- 600 C.E would both develop new technologies to foster agricultural surplus , however, Middle Eastern civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt would utilize these goods for interregional trade while Olmec's and Chavin would be geographically limited by Mountains and technology. Both would have decision making elites whose duty is was to distribute resources and provide protection. Fromm 8000 B.C.E- 600 B.C.E nomads in Central Asia and settled societies in the Middle East would both domesticate animals for the purpose of productivity and utilization, both would be connected through interregional trading contacts and be interdependent on each other for technologies, however, groups from the steppes would serve diffusers of ideas between civilizations while the Middle East’s cradle of civilization would independently innovate goods for trade.

From 8000 B.C.E through 600 B.C.E both East Asia and Latin America developed trade and technology isolated from interregional trade, innovated agricultural surplus through terrace farming ,however, China’s Shang Dynasty would utilize bronze metallurgy while the Chavin would never develop past copper. China’s isolation through the Gobi, Himalayas and Pacific and The Olmecs pattern of North-South pattern of settlement rendered both commercial systems isolated from others The Himalayan and Andees mountains presented the Shang/Zhou and Norte Chico with challeneges but terrace farming would both solve difficulties associated with framing in a mountainous topography Th emountains would eventually provide the Chinese with bronze vessels ushering a a more dynamic form of metallurgy while the Chavin’s location would prevent them from going further that copper. The need to trade for needs and wants persisted despite geographic hindrances and local and regional trade would exist for staple and luxury products based on wants and needs Carving terraces into the mountains enabled the flow of rainwater irrigation to properly catch and feed the surplus of millett, rice for China and potatoes for the Chavin. Professor Diamond’s argument of China’s Eats-West pattern of settlement may have help trading contacts to pass on advancements in metallurgic technology while the North-South pattern of Andean settlement prevented the transmission of knowledge for this type of technology.