Early River Valley Civilizations

City-States of Mesopotamia

Geography of the Fertile Crescent Fertile Crescent – land between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Mesopotamia – fertile “land between the rivers” Tigris and Euphrates rivers flood once a year Sumerians began farming area around 3300 B.C. Created first complex society (civilization) Challenges included: unpredictable floods, no natural barriers, few natural resources Solutions included: irrigation, walled cities, trading

Fertile Crescent

Characteristics of Civilization Advanced cities Specialized workers Complex institutions Record keeping Improved technology

Sumerians Create City-States City-state – an independent, political unit City-states had temple, ziggurat, priests Priests controlled government Patriarchal society Economy build on division of labor, extensive trade Religion was polytheistic and bleak Social classes had kings, landowners, priests at top Merchants, farmers in middle, slaves at the bottom Women had many rights, could own property

Sumerian Culture

Advancements and Empire Building Inventions included wheel, sail, plow, use of bronze Advances in math, science, medicine, engineering Cuneiform – complex writing system using wedge-shaped characters Growth and military rule led to kingdoms Epic of Gilgamesh based on real king Sargon of Akkad created first empire c. 2350 B.C. Amorite warriors built Babylonian Empire c. 2000 B.C. Empire at it’s peak under rule of King Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s Code Law code for the Babylonian Empire 282 laws on all aspects of life Engraved in stone and made public Not equal, but based on social class and gender Also known as “an eye for an eye”

The Nile River Valley

The Geography of Egypt Arose along the 4,100 mile Nile River Called “The Gift of the Nile” (Herodotus) Predictable, yearly floods leave fertile soil - silt Challenges included light or heavy floods, desert isolation Solutions included irrigation Unification under King Menes was turning point Upper and lower Egypt united from first cataract to delta

The Nile River Valley

Pharaohs Egyptian god-kings called pharaohs Controlled all aspects of society Government based on religious authority – theocracy Believed to rule after death(ka) Built elaborate tombs – pyramids Kingdoms strong in leadership, government, economy

Egyptian Religion and Life Polytheistic with gods of nature Life after death, people judged by deeds Mummification – process or preserving the body Book of the Dead – prayers, spells guide the soul after death Social classes with elites, commoners, slaves Women have many rights Trade along the Nile with Nubians and Kush Picture writing system on papyrus called hieroglyphics Accurate calendar, geometry, engineering, medicine

Egyptian Culture

The Indus River Valley

Geography of India Subcontinent – landmass that includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh Tallest mountain ranges, Himalaya, separate it from rest of Asia Indus and Ganges rivers form fertile plain Monsoons – seasonal winds – dominate climate Challenges include unpredictable floods and rainfall

The Subcontinent

Civilization Emerges People farming on Indus River by 3200 B.C. People building brick cities on grids by 2500 B.C. Engineers create plumbing and sewage systems Numerous cities in Harappan civilization – most important were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Began to decline about 1750 B.C. Earthquakes, floods, soil depletion About 1500 B.C., Aryans (Indo-Europeans) crossed passes, became dominant people

Culture and Religion Language had 400 symbols but not deciphered Priests closely linked to rulers Aryans brought what will be Hindu culture and religion Caste system was a strict social system based on skin color Over time castes will be associated with jobs and birth There was no social mobility in the caste system Thriving trade with others along Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, including Mesopotamia

Harappan Culture

River Dynasties in China

The Geography of China Oceans, mountains, deserts were barriers that isolated China Huang He (“Yellow River”) in north Yangtze River in south Loess – fertile silt from river flooding Challenges include deadly floods, lack of trade due to isolation

River Systems in China

Early Civilization Organized and built flood control systems Xia Dynasty brought order to region Shang Dynasty was first to leave written records and use bronze for tools and weapons Massive walls for military defense Zhou Dynasty ruled through feudalism – system where kings give land to nobles in exchange for services Over time, nobles became powerful and fought each other

Chinese Culture Believed China was the center of the world Family is central social institution (respect and honor) Patriarchal – elder males control family and property Women expected to obey men – even sons Religious beliefs based on ancestor veneration Oracle bones used to consult gods Advanced technology included silk production, metallurgy, plows, irrigation, crossbow, and mounted cavalry Trade was regional due to isolation

Chinese Culture

The Dynastic Cycle Mandate of Heaven – the belief that a just ruler had divine approval Developed as justification for rise of Zhou to power Dynastic Cycle – pattern of the rise and decline of dynasties Zhou brings improvements – roads, canals, iron tools and weapons, use of coins in trade