River Valley Civilizations: Mesopotamia 3500 to 500 BC Nile River The “Cradles of Civilization”

Where did the earliest civilizations develop? River valleys

Why did ancient civilizations develop in river valleys? They had rich soil for agriculture because periodic flooding left silt which made the soil rich in nutrients

They were protected by geographic barriers (mountains, deserts, seas, jungles, etc.)

Where were the earliest civilizations located and when did they exist? M I E

River Valley Civilizations (3500 BC to 500 BC) Mesopotamia in Southwest Asia Egypt in Northeast Africa India in South Asia China in East Asia From west to east “EMIC”

What were some characteristics of the Ancient River Valley civilizations?

Mesopotamia: Sumer Geography Mesopotamia was a region located in the part of the Fertile Crescent that lies between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Mesopotamia Present-day Iraq (Middle East). What present-day countries are in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia is in what present-day region?

Protected on three sides by mountains, deserts and the Persian Gulf (but vulnerable to invaders from the north) What was the first civilization to arise in Mesopotamia?

Sumerian Government Sumer was the first known civilization It arose in southern Mesopotamia

City-state: A city and the surrounding land Sumer Sumer was made up of 12 independent city- states each ruled by its own king. City-state: A city and the surrounding land What type of government was found in Sumer? What is a city-state?

Cuneiform: Cuneiform: the first written language (wedge writing)

Irrigation: Irrigation brought water from the rivers to the fields during the dry summer months What was the climate like in Mesopotamia? How did they bring water to the fields?

Bronze Bronze melted from copper and tin

Other Sumerian Accomplishments Plow Ziggurats Wheeled vehicles Number system based on 60

The first empire to arise in Mesopotamia Babylonian Empire The first empire to arise in Mesopotamia Empire: several peoples, nations, or previously independent states under the control of one ruler.

Code of Hammurabi First set of published laws Based on the principle of an “eye for an eye” Laws differed based on class