Sumer Egypt Indus China Environment Power & Authority Technology Flooding of Tigris and Euphrates unpredictable No natural barriers Limited natural resources for making tools and buildings Independent city-states City-states governed by priests, then generals who became kings City-states later united into empires Irrigation Cuneiform Bronze Wheel, Sail, Plow Sumer Flooding of Nile predictable Nile used for transportation between villages Deserts were natural barriers Strong government organization Theocracy; pharaohs rule as gods Pharaohs built pyramids Hieroglyphics Pyramids Math, geometry Medicine Egypt Indus flooding unpredictable Monsoon winds Mountains and deserts were natural barriers Strong central government Planned cities Little social difference Writing not translated Cities built on precise grid Plumbing and sweage systems Indus Huang He flooding unpredictable Mountains, deserts were natural barriers Geographically isolated from other civilizations Community and family more important than individual Sharp divisions between nobles and peasants Mandate of Heaven Writing Silk Coined Money Used iron China Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.