Stuff you need to know about The River Civilizations Add to your chart or another sheet of paper…

MESOPOTAMIA Monumental Architecture (plus some other stuff) Canals and irrigation networks  why are they important for farming? Ziggurats  What’s the purpose/what did they look like? EPIC LITERATURE THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH  what was it?

Social Organization Job specialization (farmers, merchants, metallurgist, craftsman, priests, political administrators, etc.) Social Classes: Free landowning classes Dependant Farmers & Artisans Slaves (could purchase freedom) Women: Marriage contracts Could own property Not involved in politics Wear veils in public

Organized as CITY STATES Political King was not divine Organized as CITY STATES Not a lot of political stability Hammurabi’s code  why is this important?

EGYPT Monumental Architecture Pyramids Isolated from other civilizations WHY? No Epic Literature Blame hieroglyphics?

Priests were a big deal (only ones who understand written language) Social Structure Fewer social classes Most people are peasants – religious leaders on top Priests were a big deal (only ones who understand written language) Women: Probably higher in status than Mesopotamia  How do we know this? 2 famous and powerful ladies Hatshepsut – female Pharaoh Nefertiti – powerful wife of a Pharaoh

Pharaoh is the leader/a god Political Structure Pharaoh is the leader/a god Authoritarian government Highly centralized STABLE Extensive bureaucracy

INDUS VALLEY Monumental Architecture Citadels – an elevated enclosed compound containing large buildings

Traded with Mesopotamia and China (VERY BIG DEAL) Powerful priests Social Structure Traded with Mesopotamia and China (VERY BIG DEAL) Powerful priests Strong class distinction (difference in house sizes) Women: Statues suggest a reverence for female reproduction  what might that mean for their status in society?

By 1900 B.C.E. this civilization is pretty much gone Political Structure Possible centralized and complex Large granaries near cities Standardization of planning & construction in cities By 1900 B.C.E. this civilization is pretty much gone

THE OLMECS Arts and Architecture Giant Heads – portraits of famous Olmecs Polytheistic Highly developed Astronomy

Social Structure: Priests have the highest status Most people are farmers Capital City dominates the hinterlands

Political Structure NOT united politically Strong ties between religion and government

We’ll get to it in Period 2! CHINA We’ll get to it in Period 2!