Ancient World History Overview

World History Simplified The history of the world can be condensed to two statements: There are HAVES and HAVE NOTS and the HAVE NOTS want what the HAVES have. The HAVES will become corrupt or complacent and they will suffer recession or civil war and that is when the HAVE NOTS will attack.

Civilizations Civilizations must meet several criteria to be identified as such: Complex government and religion Written language Art and architecture are designed beyond usefulness. Food production creates surplus Frees up workers to develop other things Inspires trade

Four Oldest Civilizations Egypt – @ 4000 B.C. Mesopotamia (Sumeria, Assyria, and Babylon) @ 3500 B.C. Early South Asia (India) – @ 2500 B.C. China – @ 2000 B.C.

Civilizations – continued Geography played a significant role in isolating/protecting empires as well as providing the means for their success. All four early civilizations developed along floodplains. The corresponding rivers also will be the means of expansion and trade. In Egypt the desert and cataracts (waterfalls) along the Nile protected the empire allowing to flourish long before it was first conquered. India is isolated by mountains and large bodies of water while China is isolated by mountains and desert.

Egypt Government: Monarchy – Theocracy ( political leader is also a religious leader and sometimes viewed as a god) – Bureaucracy (officials of varying degrees of importance are used to manage govt.) Religion: polytheistic (many gods) gods were portrayed as part human and part animal. Belief in an afterlife and a form of judgment day as heart was weighed against a feather. If heavier than a feather = bad person = bad afterlife.

Egypt - continued Two written languages developed. Hieroglyphics used pictures to represent letters and words. Hieratic used symbols similar to shorthand to represent words.

Egypt – Technology etc. Pyramids showed a knowledge of higher math ability. Mummification required an advanced knowledge of anatomy 365 day calendar based on knowledge of the stars helped predict necessary flood of the Nile. Chariot adapted from the Hyksos helped to return and add to their empire.

Egypt - Trade Annual flood of the Nile river made the land very fertile producing surplus which could be traded = empire. Freed up workers to develop other occupations that produce additional trade goods.

Mesopotamia No people were known as Mesopotamians. Fertile Crescent created by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. First civilization was Sumer. Assyria and Babylon were other great empires. Government based on city-states (city + surrounding villages.) Also developed a monarchy/theocracy.

Mesopotamia - continued Cuneiform was the written language of Sumer. It was a series of wedged shaped symbols. Babylonians used it as well on Hammurabi’s Code of Laws which were displayed in cities for all to see and follow. The law was designed to protect the weak but it favored the rich.

Mesopotamia – Religion and Technology Religion was polytheistic but gods were believed to be selfish and unpredictable. They were the cause of disasters. View of the afterlife was grim. Ziggurats were temples to the gods. Technology: The first cities were seen in Mesopotamia. They also developed the wagon wheel and the potter’s wheel. They were the first to make bronze (tin + copper) and used a twelve month calendar based on the moon cycles.

Early South Asia (India) Civilization centered around the Indus River and involved two major cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Little is known about govt. and religion as no decipherable language has been found.

India - Technology A citadel served as a government center and granary. City was designed along a grid pattern and homes had indoor plumbing which connected to a sewer system beneath the streets.

China Civilization developed along the Huang He (Yellow) River. First dynasty ( a sequence of rulers from the same family) was the Shang.

China - continued Government was a monarchy/theocracy with the emperor serving as a high priest who could make offerings and perform sacrifices. They predicted the future through the interpretation of oracle bones. (see pg. 70 in your text). Emperors governed by a Mandate from Heaven. If a ruler is effective and good, times are good = a mandate from the gods. Bad times = bad ruler = loss of mandate = challenge from powerful nobles = new dynasty. Religion was polytheistic and worship of ancestors implies a belief in the afterlife.

How to keep an empire Assyrians Persians Highly organized and efficient conquerors Militaristic who used cavalry and infantry. Divided empire into provinces ruled by governors answerable to the king. Built a road system to connect the provinces. Tortured, killed and/or relocated conquered people. Burned cities and taxed heavily Constantly dealing with insurrections. Empire lasted @ 38 years Persians Highly organized and efficient conquerors Used both cavalry and infantry. Allowed conquered to keep language, customs, religion and sometimes local rulers as long as people were loyal to Persia. Divided empire into provinces governed by hand –picked satraps ( governors) Built a road system to connect the provinces. Empire lasted @ 217 years