River Valley Civilizations

Egypt Nile River Center of Egyptian economics and culture Annual, predictable flooding irrigates and replenishes the soil. Gives consistent harvest Connects them to other cultures - Without this river there would be no Egypt. Natural Barrier prevented frequent invasions

Egypt History Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms 3100 BC King Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt Pharaohs (monarchs) were very powerful and considered divine. When things went bad, it must have been due to the subjects not obeying the god’s representative on earth. Pharaohs would appoint a “vizier” would be responsible for the government bureaucracy. Egypt had 42 provinces, each with a governor

Egypt Religion- Beliefs about death: Burial practices: Mummification Belief in two bodies: physical and spiritual (ka) and they needed each other, even after death. Elaborate 70 day process to preserve the body

Pyramids Pyramids Tombs to honor the pharaoh Cities of the Dead: The pyramids are just part of the complex of the overall burial site. The pyramids are an engineering marvel Size: tallest structure on earth for 43 centuries/ covers 13 football fields Complexity: 2 million precisely cut 2-ton blocks

Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent Tigris River Sumerians Unpredictable flooding Sumerians Begin irrigation City-states Polytheistic religion Ziggurat (temple) is the center of city

Mesopotamia Hammurabi Scientific achievements Established 1st written code of laws (Hammurabi’s code) Scientific achievements Wheel, sail, plow, bronze, and first alphabet

Indus Valley Indus and Gange Rivers Harappa Civilization - Language has not been translated - Two major cities -Harappa and Mojendaro - Advanced cities with bricked walls up to three stories, bathrooms, and drainage

Indus Valley Due to physical diversity of Indian sub-continent, many forms of economic development took place: Farming Herding Trading

Aryans Invaded the area, creating the modern Indians Developed: Sanskrit- non translated writing system Caste system- rigid system of five social classes based on economic and social position Hinduism and Buddhism

China Yellow (Huang He) River Valley Numerous dynasties rise and fall in China due to military Shang dynasty the Chinese begin the veneration of ancestor (or ancestor worship) Chinese developed filial piety, where all are subordinate to the head of the family and all members know their place noted for the bronze works of art

China Zhou Dynasty - the Mandate of Heaven gave the king authority from heaven as long as he ruled the proper way. If the dynasty fell, it was because he was no longer ruling in the proper way - Also developed a pictographic written language, terrace farming methods

China Three philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. Legalism believes that man is evil by nature and has to be controlled through harsh laws and punishments - The Chinese created printing 700 years before the Europeans and begin the first Civil Service Exam to be used by a government

Japan Developed differently from China due to geography. Island vs. continent The Samurai warriors and their code of Bushido (Way of the Warrior) Shoguns(general) who were the actual power of Japan. Unlike most island nations, trade was slow to develop and the people relied primarily on farming