Unit 1 Ancient Civilizations Rise of Civilizations Unit 1 Ancient Civilizations

Indus River Valley Civilization Located in present day Pakistan and India along the banks of the Indus River Findings show cities between 5500 BC and 1500 BC, but the hight of their culture was around 3000 BC to 2000 BC Major cities were: Harappa, Dohlavira and Mohenjo-Daro Known for skilled metal work and pottery Typically a peaceful culture, little to no evidence of war or even having a military IRVC dissapeared by 1500, to this day no one knows why, many believe they were wiped out by the Aryans or the waterways dried up Their written language has still never been decoded

Indus River Valley Civilizations - Contributions Plowed fields Sea ports for trade Planned city layouts Running water to houses Sewage away from home Eggplant Swimming pools Public baths Ceramics Art was highly thought of in Harappan culture Most art made with gold, diamonds and other precious gems and metals money was made with elaborate designs that match building decorations (man with bulls)

Indus River Valley Civilization

Ancient Mesopotamia Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, also known as the Fertile Crescent, present day Iraq A collection of smaller empires united during wars Each city state/empire had the same deities as each other and all allowed women to have some rights Thrived between 3500 BC and 500BC Major empires/city states: Babylon, Assyria, Akkad, Ur, Sumer, Ninevah, Sippar, Susa, Phoenicia and Uruk Known as skilled warriors, farmers and trade merchants Written language was created in Phoenicia Also called the Cradle of Civilization

Ancient Mesopotamia - Contributions Oldest known novel - Epic of Gilgamesh First written system of law (The Code of Hammurabi) Ziggurats (religious temples) The wheel Chariots Wine Time: hours, minutes, seconds Sailboats Irrigation of farm fields Written language

Ancient Mesopotamia - Polytheism The Sumerian gods often had human characteristics in that they were sometimes good and sometimes bad. They also believed in genies, demons, and evil spirits. They believed that the Earth floated on an ocean of fresh water. Enlil was said to be so powerful that the other gods could not even look at him. Greek mythology likely borrowed many ideas from the Mesopotamian gods.

Ancient Mesopotamia

Ancient Persia Located in present day Iran, but at it's height included all of middle east, parts of Europe/Africa/India/Asia Thrived between 700 BC until 300 BC when Alexander the Great conquered them Known for elaborate cities, woven materials, remnants, warriors and mathematicians Major dynasties/cities include: Persepolis, Bahgdad, Partha, Media, Bactria Persia will conquer most of the known world but quickly fall to Greece, it will overtake Mesopotamia and the barbarian lands of Eurasia Technically Persia exsisted until the 1900's when it became Iran

Ancient Persia - Contributions/Key People Built the first stadium 1st to give equal rights 1st to give animals rights Rugs Qanats (underground water ways) Post riders Aramaic Language Taxation through Satraps Beer Astronomy Darius Xerxes Cyrus Artaxerxes Hystaspas

Ancient Persia - Religion Believed in Zoroastrianism One of the 1st monotheistic religions in the world Still practiced in parts of Iran and India but have been hunted to near extinction by the ruling religious leaders of Iran Considered one of the most peaceful religions in the world created by a Perisian prophet named Zarathustra or Zoraster Deity is called Ahura-Mazda or “lord of wisdom”

Ancient Persia