Ancient and Classical Civilizations Chapters 1-3 Hailey Miranda and Mary Cosare

Humans before Civilizations

●Until 1400 years ago- only simple tool use ●Homo sapiens sapiens originated about 120,000 years ago in Africa -no major changes since then ●Constraints- hunter/gatherer groups unable to support large numbers, slow pop. growth ●Developed rituals, cultures, and speech ●Greatest achievement was the spread of humans ●Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) to 8000 BCE ●Neolithic (New Stone Age)- agriculture (key), cities, foreshadowing of civilization ●Discovery of metal tools in 4000 BCE

River Valley Civilizations

Tigris- Euphrates (Mesopotamia) -located in between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers in the middle east -had rich soil and the flourish of crops to help sustain life which caused the majority of mesopotamia's people to be farmers. ECONOMY -Sumerian city- states were based on farming & trade. -industry became a vital factor - Traded their wool, metal goods, and wheat for copper, tin, & timber. -Famous for their metalwork, woolen textiles, & pottery. SOCIAL STRUCTURES -3 main social classes: nobles, commoners, and the slaves -‘ziggurat- was a steeped temple were est. to worship their ‘dingir’ or gods -had early forms of writing in clay blocks

Nile River (Egyptian) 3000 B.C.E. GEOGRAPHY: -its location was vital because it would flood annually in July- Nov. -provided new, rich soil and washed away waste -surrounding seas was used as a barrier against wars and diseases. ECONOMY -heavily depended on farming -location allowed efficient watering of plants SOCIAL STRUCTURE -King (pharaoh) Craftsmen Farmers Marginalized Groups Slaves BUILDING STRUCTURES -pyramids built for pharaohs, large boats for transport

Indus (India) 2500 B.C.E. Hwang He (China) -Major cities of Mohenjo Daro & Harappa -Invaded by Indo- Europeans that destructed its original culture. ECONOMY (Agricultural) Est. of extensive irrigation systems allowed indigenous population survival. -Primary crops: Wheat & Barley SOCIAL STRUCTURE (Caste System) -Bhramins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudra BUILDINGS/ STRUCTURES -public bathhouse RELIGONS:Hinduism (1700BCE-) Buddhism (365BCE-) - developed in isolation -stressed the importance of family roles -silk road played a vital role in trading

CONNECTIONS & COMPARISONS -All river valley civilization’s survival, growth, and success of economy relied on agriculture. -majority of population were farmers. -Interactive trade observed in Indus & Mesopotamian civilizations -Most river valley civis declines around 1200 B.C.E. -Egyptian economy was more fully government- directed than Mesopotamia, however its science and alphabet was not as elaborate as Mesopotamias. -Unlike other civilizations, the Hwang He civi. developed in isolation

Social Structures

-Classical China ●3 main social groups: 1. Aristocracy and Mandarins, 2. Laboring masses, peasants, urban artisans, 3. Mean people ●Considerable gap between upper and farmer-peasant class ●Landlords- wealth and culture ●Beneath the peasant-farmers were the mean people ●status was inherited -India ●Brahmins-highest Untouchables-lowest ●Described key features of social and economic life ●Impacted daily life as well as the formal structure of society ●Caste system was fixed at birth ●No moving up in system

Trade

Trade in Classical China -New technological and agricultural flourishing helped found trade -Most of these early forms of trade were internal, such as in classical China. -In China trade was centered on luxuries, such as silk, jewelry leather, goods and furniture -food exchange between wheat and rice growing regions. -Merchants traveling to india and the facilitation of coins helped stimulate trade

Trade in Classical India -India developed extensive internal and maritime trade. -India’s emphasis on trade was much greater than China’s -S. Indians traded: Cotton, silks, dyes, drugs, gold and ivory. -Brought back potter, wine, and metals from the M.E. -Caravan trade developed with China.