Chapter 2 Early River Valley Civilizations

Fertile Crescent – Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent – Mesopotamia Between Tigris & Euphrates – Iraq Between Tigris & Euphrates – Iraq Problems: Problems: Unpredictable flooding Unpredictable flooding No natural barriers for protection No natural barriers for protection Natural resources limited Natural resources limited

Mesopotamia cont. Solutions: Solutions: Irrigation ditches Irrigation ditches Mud brick defensive walls Mud brick defensive walls Traded grain, cloth, tools with others for raw materials (wood, stone) Traded grain, cloth, tools with others for raw materials (wood, stone) Organized into city-states Organized into city-states Dynasty (single family of rulers) Dynasty (single family of rulers) Cultural diffusion – spread of ideas to other cultures Cultural diffusion – spread of ideas to other cultures

Other Empires Polytheistic – belief in many gods Polytheistic – belief in many gods Sargon – Akkadians conquered Sumer Sargon – Akkadians conquered Sumer Adopted many aspects of culture Adopted many aspects of culture First empire – brings several groups under one ruler First empire – brings several groups under one ruler Babylonians – Hammurabi Babylonians – Hammurabi Hammurabi’s Code – “eye for an eye” Hammurabi’s Code – “eye for an eye” First written code of law First written code of law

Egypt Nile River – “gift” of the Nile; regular flooding left fertile soil Nile River – “gift” of the Nile; regular flooding left fertile soil Predictable but changes led to drought or flood Predictable but changes led to drought or flood Upper & Lower Egypt Upper & Lower Egypt Flows north; delta Flows north; delta Old Kingdom – about 2,600 – 2,100 BC Old Kingdom – about 2,600 – 2,100 BC

Egypt Pharaohs ruled as gods; theocracy Pharaohs ruled as gods; theocracy Belief in afterlife; built pyramids Belief in afterlife; built pyramids Mummification Mummification Economic strength, technology, public works, strong government Economic strength, technology, public works, strong government Polytheistic Polytheistic

Egypt Women had many rights Women had many rights Writing – hieroglyphics; developed papyrus (paper from plant) Writing – hieroglyphics; developed papyrus (paper from plant) Calendar, engineering, architecture, medicine, surgery Calendar, engineering, architecture, medicine, surgery

Egypt Invaders weakened Old Kingdom Invaders weakened Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom (2,000 – 1,600 BC) – restored prosperity Middle Kingdom (2,000 – 1,600 BC) – restored prosperity Didn’t last – Hyksos took over Didn’t last – Hyksos took over Rosetta Stone – interpreted hieroglyphics Rosetta Stone – interpreted hieroglyphics

Indus Valley Indus Valley Indian subcontinent Indian subcontinent Indus River and Ganges River Indus River and Ganges River Seasonal monsoons (winds) bring dry air but also moist air – flooding Seasonal monsoons (winds) bring dry air but also moist air – flooding Floods brought rich soil but were unpredictable Floods brought rich soil but were unpredictable

Indus Mohenjo-Daro Mohenjo-Daro Harappa – planned city; brick buildings, grid pattern, plumbing, sewage Harappa – planned city; brick buildings, grid pattern, plumbing, sewage Peaceful, no sharp class differences Peaceful, no sharp class differences Collapsed around 1500 BC – possibly earthquakes; changed flow of rivers Collapsed around 1500 BC – possibly earthquakes; changed flow of rivers

Section 4 - China Isolated – deserts, mountains, ocean surround Isolated – deserts, mountains, ocean surround Huang He (Yellow) & Chang Jiang (Yangtze) Rivers Huang He (Yellow) & Chang Jiang (Yangtze) Rivers Shang – first dynasty; first written records; used wood, not mud-brick; walled cities Shang – first dynasty; first written records; used wood, not mud-brick; walled cities

China cont. Importance of group, not individual Importance of group, not individual Family & respect important Family & respect important Writing – symbols stood for ideas, not sounds; so many different spoken languages Writing – symbols stood for ideas, not sounds; so many different spoken languages Zhou dynasty – took over but adopted Shang features; 800 years (longest)! Zhou dynasty – took over but adopted Shang features; 800 years (longest)!

China, cont. Mandate of heaven – new theory that rulers got authority to rule from heaven; divine rule Mandate of heaven – new theory that rulers got authority to rule from heaven; divine rule Dynastic Cycle – rise, decline, replacement cycle Dynastic Cycle – rise, decline, replacement cycle Feudalism – lords & nobles use king’s land in exchange for service Feudalism – lords & nobles use king’s land in exchange for service Nobles protected rulers & peasants – got much power over time and fought constantly Nobles protected rulers & peasants – got much power over time and fought constantly