River Valley Civilizations: The Nile and the Indus

River Valley Civilizations Nile Valley and Indus Valley Nile Valley and Indus Valley Each civilization has a distinct pattern that is different from Mesopotamia Each civilization has a distinct pattern that is different from Mesopotamia Nile state more important than cities Nile state more important than cities Lack of evidence about Indus valley civilization Lack of evidence about Indus valley civilization

Egypt: The Gift of the Nile – Nile naturally irrigated cropland with predictable, annual flooding – Adjacent deserts protected Egypt from invasion – Waterfalls hindered invasion from the south – Stability meant long-term indigenous government

Man-made irrigation

Ancient Egyptian History PeriodsTime Frame Nile Culture Begins3900 B. C. E. Archaic3100 – 2650 B. C. E. Old Kingdom2650 – 2134 B. C. E. Middle Kingdom2040 – 1640 B. C. E. New Kingdom1550 – 1070 B. C. E. Late Period750 – 332 B. C. E. Greek Ptolemaic Era 332 – 30 B. C. E. Roman Period30 B. C. E. – 395 C. E.

Earliest Egypt: Before the Kings – Agriculture sustained life – Saharan drought led to more Nile settlement – String of villages along Nile by 3600 B.C.E.

The Growth of Cities - c BCE –Egypt had no independent city-states –Egyptians lived in network of riverbank villages interspersed with larger towns that may have become administrative cities (nomes)

Unification and the Rule of Kings – 3100 B.C.E peoples along the Nile were unified – Menes often seen as first king – Kings came to be seen as divine – Kings balanced nature and invited Nile to flood I’m Menes. They call me The Unifier!

Annual flooding of the Nile Predictable Left behind fertile soilPredictable Left behind fertile soil

Gods and the Unification of Egypt –Osiris = the god of order and virtue –Seth = the god of disorder and evil –Seth cut Osiris into fourteen pieces and scattered him across Egypt –Isis’s collection of pieces symbolizes unification of Egypt

– Isis conceived son Horus with a briefly-revivified Osiris – Horus defeated Seth in battle and made father Osiris divine and in charge of underworld

–Horus was first Egyptian god to be worshipped nationally –Belief in afterlife led to practice of mummification

Scenes of Ancient Egyptian Daily Life

Making Ancient Egyptian Beer

Making Ancient Egyptian Wine

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must- Haves” Perfume Whigs Mirror

Egyptian Social Hierarchy

Some Famous Egyptian Pharaohs Thutmose III B. C. E. Ramses II B. C. E. Tutankham on B. C. E.

Egyptian Nobility

Pyramids and Fortresses Pyramids and Fortresses – Large pyramids of Khufu, Khefren, and Menkaure in Fourth Dynasty ( B.C.E.) – Pyramids reflected Egyptian strength – Power extended to fortress at first cataract of the Nile

Preparations for the Underworld Priests protected your KA, or soul- spirit

Materials Used in Mummification 1. Linen 6. Natron 2. Sawdust 7. Onion 3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud 4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads 5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

Preparation for the Afterlife

Egyptian Mummies Seti I B. C. E. Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep II B. C. E. Ramses II B. C. E.

Stepped Pyramid at Saqqara

“Bent” Pyramid of King Sneferu

Giza Pyramid Complex

Plan of the Great Pyramid of Khufu

Egyptian Priestly Class

Egyptian Scribe Writing emerged at same time as in Sumer

Papyrus  Paper Papyrus Plant Hieratic Scroll Piece

Egyptian Math & Draftsmenship ,000100,0001,000,000 What number is this?

Hieroglyphic “Cartouche”

The Rosetta Stone

Indus Valley

The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in what is present day Pakistan. The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in what is present day Pakistan. It was named after the city of Harappa. Harappa and the city of Mohenjo-Daro were important centers of the Indus valley civilization. It was named after the city of Harappa. Harappa and the city of Mohenjo-Daro were important centers of the Indus valley civilization. This Indus Valley “civilization” flourished around B.C. This Indus Valley “civilization” flourished around B.C.

Harappa

Harappan Civilization By 2500 BCE, communities had been turned into urban centers (integration). By 2500 BCE, communities had been turned into urban centers (integration). So far, six such urban centers have been discovered, including: Harappa, Mohenjo Daro and Dicki in Pakistan, along with three others in India. So far, six such urban centers have been discovered, including: Harappa, Mohenjo Daro and Dicki in Pakistan, along with three others in India. Irrigation used to increase crop production and mud brick structures. Irrigation used to increase crop production and mud brick structures.

Geography Mountains of the Himalaya and Hindu Kush provide a continuous source of water Mountains of the Himalaya and Hindu Kush provide a continuous source of water These mountain ranges also provided important timber, animal products, and minerals, gold, silver, tin and semiprecious stones that were traded throughout the Indus Valley. These mountain ranges also provided important timber, animal products, and minerals, gold, silver, tin and semiprecious stones that were traded throughout the Indus Valley.

Coast These coastal settlements were involved in fishing and trading, using the monsoon winds to travel back and forth to Oman and the Persian Gulf region. These coastal settlements were involved in fishing and trading, using the monsoon winds to travel back and forth to Oman and the Persian Gulf region.

Major Cities: Mohenjo- Daro and Harappa The cities are well known for their impressive, organized and regular layout. The cities are well known for their impressive, organized and regular layout. They have well laid our plumbing and drainage system, including indoor toilets. They have well laid our plumbing and drainage system, including indoor toilets. Over one thousand other towns and villages also existed in this region. Over one thousand other towns and villages also existed in this region.

The similarities in plan and construction between Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa indicate that they were part of a unified government with extreme organization. Remains of palaces or temples in the cities have not been found.

The Great Bath The "great bath" is the earliest public water tank. The "great bath" is the earliest public water tank.

Streets At Mohenjo-Daro narrow streets and alleyways are off of the major streets, leading into more private neighborhoods. At Mohenjo-Daro narrow streets and alleyways are off of the major streets, leading into more private neighborhoods. Many of the brick houses were two stories high, with thick walls and high ceilings to keep the rooms cool in the hot summer months. Many of the brick houses were two stories high, with thick walls and high ceilings to keep the rooms cool in the hot summer months.

Gateway

Language The Indus (Harappan) people used a pictographic script. The Indus (Harappan) people used a pictographic script. Some 3500 specimens of this script survive Some 3500 specimens of this script survive Writing has not been deciphered Writing has not been deciphered

Ancient Indus

Economy-Trade The Harappan civilization was mainly urban and mercantile. The Harappan civilization was mainly urban and mercantile. Inhabitants of the Indus valley traded with Mesopotamia, southern India, Afghanistan, and Persia for gold, silver, copper, and turquoise. Inhabitants of the Indus valley traded with Mesopotamia, southern India, Afghanistan, and Persia for gold, silver, copper, and turquoise. Irrigation; First to cultivate cotton Irrigation; First to cultivate cotton

Collapse Possible Theories: Possible Theories: –intense flooding –decrease in precipitation – decreased river flow –Aryan invasion (doubtful)

The Spread of Aryan Settlement Aryans are named for their use of Sanskrit and other languages included in the Indo- Aryan family of languages Aryans are named for their use of Sanskrit and other languages included in the Indo- Aryan family of languages Arrived in waves from either central Asia or the Iranian plateau, mixed with local people and moved eastward to the Ganges by 1000 B.C.E. Arrived in waves from either central Asia or the Iranian plateau, mixed with local people and moved eastward to the Ganges by 1000 B.C.E. MIGRATION AND DIFFUSION MIGRATION AND DIFFUSION

Indus Valley and Its Mysteries Legacies of the Harappan Civilization Legacies of the Harappan Civilization – Was succeed by and blended with the Aryan civilization – Aryans have extensive literary legacy but virtually no artifacts – Aryans learned farming from Harappans – Caste system used to control Harappans?

Civilization? Criticism of calling it a civilization because even though the culture is fairly homogenous, there is a lack of elite (such as high status burials). Criticism of calling it a civilization because even though the culture is fairly homogenous, there is a lack of elite (such as high status burials). Thus, some researchers argue that it was actually more of a chiefdom, rather than a state-level society. Thus, some researchers argue that it was actually more of a chiefdom, rather than a state-level society.