1. Ancient World: Civilizations and Religions 4000 BC – 500 AD
Unit 1 Review
Ancient World: Civilizations and Religions
4000 BC – 500 AD

2. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
Early People – Hungers/gatherers & the Neolithic Revolution
Paleolithic people were hunter-gatherers. Had to travel to find food; this means that they were nomads.
After the last Ice Age, people began to learn to grow crops (agriculture aka farming).
Also learned to domesticate (or breed and control) animals.
Results: people could stay in one place, villages and civilizations were created.
This time period is the Neolithic Revolution. “Revolution” means change!

3. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
Ancient Egypt
Rose around the Nile River, which made the land very fertile.
Polytheistic, meaning they worshipped many gods.
The most powerful people in society were pharaohs.
Writing system = heiroglyphics, and they built temples, pyramids, and other monuments.

4. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
Mesopotamia (aka the Fertile Crescent)
Means land between two rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates.
Rivers allowed people to water crops, drink, feed animals, travel, etc.
Most early civilizations developed in river valleys because the climate and geography favored agriculture.

5. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
Sumeria
First civilization in Mesopotamia. People lived in city-states, raised cattle, and farmed. The Sumerians invented many things:
The first written language, called cuneiform.
The wheel, reservoirs to store water (IRRIGATION – watering crops), the library

6. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
Babylonia and Hammurabi
Hammurabi = an important leader of the Babylonians, on the Euphrates River.
He wrote Hammurabi’s Code
Made it easy for people to understand the laws and punishments for breaking laws.
Principle of retaliation – “an eye for an eye”, etc.

7. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
India
Ancient Indian civilizations started in the Indus River Valley, which allowed the means for irrigation and transportation and had fertile soil.
The two cities that developed in the Indus River Valley were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. Very advanced; built roads and temples.
Urban planning: cities werecarefully planned in a grid pattern.

8. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
China
Early civilizations developed in the Yellow River Valley (aka Huang He River Valley). Mountains and deserts naturally isolated it from other areas.

9. Unit 1, Section 1: Early Peoples & River Valley Civilizations
Bantu Migration in Africa
Largest movement of people in human history – mainly from North/West to South/East part of Africa
Took place in phases over hundreds of years
CAUSES: Find land for farming & grazing, population increased and put pressure on agriculture
EFFECTS: different groups clashed, spread of Bantu language, cultures blending = cultural diffusion!

10. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
China – Dynastic cycle (Zhou, Han)
Mandate of Heaven– rulers claimed that they got their power from the gods. **JUST LIKE DIVINE RIGHT OF EUROPEAN ABSOLUTE RULERS**. The rise and fall of dynasties is called the dynastic cycle.
Qin Dynasty – united China, best known for building Great Wall of China, which was built to keep out invaders. Leader = Shi Huangdi.
Han Dynasty – Confucianism was a model for proper behavior in society. People had to take civil service exams for government jobs. Built many roads like the Romans. Silk Road was used for trade with the West. Invented paper, the compass, and the junk (a ship).

12. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
India – Aryans and Mauryan Empire
Around 1750 BC, nomadic warriors called Aryans conquered the Indus Valley. **The lasting impact of the Aryans was the CASTE SYSTEM**, a set of categories based on social class that determined a person’s job and on their position in society. Caste system = LACK OF SOCIAL MOBILITY (ability to move from one social class to another). Your position in society is based on what family you are BORN INTO.
Ashoka = important ruler of Mauryan Empire (religious tolerance).

14. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
Ancient Greece
Greece has an archipelago, which means it has a chain of islands. The land is very mountainous. This made travel and communication difficult in ancient times, so isolated city-states developed, each with their own culture. The climate is very nice, which promoted an outdoor lifestyle.

15. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
ATHENS
SPARTA
GOVERNMENT
Direct democracy (people participated in decision making)
Oligarchy
EDUCATION
New ideas, prepare for role in government
Military training, obedience to Sparta very important
CULTURE
Valued the arts, Philosophers, artists, scientists, encouraged thinking & expression
All individual expression discouraged, did not value the arts
**Alexander the Great – Spread Hellenistic culture, which was like Greek, but had new ideas. The blending of ideas and cultures is called cultural diffusion.

16. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
Rome
Republican government – Twelve Tables was written legal code.
Census aqueducts sewers
Roads Amphitheatres Concrete

17. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
POLITICAL
SOCIAL
MILITARY
ECONOMIC
Military interference
Empire divided into East and West
People not interested in public affairs
Low confidence in empire
Lack of patriotism
Growing gap between rich and poor
Threat from northern tribes
Lack of funds
Mercenaries
No loyalty/ patriotism
Pirates/hostile tribes
Poor harvests
Gap between rich and poor

18. Unit 1, Section 2 – Classical Civilizations
Trade Routes
The Silk Road was used to trade items from China, especially silk, with Middle Eastern and Western Civilizations like the Roman Empire. *Cultural diffusion!*
The Mediterranean Sea was also an important trade route for Europe, Africa & Asia.

19. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Animism
Belief that every living and nonliving thing has a spirit
Belief system of very early people in some Chinese and African civilizations

20. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Shinto
Worship of kami, or spirits found in all living and nonliving things (like animism!)
Traditional Japanese religion

21. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Hinduism – Belief in the caste system!
Polytheistic (many gods), but one unifying spirit – Brahman
Reincarnation – rebirth of a soul into another form of life
Karma – all the deeds in a person’s life that affect their existence in the next life
Sacred text: Vedas, Mahabharata (Bhagavad Gita)
Dharma – Moral and religious duties expected of a person

22. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Buddhism – Does not believe in caste system!
Founder Siddhartha Gautama became the “Enlightened One”, or Buddha
Central philosophy: Four Noble Truths
There is suffering
Cause of suffering is DESIRE
Solution is to eliminate suffering
To reach NIRVANA, follow the Eightfold Path

23. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Buddhism
Ultimate goals is NIRVANA, or union with the universe and release from the cycle of reincarnation. Reach this by following the Eightfold Path.
Nonviolence

24. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Belief Systems of China
Confucianism – way of life and behavior taught by Confucius. The Five Relationships are a code of behavior that determined who had authority over the other person.
Filial piety (duty and respect that children owed their parents). Harmony in society could be achieved if everyone behaved properly – “Do unto others…” like Golden Rule in Judaism/Christianity.

25. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Legalism – Authoritarian political philosophy that said that people were naturally bad and needed a strong ruler to keep them in line. Rejected Confucianism. Harsh laws. *Like Hammurabi’s Code!**
Daoism – Philosophy – not a religion. Compassion, moderation, humility important. Goal is to become one with the Dao (force of universe) by letting nature take its course. Freedom for people, less government.

26. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems
Major Monotheistic religions – all ask their followers to follow a code of behavior and ethical code of conduct.

27. Unit 1, Section 3 – Belief Systems