1. Stuff you need to know about The River Civilizations
Add to your chart or another sheet of paper…

3. MESOPOTAMIA Monumental Architecture (plus some other stuff)
Canals and irrigation networks  why are they important for farming?
Ziggurats  What’s the purpose/what did they look like?
EPIC LITERATURE
THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH  what was it?

6. Social Organization
Job specialization (farmers, merchants, metallurgist, craftsman, priests, political administrators, etc.)
Social Classes:
Free landowning classes
Dependant Farmers & Artisans
Slaves (could purchase freedom)
Women:
Marriage contracts
Could own property
Not involved in politics
Wear veils in public

7. Organized as CITY STATES
Political
King was not divine
Organized as CITY STATES
Not a lot of political stability
Hammurabi’s code  why is this important?

10. EGYPT Monumental Architecture Pyramids
Isolated from other civilizations WHY?
No Epic Literature
Blame hieroglyphics?

13. Priests were a big deal (only ones who understand written language)
Social Structure
Fewer social classes
Most people are peasants – religious leaders on top
Priests were a big deal (only ones who understand written language)
Women:
Probably higher in status than Mesopotamia  How do we know this?
2 famous and powerful ladies
Hatshepsut – female Pharaoh
Nefertiti – powerful wife of a Pharaoh

15. Pharaoh is the leader/a god
Political Structure
Pharaoh is the leader/a god
Authoritarian government
Highly centralized
STABLE
Extensive bureaucracy

17. INDUS VALLEY Monumental Architecture
Citadels – an elevated enclosed compound containing large buildings

19. Traded with Mesopotamia and China (VERY BIG DEAL) Powerful priests
Social Structure
Traded with Mesopotamia and China (VERY BIG DEAL)
Powerful priests
Strong class distinction (difference in house sizes)
Women:
Statues suggest a reverence for female reproduction  what might that mean for their status in society?

20. By 1900 B.C.E. this civilization is pretty much gone
Political Structure
Possible centralized and complex
Large granaries near cities
Standardization of planning & construction in cities
By 1900 B.C.E. this civilization is pretty much gone

22. THE OLMECS Arts and Architecture
Giant Heads – portraits of famous Olmecs
Polytheistic
Highly developed Astronomy

25. Social Structure:
Priests have the highest status
Most people are farmers
Capital City dominates the hinterlands

26. Political Structure
NOT united politically
Strong ties between religion and government

28. We’ll get to it in Period 2!
CHINA
We’ll get to it in Period 2!