1. Civilizations & Achievements

2. Ancient River Valley Civilizations
Location/River
Achievements
Egypt
Nile/ Northern Africa
Hieroglyphics
Pyramids
Mesopotamia
Tigris/Euphrates River
Middle East
Cuneiform
Code of Hammurabi
Harappa
Indus River
India
Cities (Harappa) – laid out in a grid
Monsoons (winds)
China
Yellow River
Asia
Isolated from other civilizations – natural boundaries

3. Classical Civilizations
Location / Geography
Achievements / Figures/ Characteristics
Greece
Peninsula in southeastern Europe
Very mountainous topography, it was not one united civilization.
Divided into city-states (polis) – each had its own government
Sparta – military state
Athens- direct democracy, emphasis on culture (Socrates, Plato and Aristotle)
Polytheistic – many gods
Alexander the Great – Hellenistic culture, conquered Greece, Egypt, Persia and India
Rome
Located on the peninsula of Italy on the Mediterranean Sea
Roads – united empire
Twelve Tables – Roman set of laws
Pax Romana – Roman Peace, 200 year Golden Age of Rome

4. Considered the Golden Age of India
Classical India
Dynasty
Achievements
Caste System
Maurya Dynasty
Ruler: Asoka
Asoka wrote laws on tall rock pillars for people to read
Converted to Buddhism during his reign and is known for his kind treatment of people and animals
Social hierarchy system
People were born into their caste (social class)
Four main castes: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (merchants and artisans) and Sudras ( laborers)
Untouchables – lowest groups and had the worst jobs
Caste system – closely associated with Hinduism
Gupta Dynasty
Considered the Golden Age of India
Many achievements in art, literature, math and science
Invention of “0” in math
Development of Sanskrit (writing)
Beautiful Buddhist paintings

5. Classical China
Dynasty
Achievements
Silk Road
Qin Dynasty
Lasted only 15 years
Based government on Legalism – belief that humans are evil and harsh punishments are needed to keep order in society
Silk Road was a long trade route that extended about 4,000 miles from China (East) to the Mediterranean Sea in the West.
Connected the different classical civilizations and later ones as well
Cultural Diffusion – exchange of goods and ideas between societies. Silk Road let to the exchange of Silk (products) and religious ideas (Buddhism) between places
Han Dynasty
Lasted 400 years
Like the Roman Empire, the Han grew wealthy through trade due to the system of roads they developed
Civil Service Exam – system in which government positions were given only to skilled people who passed difficult exams