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Features of Early Civilizations
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Ancient Mesopotamia Government
City States: Cities that control the lands around them. King Hammurabi-First to enforce a set of laws, believed strong should not control the week. Kings ruled-----> Often War heroes.
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Ancient Mesopotamia Food Supply
Many Crops Plenty of food due to irrigation. Most people were farmers. Rich soil from the Fertile Crescent and floods.
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Ancient Mesopotamia Economics
Traded with other towns/cities in the area. Traded or traded for tools, wheat, barley, copper, tin, and timber (wood). Farming
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Ancient Mesopotamia Resources and Technology
Invented 12 month calendar, wheel, plow, writing system (cuneiform), sailboat, geometry, number system based on 60, 60 second minute, 60 minute hour, 360 degree circle.
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Ancient Mesopotamia Division of Labor
Three social classes: Upper, Middle, and Lower. Upper: Kings, Priests, Government Officials. Middle: Artisans, Merchants, Farmers, and Fishers. Low: Enslaved Prisoners of war, criminals, unskilled.
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Ancients Mesopotamia Communication
Only men (wealthy) went to school. Used Cuneiform (wedged shaped writing). Scribes kept records. Writing system (Cuneiform) to keep records and pass ideas.
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Ancient Egypt Government
Used to direct and plan activities to resolve problems in society. Early Rulers were village chiefs. Eventually rulers came from a dynasty, or bloodline of power. Leaders known as Pharohs.
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Ancient Egypt Food Supply
Successful Farmers Wheat, barley, and flax seed. Often grew surplus. Irrigation helped their success. Regular flooding = surplus.
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Ancient Egypt Economics
Farming Trade w/Mesopotamia. Business owners/shop keepers. Trade with each other.
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Ancient Egypt Resources and Technology
Shadoof—Bucket attached to a long pole and dipped into the water. Papyrus—First paper made from it. First medical books Number system based on 10. Writing system, hieroglyphics, picture writing.
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Ancient Egypt Division of Labor
3 Social Classes: Upper, Middle, Lower. Upper: Pharaoh, nobles, priests, wealthy. Middle: Traders, artisans, shopkeepers, scribes, skilled workers. Lower: Unskilled workers, farmers, herders.
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Ancient Egypt Communication
Hieroglyphics Picture writing Later, pictures stood for sounds Ex. Boat =
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Ancient India Government
Little known due to lack of records. Religion and politics were closely connected (normal for the time). Kings and Priests most influential.
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Ancient India Food Supply
Rice, wheat, barely, peas Cattle were prized for because of meat, milk, and being a source of butter. Later cattle became sacred and were forbidden to be eaten (Aryans). Fertile soil and river floods helped provide surplus.
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Ancient India Economics
Cattle sometimes used as money. Individual wealth based on # of cattle on had.
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Ancient India Resources and Technology
Iron plow Algebra Idea of “zero” Infinity Symbols for numbers 1-9 Medical tools Plastic surgery Mapped movement of universe Earth revolved around the sun Steel tools and weapons
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Ancient India Division of Labor
Caste System Made of 4 Varnas, or levels. Priests Rulers/Warriors Farmers, merchants Slaves, servants Untouchables—performed the lowest and most unwanted jobs: ex. cleaning up body fluids and animal carcasses.
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Ancient India Communication
Sanskrit: Written language Many songs, poems, and prayers passed along.
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Ancient China Government
Dynasties: Power passed in the bloodline, power stays within a family. Kings Bureaucracy: appointed officials responsible for different areas of government….government broken up.
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Ancient China Food Supply
Grains, wheat, and rice Cattle, sheep, and chickens Tea Fertile soil and flooding of rivers Surplus allowed population to grow.
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Ancient China Economics
Traded tea, porcelain, paper, steel, silk Traded for gold, silver, precious stones, and fine woods. The route western Asia and Europe used became known as the Silk Road.
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Ancient China Resources and Technology
Iron plow Irrigation and flood system Cross bow Abacus (ancient calculator) Great Wall Printing Press Gun Powder Porcelain Fireworks Boat rudders Coal Steel (Armor swords, helmets, stoves, tools, drills, chains, nails, and needles)
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Ancient China Division of Labor
Aristocrats-Wealthy Landowners Farmers Merchants
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Ancient China Communication
Pictographs-Characters that stand for objects. Ideographs-Characters used in writing that joins two pictographs together. Calligraphy-Beautiful hand writing (pg. 421)
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