1. 12/2 Aim: River Valley Civs Review
Do Now: Answer the practice questions on the worksheet. Take out your review sheet.

2. Mesopotamia
Land between rivers: Tigris and Euphrates – unpredictable flooding, silt created fertile soil (region known as “fertile crescent”) and encouraged the growth of agriculture and urban centers
First people to settle there were Sumerians: regional government – city states of Sumer: Ur, Uruk, Kish, Nippur, Lagesh. Built ziggurats to the gods in each city state. First to use cuneiform writing. Invented the wheel – used it for trade.
Many groups of people were attracted to the region. The Akkadians built the first empire in Mesopotamia – centralized rule: Sargon of Akkad moved army from city to city and – the Akkadians were eventually overthrown.
The Babylonians under Hammurabi create the next empire of centralized, bureaucratic rule. Hammurabi’s code was first major set of written laws. Concept of lex talionis – law of retaliation: “an eye for an eye” borrowed by the Hebrews

3. Mesopotamia
The Hittites, indo Europeans, ended the Babylonian empire. Introduce iron metallurgy and chariots to Mesopotamia.
The Assyrians used iron and chariots (borrowed from Hittites) and battering rams to create the largest, most extensive empire in Mesopotamia – extended into Egypt.
Neo Babylonians are the last empire builders in Mesopotamia before the region is brought under Persian control.
The Phoenicians were seafaring traders who built city states around the region and had interactions within Mesopotamia throughout its history. They created a 22 letter alphabet based on consonants.
Don’t forget the Epic of Gilgamesh!

4. Egypt
Unification by Menes I in 3300 B.C.E. The Nile river flooded predictably every year and created fertile soil.
Old Kingdom Period (ends 2134 B.C.E) – Pharaohs were most powerful during this period – pyramid age – monarchy becomes theocratic as Pharaohs begin to claim that they were living incarnations of the sun god, Amon-Re.
First intermediate period - No unified government – falls to chiefdoms
Middle Kingdom Period (ends 1640 B.C.E) – Power returned to Pharaoh trade resumes, irrigation projects reorganized. Priestly class increases in power.
Second intermediate period – rule by Hyksos (foreign rulers) who migrated to the region from central Asia.
New Kingdom (Ends 1070 B.C.E) – imperial period (Ramses II extends Egyptian influence Northward) Akhenaten – monotheism: worship of Aten

5. Harappan Civilization
Begins sometime around 3300 B.C.E along the Indus and Ganges rivers
We know the least about this because much of the evidence lies beneath the rising water table. In addition, we’ve never deciphered their language.
Evidence of polytheistic worship and fertility cults
Traded with Mesopotamians, Anatolia.
Probably regional government with Mohenjo – Daro and Harappa acting as political and economic centers. Evidence of urban planning in each city by the government as well as indoor plumbing in private homes.
Harappan Civilization falls prior to arrival of the Aryans possibly because of environmental factors (desertification, deforestation)

6. The Vedic Age in India
Around 1500 B.C.E, the Aryans (a group of indo Europeans) migrated through the Khyber Pass of the Hindu Kush mountains
Brought with them “The Vedas” - a collection of hymns, poems, stories of their gods (Indra): eventually written down (in sanskrit)
Small regional cheifdoms grew into kingdoms – weak and therefore created Varna (caste system) (Brahmins, Kshatryia, Vaisya, Sudra): subcastes (hundreds) called jati were based on occupation.
Development of Hinduism: product of cultural diffusion between Dravidian (native) beliefs and Aryan beliefs. Acetic lifestyles led to creation of the Upanishads: first mention of ideas of samsara (reincarnation), and karma.
Ultimate goal was to rejoin Brahman (the universal sprit) called Moksha