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Objectives for the Day:
- First Civilizations – Mesopotamia - Impact of Rivers
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Impact of Geography Near what geographical feature did the earliest civilizations begin? (Be Specific) 2. Why do you think early civilizations began near these rivers? 3. Why do you think early civilizations began near rivers?
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Civilization Begins: Mesopotamia
I. Impact of Geography II. City-States A. Sumerian Cities B. Religion C. Economy D. Society
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Tigris River I. Impact of Geography
First civilizations arose near river valleys - earliest in the Middle East (Mesopotamia) River Valleys 1. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Iraq) 2. Nile River (Egypt) 3. Indus River (Pakistan) 4. Yellow River (China) Tigris River
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I. Impact of Geography Greek historian Herodotus describing the good fortune of the Egyptians: “They obtain the fruits of the field with less trouble than any other people in the world…the husbandman waits till the river has its own accord spread itself over the fields and withdrawn again to its bed, and he sows his plot of ground…after which he has only to await the harvest.” Herodotus, 5th Century B.C.E.
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Mesopotamia – Present-day Iraq “land between the rivers”
I. Impact of Geography Mesopotamia – Present-day Iraq “land between the rivers”
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I. Impact of Geography Fertile Crescent An arc of land located from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf Very fertile soil – allowed farming Flooded unpredictably, dangerously
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Civilization Begins: Mesopotamia
I. Impact of Geography II. City-States A. Sumerian Cities B. Religion C. Economy D. Society
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A. Sumerian Cities Cities surrounded by walls temple or palace complex homes of citizens Large populations Rulers and workers Technology artisans pursued crafts made bronze, iron (weapons, tools)
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A. Sumerian Cities Assyria Akkad Sumer
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A. Sumerian Cities Sumerians – dominated southern zone (3,000 B.C.E.) Uruk – 2,700 B.C.E. Pop. 50,000 Area – 5 sq. miles 12 ft. walls Ur – Pop. 25,000 Area – 1 sq. mile Thick walls
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Civilization Begins: Mesopotamia
I. Impact of Geography II. City-States A. Sumerian Cities B. Religion C. Economy D. Society
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controlled by religious leaders
B. Religion Theocracy - religion a government by divine authority controlled by religious leaders Ziggurat
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B. Religion “You in your judgement, you are the son of Anu.
Your commands, like the work of a god, cannot be reversed. Your words, like rain pouring down from heaven, are without number.”
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Civilization Begins: Mesopotamia
I. Impact of Geography II. City-States A. Sumerian Cities B. Religion C. Economy D. Society
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C. Economy Economy was based on trade Developed bronze luxury tool (too expensive to replace stone) used to create implements of war, rituals Spread through trade to Indus River valley Chinese developed on their own
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C. Economy Iron developed – 1,200 B.C.E. Hittite Empire (Asia Minor) Cheaper, more durable than bronze Spread quickly through Middle East New era in agriculture New era in warfare (deadly)
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C. Economy Developed wheel and sail Made travel and trade faster, easier, cheaper Traded tools, pots, weapons, stone, bronze Used camels to lead caravans across deserts to trade with Arabian Peninsula, India, China (Silk Road)
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C. Economy Impact of developing new technology Trade increased China – silk India – cloth Egypt – linen, papyrus (paper) Trade routes developed Lasted until the Atlantic and Pacific trade routes 15th-16th century
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Civilization Begins: Mesopotamia
I. Impact of Geography II. City-States A. Sumerian Cities B. Religion C. Economy D. Society
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D. Society Nobles Commoners Slaves
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D. Society Nobles – royal family and priestly officials Lived in palaces Administered temples Some buried in tombs built for after-life Gained authority from status as warriors, ability to talk to gods Terra Cotta Warriors, Xi’an, China
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D. Society Commoners – Merchants, artisans, scribes, laborers
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D. Society Types of Slaves - First slaves war captives – mostly women and children Indentured servants – sold themselves into slavery to pay debts Might sell family members (wives, children) Types of Slavery - Used in building projects, on farms, as servants Female slaves were used to weave cloth and grind grain Slaves could buy freedom Much milder than American slavery
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Civilization Begins: Mesopotamia
I. Impact of Geography II. City-States A. Sumerian Cities B. Religion C. Economy D. Society
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