1. Unit 1 Ancient Civilizations
Rise of Civilizations
Unit 1 Ancient Civilizations

2. Indus River Valley Civilization
Located in present day Pakistan and India along the banks of the Indus River
Findings show cities between BC and 1500 BC, but the hight of their culture was around BC to 2000 BC
Major cities were: Harappa, Dohlavira and Mohenjo-Daro
Known for skilled metal work and pottery
Typically a peaceful culture, little to no evidence of war or even having a military
IRVC dissapeared by 1500, to this day no one knows why, many believe they were wiped out by the Aryans or the waterways dried up
Their written language has still never been decoded

3. Indus River Valley Civilizations - Contributions
Plowed fields
Sea ports for trade
Planned city layouts
Running water to houses
Sewage away from home
Eggplant
Swimming pools
Public baths
Ceramics
Art was highly thought of in Harappan culture
Most art made with gold, diamonds and other precious gems and metals
money was made with elaborate designs that match building decorations (man with bulls)

4. Indus River Valley Civilization

5. Ancient Mesopotamia
Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, also known as the Fertile Crescent, present day Iraq
A collection of smaller empires united during wars
Each city state/empire had the same deities as each other and all allowed women to have some rights
Thrived between 3500 BC and 500BC
Major empires/city states: Babylon, Assyria, Akkad, Ur, Sumer, Ninevah, Sippar, Susa, Phoenicia and Uruk
Known as skilled warriors, farmers and trade merchants
Written language was created in Phoenicia
Also called the Cradle of Civilization

6. Ancient Mesopotamia - Contributions
Oldest known novel - Epic of Gilgamesh
First written system of law (The Code of Hammurabi)
Ziggurats (religious temples)
The wheel
Chariots
Wine
Time: hours, minutes, seconds
Sailboats
Irrigation of farm fields
Written language

7. Ancient Mesopotamia - Polytheism
The Sumerian gods often had human characteristics in that they were sometimes good and sometimes bad.
They also believed in genies, demons, and evil spirits.
They believed that the Earth floated on an ocean of fresh water.
Enlil was said to be so powerful that the other gods could not even look at him.
Greek mythology likely borrowed many ideas from the Mesopotamian gods.

8. Ancient Mesopotamia

9. Ancient Persia
Located in present day Iran, but at it's height included all of middle east, parts of Europe/Africa/India/Asia
Thrived between 700 BC until 300 BC when Alexander the Great conquered them
Known for elaborate cities, woven materials, remnants, warriors and mathematicians
Major dynasties/cities include: Persepolis, Bahgdad, Partha, Media, Bactria
Persia will conquer most of the known world but quickly fall to Greece, it will overtake Mesopotamia and the barbarian lands of Eurasia
Technically Persia exsisted until the 1900's when it became Iran

10. Ancient Persia - Contributions/Key People
Built the first stadium
1st to give equal rights
1st to give animals rights
Rugs
Qanats (underground water ways)
Post riders
Aramaic Language
Taxation through Satraps
Beer
Astronomy
Darius
Xerxes
Cyrus
Artaxerxes
Hystaspas

11. Ancient Persia - Religion
Believed in Zoroastrianism
One of the 1st monotheistic religions in the world
Still practiced in parts of Iran and India but have been hunted to near extinction by the ruling religious leaders of Iran
Considered one of the most peaceful religions in the world
created by a Perisian prophet named Zarathustra or Zoraster
Deity is called Ahura-Mazda or “lord of wisdom”

12. Ancient Persia