1. River Civilizations and Other civilizations of Southwest Asia

2. Ancient River Valley Civilizations
During the New Stone Age, permanent settlements appeared
in River Valleys and around the Fertile Crescent.
River Valleys provided:
Rich soil for crops and
Protection from invasion
Source:

3. These early civilizations existed between 3500-500 BC
The first civilization was Sumer in Mesopotamia, which means “Land between two rivers”
Situated between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.

4. First Rulers were Priests
Political:
Economic:
Religious:
Social:
Intellectual:
Achievements:
Geography:
City States
First Rulers were Priests
Mesopotamia/Sumer
Agriculture, Trade with Egypt
Polytheistic
Ziggurats
Priests important
Slavery not based on race
Cuneiform or wedge-shaped
writing based on pictograms
Invented the wheel, sail and plow
Euphrates and Tigris Rivers flow into Persian Gulf, Zagros Mountainsprovide protection

5. The second civilization to develop was Egypt along the Nile River.

6. Unified- One government in which Pharaohs = Gods, hereditary rule
Egypt Nile River Valley
Political:
Economic:
Religious:
Social:
Intellectual:
Achievements:
Geography:
Unified- One government in which Pharaohs = Gods, hereditary rule
Agriculture, Trade with Mesopotamia & Kush
Gold is important!
Polytheistic – A wonderful life after death
Mummification, pyramids
Priests at top
Slavery not based on race
Hieroglyphics – picture based writing
Papyrus, math, engineering, the Pyramids
and a 365 day calendar
The Nile – the longest river in the world. Deserts provide protection

7. The Third River Civilization was the Indus River Valley civilization in India

8. strong centralized gov’t
Indus River Valley
Political:
Economic:
Religious:
Social:
Intellectual:
Achievements:
Geography:
strong centralized gov’t
Traded with Sumer
Hinduism
Few social class differences
Writing has never been
Deciphered so little is known
Indoor Plumbing…remember the toilets?
Indus River, Hindu Kush Mountains, Himalayas
provided protection, Indian subcontinent

9. The Fourth River Valley Civilization was The Huang He River civilization in China
Source:

10. Mandate of Heaven, Dynasties Beginning with Shang Dynasty
China – Huang He River Civ
Mandate of Heaven, Dynasties
Beginning with Shang Dynasty
Political:
Economic:
Religious:
Social:
Intellectual:
Achievements:
Geography:
Agriculture- no trade outside of China
Ancestor Worship – Oracle bones used to communicate with ancestors
Divided between Nobles and Peasants
Family very important
Writing based on pictures
Chariot, Silk, Bronze weapons
Development of Iron
Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts provided protection
Huang He River was “Yellow” because windblown Loess was yellow