1. First Civilizations Part One: SSWH1
Mrs. Trapp
World History

2. Mesopotamia Religion Culture Economy Politics polytheistic
Developed and used the wheel
Arches used in architecture
ziggurats
Economy
Farming
Trading with SW Asia
Politics
Organized into city-states
Caste system gave most power to the elite

3. Hammurabi’s law code
Hammurabi was a strong ruler of Babylon (a city in southern Mesopotamia on the Euphrates River).
Conquered most of Tigris-Euphrates Valley.
Best known for the Code of Hammurabi.

4. Code of Hammurabi Collection of 282 laws
Some current laws contain ideas that were found in Hammurabi’s code.
Included harsh punishments; based on the idea “an eye for an eye.”
“If a man bring[s] an accusation against a man, and charge[s] him with a [major] crime, but cannot prove it, he, the accuser, shall be put to death… If a builder build[s] a house for a man and [does] not make its construction firm, and the house which he has built collapse[s] and cause[s] the death of the owner of the house, that builder shall be put to death.”
Hammurabi, from Code of Hammurabi

5. Ancient Egypt Political authority Religion
The pharaoh was the absolute monarch of the country
Religion
In early days, many villages had their own local god or gods.
Relationship between religion and political authority
Egyptians believed that the pharaoh was more than a man, that he was a god.
Egypt was a theocracy, meaning that the clergy had a great amount of control of government
The pharaoh’s closest advisors were almost always priests.

6. Poly or Mono?? Polytheism- the belief in many gods
Egyptians and Mesopotamians held this belief
Monotheism- the belief in one god
Ancient Hebrews developed concepts that led to monotheism
The Hebrew religion was monotheistic based on belief in a single god.
Ethical monotheism- emphasizes proper conduct/behavior
The Jewish system of ethics carried over into the founding of Christianity.

7. Zoroastrianism Based on teachings of the great prophet, Zoroaster.
Taught that people on Earth were being trained for a future life.
Must choose between good and evil.
Final judgment upon death.
These beliefs influenced the shift to monotheism.

8. Early Trading Networks
Early trading networks were created to help civilizations share resources with each other.
Land and water routes were used to get goods from one place to another.
Interacting with other civilizations through trade allowed ancient people to borrow traditions from other cultures.
Phoenicians were traders near the Mediterranean.

9. Writing Systems Cuneiform Hieroglyphics
System of writing used by the Mesopotamians that used pictographs; made by pressing a wedge-shaped tool into clay tablets.
Hieroglyphics
Used more than 600 signs, pictures, or symbols to represent words and sounds.
Carved into stone or other hard materials; eventually used papyrus for paper.
Created by Egyptians

10. Phoenician Alphabet
The Phoenicians developed the alphabet that would later become the model for Western alphabets.
Major contribution to the world
The spread of the alphabet is an example of how trade can increase cultural diffusion.
What is cultural diffusion?

11. Phoenicia

12. Influence of Phoenician Alphabet