1. Early River Civilizations

2. Vocabulary City-State : City-State : Political unit made up of a city and the surrounding lands. Each city state has its own government, even when it shares a culture with neighboring city states. Dynasty : Series of rulers from the same family. Dynasty : Series of rulers from the same family. Cultural Diffusion : Idea or product spreading from one culture to another. Cultural Diffusion : Idea or product spreading from one culture to another. Polytheism : Belief in many gods. Polytheism : Belief in many gods.

3. Overview of river valley civilizations The river valley civilizations develop from small farming villages. The river valley civilizations develop from small farming villages. The civilizations create laws, centralized governments, writing systems, and advanced technologies. The civilizations create laws, centralized governments, writing systems, and advanced technologies. The process of trade spreads new ideas from one civilization to another. The process of trade spreads new ideas from one civilization to another.

4. 4 Early River Valley Civilizations

5. The Mesopotamian River Valley Civilization

6. Mesopotamia – Fertile Crescent Sumer – The Earliest of the River Valley Civilizations Sumer – The Earliest of the River Valley Civilizations Sumerian Civilization grew up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Kuwait. Sumerian Civilization grew up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Kuwait.

7. Sumer

8. Tigris River Current times

9. Euphrates River – current times

10. SumeriansSumerians invented: Sumerians Brick technology Brick technology Wheel Wheel Base 60 – using the circle... 360 degrees Base 60 – using the circle... 360 degrees Time – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute Time – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute 12 month lunar calendar 12 month lunar calendar arch arch ramp ramp ziggurat ziggurat

11. Sumerian Writing: cuneiform Cuneiform is created by pressing a pointed stylus into a clay tablet. http://www.upennm useum.com/cuneifor m.cgi

12. ZigguratZiggurat – Holy Mountain Ziggurat

13. Babylonians Hammurabi’s Code of Law Hammurabi’s Code of Law

14. Hammurabi’s Code History’s first known written laws History’s first known written laws 300 laws 300 laws An “eye for an eye” An “eye for an eye” Punishments varied according to social status. Punishments varied according to social status.

15. “If a man stole the property of church or state, that man shall be put to death; also the one who received the stolen goods from his hand shall be put to death.”

16. Political Impact of Hammurabi’s Code First written code of laws, First written code of laws, It created a sense of orderIt created a sense of order Established a coherent “rule of law” which was independent of ethnic or tribal custom or even familial or monarchical whim.Established a coherent “rule of law” which was independent of ethnic or tribal custom or even familial or monarchical whim.

17. Legal Impact of Hammurabi’s code For the first time, the notion of a separate judiciary as part of the overall government For the first time, the notion of a separate judiciary as part of the overall government This is a modern hallmark of modern democratic governments the world over.This is a modern hallmark of modern democratic governments the world over.

18. Egyptians invented: Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics Pyramids Pyramids Pyramids Geometry Geometry Geometry Advances in medicine and surgery Advances in medicine and surgery

19. Hieroglyphics Early Egyptian writing found on tombs was indecipherable. Early Egyptian writing found on tombs was indecipherable. Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics Sacred Carving No one could read these sacred carvings until Napoleon invaded Egypt and his archaeologists found the Rosetta Stone. http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/writing/rosetta.html

20. Indus River Valley 2500 BC – 1500 BC Around 2600 B.C. the various regional cultures were united in what is called the Indus Valley Civilization. It is also commonly referred to as the Harappan culture after the town of Harappa (where it was first discovered.)

21. Comparative Timeline

22. Excavations at the ancient Harappan and Mohenjo Daro mounds revealed well planned cities and towns built on massive mud brick platforms that protected the inhabitants against seasonal floods. In the larger cities the houses were built of baked brick while at smaller towns most houses were built of sun-dried mud brick. Each city is laid out in a grid pattern and shows signs of stunningly modern plumbing systems. Excavations at the ancient Harappan and Mohenjo Daro mounds revealed well planned cities and towns built on massive mud brick platforms that protected the inhabitants against seasonal floods. In the larger cities the houses were built of baked brick while at smaller towns most houses were built of sun-dried mud brick. Each city is laid out in a grid pattern and shows signs of stunningly modern plumbing systems. Much writing has been found at these sites, but it has not yet been translated.

23. Physical Geography Indian subcontinent extends southward from central Asia into the Indian Ocean. Indian subcontinent extends southward from central Asia into the Indian Ocean. North  separated by the rest of Asia by mountain ranges (Himalayas) North  separated by the rest of Asia by mountain ranges (Himalayas) Made it difficult for immigrants and invaders to enter IndiaMade it difficult for immigrants and invaders to enter India Khyber Pass  one of the few paths that permitted people to cross the mountains into IndiaKhyber Pass  one of the few paths that permitted people to cross the mountains into India Two Rivers  Ganges River and Indus River Two Rivers  Ganges River and Indus River South  high plateau called the Deccan South  high plateau called the Deccan West  Western Ghats mountain range West  Western Ghats mountain range East  coastal plain faces the Bay of Bengal East  coastal plain faces the Bay of Bengal

24. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley 2500 BC until 1500 BC 2500 BC until 1500 BC Harappan CivilizationHarappan Civilization Two important cities: Harappa and Mohenjo Daro Two important cities: Harappa and Mohenjo Daro Both of these cities are large and carefully planned. Both of these cities are large and carefully planned. Wide streets cross at right anglesWide streets cross at right angles Each city had a water system with public baths and brick sewersEach city had a water system with public baths and brick sewers Each city had a citadel (strong central fortress) built on a brick platform. They were also used storehouses for grain.Each city had a citadel (strong central fortress) built on a brick platform. They were also used storehouses for grain. Long-range planning  store and distribution of crops may suggest crop-destroying floods or threat of invadersLong-range planning  store and distribution of crops may suggest crop-destroying floods or threat of invaders Probably organized around a strong central governmentProbably organized around a strong central government

25. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley (cont.) Rich farmlands surrounded these two cities Rich farmlands surrounded these two cities Grew cotton, wheat, barley, and riceGrew cotton, wheat, barley, and rice Raised cattle, sheep, pigs, and goatsRaised cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats Built canals and ditches to irrigate fieldsBuilt canals and ditches to irrigate fields Surplus crops were stored or used for tradeSurplus crops were stored or used for trade Written language  pictographs Written language  pictographs Scholars today still cannot read theseScholars today still cannot read these

26. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley (cont.) Religion  Religion  Probably worshipped a great godProbably worshipped a great god Used the bull, buffalo, and tiger in religious ritualsUsed the bull, buffalo, and tiger in religious rituals Mother goddess  fertilityMother goddess  fertility May have held religious ceremonies in their homes or in outdoor locations like scared trees.May have held religious ceremonies in their homes or in outdoor locations like scared trees. We have not been able to find any temples, shrines, or religious writingsWe have not been able to find any temples, shrines, or religious writings

27. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley (cont.) Why did this civilization disappear? Why did this civilization disappear? Evidence  Several unburied skeletons are found along with homes and possessions being abandoned.Evidence  Several unburied skeletons are found along with homes and possessions being abandoned. Do not know for sure however there are some theories:Do not know for sure however there are some theories: Floods could have destroyed this settlement or made it difficult to grow food. Floods could have destroyed this settlement or made it difficult to grow food. Some evidence suggests possible violence from invading forces Some evidence suggests possible violence from invading forces Some evidence suggests a major earthquake in 1700 BC Some evidence suggests a major earthquake in 1700 BC

28. Fertile Crescent Changes Hands This area was taken over numerous times due to its lack of natural barriers This area was taken over numerous times due to its lack of natural barriers It was first taken over by the Hittites, then by the Assyrians It was first taken over by the Hittites, then by the Assyrians After the Assyrians, came the Chaldeans After the Assyrians, came the Chaldeans

29. Assyrian Contributions Established many permanent roads to facilitate troop movement. Established many permanent roads to facilitate troop movement. Established the first postal system to facilitate communications. Established the first postal system to facilitate communications. Hired many of its soldiers from foreign lands and paid them based on success (Mercenaries) Hired many of its soldiers from foreign lands and paid them based on success (Mercenaries)

30. Chaldeans Famous for the Hanging Gardens Famous for the Hanging Gardens Most famous King was Nebuchadnezzar Most famous King was Nebuchadnezzar Studied astronomy Studied astronomy Conquered by the Persians Conquered by the Persians

31. Phoenicians Prominent traders Prominent traders Seafarers Seafarers Developed an alphabet that was passed on to the Greeks Developed an alphabet that was passed on to the Greeks Famous for “purple” Famous for “purple” Absorbed into other cultures Absorbed into other cultures

32. The Phoenicians needed a way of recording transactions clearly and quickly. The Phoenicians needed a way of recording transactions clearly and quickly. So they developed a writing system that used symbols to represent sounds. So they developed a writing system that used symbols to represent sounds. I’m hooked on Phonics!