1. 2 Early River Valley Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
QUIT 2
CHAPTER
Early River Valley
Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
Chapter Overview
Time Line
MAP
SECTION 1
City-States in Mesopotamia
SECTION 2
Pyramids on the Nile
SECTION 3
Planned Cities on the Indus
SECTION 4
River Dynasties in China
Visual Summary

2. 2 Early River Valley Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
HOME 2
CHAPTER
Early River Valley
Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
Chapter Overview
The river valley civilizations develop from small farming villages. The civilizations create laws, centralized governments, writing systems, and advanced technologies. The process of trade spreads new ideas to and from these civilizations.

3. 2 Early River Valley Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C. HOME Time Line
CHAPTER
Early River Valley
Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
Time Line
3000 B.C. City-states form in Sumer, Mesopotamia.
1792 B.C. Hammurabi develops code of laws for Babylonian Empire.
1027 B.C. Zhou dynasty forms in China.
3500 B.C.
450 B.C.
2660 B.C. Egypt’s Old Kingdom develops.
1550 B.C. Indus Valley civilization declines.

4. City-States in Mesopotamia Key Idea 1
HOME 1
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Key Idea
Working together to overcome environmental challenges leads to the development of centralized government and cities in Mesopotamia. The Sumerian civilization influences later civilizations.
Overview
Assessment

5. City-States in Mesopotamia Overview 1 • Fertile Crescent • silt
HOME 1
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Fertile Crescent
• silt
• irrigation
• city-state
• dynasty
• cultural diffusion
• polytheism
• empire
• Hammurabi
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The development of this civilization reflects a pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout history.
The earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia and organized into city-states.
Assessment

6. unpredictable flooding
HOME 1
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Section 1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List three environmental challenges the Sumerians faced and their solutions to these challenges.
Challenges
Solution
unpredictable flooding
irrigation
defenselessness
walled cities
limited resources
trade
continued . . .

7. City-States in Mesopotamia 1 1
HOME 1
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Section 1
Assessment
2. What advantages did living in cities offer the people of ancient Mesopotamia? Do modern cities offer any of the same advantages? THINK ABOUT
• characteristics of Sumer’s city-states
• characteristics of Sumer’s economy and society
• development of organized government
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
Opportunity for wealth; diversity of work available; government that promotes laws, manages economy, and provides assistance; better housing; city walls and armies for protection; proximity to temple; more social contact. Cities today offer many of these advantages.
continued . . .

8. City-States in Mesopotamia 1 1
HOME 1
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Section 1
Assessment
3. Do you think that living in a river valley with little rainfall helped or hurt the development of civilization in Mesopotamia? Explain your response.
ANSWER
Possible Response:
It helped, because the Sumerians had to develop the technology and organization to get water to the fields. This led to the development of organized government.
End of Section 1

9. Pyramids on the Nile Key Idea 2
HOME 2
Pyramids on the Nile
Key Idea
Egyptian civilization develops along the Nile River. Upper and lower Egypt are united into a kingdom and ruled by pharaohs, who are believed to be gods. Egyptian customs for preparing and burying the bodies of the dead include mummification and burying pharaohs in pyramids.
Overview
Assessment

10. Pyramids on the Nile Overview 2 • cataract • delta • Menes • pharaoh
HOME 2
Pyramids on the Nile
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• cataract
• delta
• Menes
• pharaoh
• theocracy
• pyramid
• mummification
• hieroglyphics
• papyrus
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Along the Nile River, civilization emerged in Egypt and became united into a kingdom ruled by pharaohs.
Many of the monuments built by the Egyptians stand as a testament to their ancient civilization.
Assessment

11. Egyptian Achievements
HOME 2
Pyramids on the Nile
Section 2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Give four examples of Egyptian achievements.
Egyptian Achievements
Mummification
Pyramids
Hieroglyphics
Advances in medicine
Written numbers
Calendar
continued . . .

12. HOME 2
Pyramids on the Nile
Section 2
Assessment
2. Three natural features determined the boundaries of ancient Egyptian civilization: the Nile River, the First Cataract, and the surrounding desert. In your judgment, which of these features was most important to Egypt’s history?
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
The Nile River—it provided fertile soil, a predictable growing season, and easy transportation within Egypt.
The First Cataract—it presented an obstacle to trade and communication with peoples on the upper Nile.
The deserts—they limited outside contact but also prevented invasions.
End of Section 2

13. Planned Cities on the Indus Key Idea 3
HOME 3
Planned Cities
on the Indus
Key Idea
The Indus Valley people build planned cities with sophisticated sewage and plumbing systems. Archaeological evidence suggests the Indus civilization is stable and prosperous. Indus Valley culture ends mysteriously.
Overview
Assessment

14. Planned Cities on the Indus Overview 3 • subcontinent • monsoon
HOME 3
Planned Cities
on the Indus
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• subcontinent
• monsoon
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The first Indian civilization built well-planned cities on the banks of the Indus River.
The culture of India today has its roots in the civilization of the early Indus cities.
Assessment

15. Planned Cities on the Indus 3 3
HOME 3
Planned Cities
on the Indus
Section 3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List the environmental conditions faced by the people of the Indus Valley. For each one, explain whether the condition was a benefit or a drawback.
Environmental Condition
Benefit or Drawback
(-) too little rain
(-) too much rain
monsoons
(+) spread deposits of rich soil over wide area
(-) unpredictable
floods
high mountains
(+) natural barrier helped protect against invasion
large desert
(+) natural barrier helped protect against invasion
continued . . .

16. Planned Cities on the Indus 3 3
HOME 3
Planned Cities
on the Indus
Section 3
Assessment
2. What evidence has led historians to the following beliefs about Indus civilization?
(a) The cities were run by a strong central government.
(b) Indus people carried on trade with Sumer.
(c) Society was generally peaceful and stable.
ANSWER
(a) Planned cities, uniform buildings, sanitation systems
(b) Indus seals found in Mesopotamia
(c) Uniform housing, children’s toys, few weapons
End of Section 3

17. River Dynasties in China Key Idea 4
HOME 4
River Dynasties
in China
Key Idea
Ancient Chinese civilization is ruled by powerful family dynasties. Just rulers are believed to have divine approval. In Chinese culture, family is central to society and religion. Improvements are made in technology and trade. Feudalism is established.
Overview
Assessment

18. River Dynasties in China Overview 4 • loess • oracle bone
HOME 4
River Dynasties
in China
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• loess
• oracle bone
• Mandate of Heaven
• dynastic cycle
• feudalism
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The early rulers introduced ideas about government and society that shaped Chinese civilization.
The culture that took root during ancient times still affects Chinese ways of life today.
Assessment

19. River Dynasties in China 4 4
HOME 4
River Dynasties
in China
Section 4
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List the major developments in the early Chinese dynasties.
Event One
Event Three
Event Five
Event Two
Event Four
Xia is the first Chinese dynasty.
Shang develop writing.
Zhou are first to control by feudalism.
Shang develop first cities.
Zhou claim Mandate of Heaven.
continued . . .

20. River Dynasties in China 4 4
HOME 4
River Dynasties
in China
Section 4
Assessment
2. The group was often more important than the individual in Chinese culture. In your judgment, what are the benefits and drawbacks of this belief? THINK ABOUT
• family roles
• the characteristics of a ruler
• role of spirit gods
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
Benefits—family cares for elderly, less government money spent on social programs, respect for deceased family members/gods
Drawbacks—less time for individuals to pursue interests, difficult to break away when family or ruler is unjust
continued . . .

21. River Dynasties in China 4 4
HOME 4
River Dynasties
in China
Section 4
Assessment
3. Do you think that the Zhou Dynasty’s downfall resulted because of their method of control? Why or why not? THINK ABOUT
• feudalism
• the large division of rich and poor
• the vast controlled lands
• the noble-king relationship
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
Yes—great distance between ruler and ruled, lords were greedy, chaotic warfare
No—the Zhou ruled successfully for 300 years. Their downfall wasn’t because of feudalism but because invaders killed the backbone of the dynasty, the Zhou monarchy.
End of Section 4