1. Chapter 2 Overview and Discussion

2. Ancient Civilizations The Fertile Crescent

3. MAPS http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/start1.html

4. What changes in the world lead to civilizations (define)? Agricultural Revolution: farming & irrigation Permanent villages turned into city-states Organized governments, religion, and legal system Writing system-recorded history! Political system based on territory rather than kinships Specialization of labor in areas other than food production What’s wrong with this definition? People define civilization with their own way of life

5. Fertile Crescent - “Crossroads to the world?” Also known as Mesopotamia

6. Mesopotamia Climate: Unpredictable flooding -Why a blessing? -Why a curse? Topography: No geographical barriers -Why is that a problem?

7. Religion Believed gods controlled every aspect of life. Anthropomorphic - gods possess same characteristics as man Man at the mercy of the gods - Why? Natural disasters Natural blessing

8. SOCIAL STRUCTURE Each state had distinct social hierarchy There were three distinct classes: – the large landholders, royalty, priests, and merchants – dependent farmers (most people) and artisans and workmen – Slaves was not economically crucial not an inherited condition Men held authority over women and children Women had legal rights; some engaged in trade and owned property.

9. Status of women in Mesopotamian society Hunter gathering society Higher status Served as a primary role in procuring much of the family’s food Agricultural society women’s status declined – cultivating work was done by men had no political role occupations – textile weaving, brewing, prostitution, tavern keeping, baking, and fortunetelling, raising children

10. Economy Barter Economy - Example? Ziggurat Each had its own ziggurat? Very Important… - Its purpose?

11. GOVERNMENT City-states with hereditary rulers. Supported by priesthood and military Ruler led army in war and enforced laws. Complex government with scribes to collect taxes and keep records.

12. Mesopotamian technological advances. technology – any specialized knowledge that is used to transform the natural environment and society. Agriculture – Irrigation (canals, dams, etc. transportation – carts, sledges, and boats for maneuvering in the varied terrain. metallurgy – Bronze

13. Writing CuneiformCuneiform -Oldest in the World -Wedge depressions in clay tablets -Formed from a reed stylus -Most important contribution

14. The Code of Hammurabi –first written set of laws –282+ laws –“Eye for an eye, life for life” What does that mean? Hammurabi Babylonian Leader 1792-1750 B.C.E

15. Egypt: “The Gift of the Nile” 4,160 miles longest river in the world Predictable floodingPredictable flooding carried rich deposits of silt along with it.carried rich deposits of silt along with it. primary means of communication and transportation.primary means of communication and transportation.

16. Explain how the first Egyptian civilization was shaped by its natural environment Imposing natural barriers of desert and harborless seacoast provided what? protection from outside influences and threats and allowed Egypt to develop a unique culture in isolation and security

17. Pharaoh, which means "great palace.”He built a large palace and the people called him Pharaoh, which means "great palace.” the first dynasty From then on Egypt's rulers were called pharaohs, his was the first dynasty. Menes: The First Pharaoh

18. Discuss the image of the pharaoh and the reason for construction of the pyramids. Pharaoh – god on earth – maintain ma’at, the divine order of the universe – He was the link between the people and the gods, therefore ensuring the welfare and prosperity of the country. The death of the pharaoh was a critical – because the well-being of the state depended on him. – every effort was made to ensure that he had a safe journey back to the gods in his afterlife.

19. Religion in the Lives of Ancient Egyptians Gods controlled nature, especially the weather and illnessEgyptians, like all ancient peoples believed that the Gods controlled nature, especially the weather and illness Egyptian Priest

20. Most Honored Egyptian Gods Major Gods: -Amon-Re (ra) Osiris Major Gods: -Amon-Re (ra) was the sun god – Most Powerful God! -Osiris was the god of the underworld and of the Nile. Isis -Isis was the most powerful mother goddess worshiped all over Egypt

21. Mummification –Mummify to preserve a sound body for the Ka to return to –70 day process –Improper embalming leads to second true death

22. Mummification Ka –Spirit created when all men are born –This spirit of life returns once the body has passed the test…

23. A Fateful Test… Egyptians had to pass test after they died. It was believed that dead souls were ferried across a lake of fire to the hall of Osiris The heart of the dead was weighed against a feather if the heart weighted less he was allowed to go on Those who were viewed as sinners were fed to the crocodile-shaped eater of the dead/ those who were viewed as worthy entered the happy field of food.

24. then vanished without a trace.The earliest Indian civilization flourished for about 1,000 years, then vanished without a trace. Indus Valley Civilization 3300–1300 BCE, flowered 2600–1900 BCE

25. Indus Valley Civilization Well-organized government Carefully planned cities Modern plumbing and sewer system  Public Bath at Harappa

26. Mohenjo-daro & Harappa Two major cities of the Indus Valley Very sophisticated civilization Lots of modern excavation & research in that area today Mohenjo-daro discovered in the 1940s by a British archaeologist

27. Indus Valley Writing Whose writing does the Indus peoples look the most like? How could that be?

28. Decline and Disappearance: Indus Valley Civilization No one knows for certain why the cities were abandoned or forgotten. Scholars have proposed a number of theories: A devastating earthquake destroyed the region. A volcanic eruption caused the Indus to flood the city. Aryan invaders overran the region. The Indus valley climate grew significantly cooler and drier from about 1800 BCE. A crucial factor may have been the disappearance of substantial portions of the Ghaggar Hakra river system Ghaggar Hakra river

29. Compare the civilization in the Indus Valley with the civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Emergence of civilization – All three civilizations were built around fertile river valleys. Society – The resulting surplus production of foodstuffs supported a government and religious infrastructure Writing – All three civilizations also developed a complex system of writing to accompany the growth of government and urban life. Religion religious beliefs and practices tied to the natural environment. Urban or agricultural – Because of the size of the Indus River system, the civilization there was much larger than that in Mesopotamia. Whereas the Mesopotamian civilization was urban centered, that of the Indus Valley was more dispersed and rural.