early civilizations
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Early Civilizations. I. Civilization. Permanent settlements, such as Catal Huyuk, led to emergence of civilization Societies that rely on agriculture, produce food surpluses Have formal political organization, other long-lasting institutions - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Early Civilizations
I. Civilization
Permanent settlements, such as Catal Huyuk, led to emergence of civilization Societies that rely on agriculture, produce food surpluses Have formal political organization, other long-lasting
institutions Characterized by groups of non-farming elites, merchant
and manufacturing groups, other specialized workers Writing
Essential to civilization for communication, record keeping, establishment of law and order
Cuneiform – first known system of writing, emerged in Middle East (Sumer) around 3500 B.C.E.
II. Tigris-Euphrates Rivers
Located in modern-day Iraq Often called Mesopotamia (“land between the rivers”)
First example of human civilizationBegan 4000 - 3500 B.C.E.Complex religious beliefs
Sumerians erected shrines and massive monuments/towers, called ziggurats, to honor gods
Some ideas (gods’ creation of earth, floods) can be found in various proto-religions
Judaism – earliest monotheistic religion
II. continued…
Highly organized Relied on city-states – small, autonomous regions ruled
by a king, with developed urban center Developed strict class systems – kings, noble class,
priests controlled most land Regulated system of laws and courts
Babylonian leader, Hammurabi, set early code of law in stone
II. Nile River
Located in northern Africa, modern-day EgyptBegan around 3000 B.C.E.Ruled by a pharaoh, or god-king
Considered to be directly descended from the gods Complex religious and political rituals
Polytheistic Theocracy – ruled through laws based on religious
beliefs/through religious leadersDevelopment of writing
Hieroglyphics – comes from Greek words meaning “sacred carving” More complex than cuneiform
Used papyrus reeds to make a paper-like writing surface
IV. Indus River
Located in modern-day Pakistan, near India’s borderBegan around 2500 B.C.E.Known for its advanced cities
Sophisticated city planning (grid-like patterns), running water Harappa, Mohenjo Daro
Limited trade with Mesopotamia, but developed independently
Developed system of writing, but never been translated
Thought to be a theocracy, religion a precursor to Hinduism
Environment and invasions a factor in disappearance Monsoons, floods Nomadic invaders took over, abandoned cities
V. Huanghe (Yellow River)
Located in northern half of modern-day ChinaBegan about 2000 B.C.E.Developed independently from other civilizations
Largely cut off from contact with outside world by geography (desert, mountains, ocean)
Developed sophisticated irrigations systems Controlled flooding of Yellow River
Early pioneers in science and weapon/tool-making Developed unique written language based on ideographic symbols
Early religious beliefs based on spirits, centered around respect for elders
Social classes divided society Established system of feudalism – nobles owned all the land that
peasants workedRigid political system develops – paves way for dynasty
system Shang dynasty was earliest – 1500 B.C.E.