early civilizations. categories and places geography, religion, economy, government, social...
TRANSCRIPT
Early Civilizations
Categories and places
Geography, Religion, Economy, Government, Social Structure, and notable achievements
Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, India, China
Geography Mesopotamia-Tigris & Euphrates= irrigation but
irregular flood pattern found in modern day Iraq Egypt- Nile- predictable flood pattern, Travel
Desert=protection India- Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra Rivers
Hindu-Kush and Himalayas to N. Deccan Plateau arid and dry
China- Huang He (yellow) and Yangzi Rivers Isolate W. Himalayas and deserts
Religion Mesopotamia- Polytheistic- Inanna= Mother
Earth Ziggurat=temple to the Gods
Persians (Zoroaster) Ahura Mazda- monotheistic Hebrews-Yahweh-monotheistic
Egypt- Henotheistic- belief in one God w/o denying existence of others Polytheistic…Amon Re = Sun God Osiris=God of underworld
Soul= Ka Pyramids=tombs
Religion India-Polytheistic worshipped animals
(early) Vedas- collection of prayers and other religious teachings Arayans- polytheistic
China-Polytheistic Shang di (mother goddess) Yin= Earth, darkness, and female forces Yang= Heaven, light, and male forces
Government Mesopotamia- City-states religious war rulers…seen as
servants to God Code of Hammurabi 300 laws (1790bc & Babylonian empire)
Egypt-Pharaoh with vizier-chief minister India- Priest/Kings as leaders Two main cities Mohenjo-
Daro and Harappa carefully planned Grid patterns China-Kings/Shang Zhou/ Mandate of Heaven—divine
right to rule Feudalism– system of government which lords govern their own lands but owe $ and service to support their ruler
Economy Mesopotamia-Trade- brought in riches
barter system and agrarian society Egypt-Trade and farming India-Farmers- wheat, barley, fruit, cotton,
traders China-trade and farming development of
money
Social Structure Mesopotamia- Top– Leading officials and
high priests Middle– merchants, artisans, lesser priests Low– peasant farmers and slaves
Egypt- Top– Pharaoh High Middle– High Priests and lower Priests Middle– Nobles, merchants, artisans, scribes Low– peasants and slaves
Social Structure
India-Castes– social groups in which you are born into and can not change
Top: Priests High Middle- warriors Middle—Farmers, herders, merchants, and artisans Low---peasants and slaves
China-Top= king Middle= warriors, merchants, and artisans Low=peasants
Achievements Mesopotamia= cuneiform, wheeled
vehicles, irrigation, land cultivation, alphabet (Phoenicians), coins, iron working
Egypt- papyrus, hieroglyphics, 12 month cal., pyramids, mummification, paintings and sculptures
India– city planning and plumbing China- calligraphy, bronze, silk making