CHAPTER 2

Early River Valley Civilizations

Vocabulary I

Fertile Crescent: Fertile land located between Tigris/Euphrates and extends into the Nile River Delta

Mesopotamia: The land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Floods/Silt)

City-State: A city and its surrounding lands that act as a government (Sphere of influence)

Dynasty: Leaders from the same family Cultural Diffusion: The spread of ideas, customs and

technologies from one people to anotherPolytheism: Belief in many godsEmpire: A group of states or territories controlled by one

rulerHammurabi: Babylonian Ruler: 1st set of written laws

Vocabulary II

Pharaoh: God/King, ruler of EgyptTheocracy: Government ruled by ReligionHieroglyphics: Picture based writingSubcontinent: “Subsection” of a continent Monsoon: Seasonal rains that bring floodsOracle Bones: Spiritual bones that predict the

futureMandate of Heaven: Devine, “God(s)” approval

to ruleFeudalism: Rulers give land away in return for

services

CHAPTER 2 :1

City-States in Mesopotamia

Geography of the Fertile Crescent

Fertile Plains Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

flood Mesopotamia once a year

Unpredictable Floods!!! Farmers planted crops in silt,

or fertile soil left behind from flood

Sumerians came to settle in region

Geography of the Fertile Crescent

Environmental Challenges Flooding unpredictable Defenseless from attack Limited natural

resources (wood, stone, metal)

Creating Solutions Dug irrigation canals to

bring water from river Built protective walls

from mud bricks Traded food for

materials they lacked

Sumerians Create City States

Power of Priests Acted as the Middle-man

between farmers and gods Demanded a portion of

every farmers crop for taxes

Monarchs take control Soldier kings began to

take over from priests after 3000 BC

Kings formed dynasties, or rule by a single family

The Spread of Cities

By 2500 BC Sumerian cities had expanded well beyond fertile crescent

Cultural Diffusion: a new idea or product spreading from one culture to another Examples of Cultural Diffusion….

Work with a partner and come up with a list of 5 examples!!!

Sumerian Culture

A Religion of Many Gods Polytheism: Belief in many gods Gods were all powerful but acted much like humans

Life in Sumerian Society Hierarchy of Sumerian Society

Slaves

King

Landholders, Priests

Wealthy merchants

Peasants (working in fields or workshops)

Science and Technology!

Invented wheel, sail, cuneiform (system of writing), geometry, Measurement (60 seconds = 1 minute, 360 degrees in a circle)

Developed architectural designs such as ramp, arches, columns, and pyramids

Advanced!!!

The First Empire Builders

Babylonian Empire Nomadic warriors

conquered Sumerians around 2000 BC

Most famous king was Hammurabi

Code of Hammurabi Oldest known written law

code Harsh set of rules for

society “An eye for an eye and a

tooth for a tooth.” Not Equal!!!! (Social Class

Divisions)

You be the Judge!

Decide what you think is a fair way to deal with the problem. Then, see what Hammurabi declared using his laws.

What if…a carpenter builds a house that falls down and kills the owner?

Hammurabi as Judge!

If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make its construction sound, and the house which he has built collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house, the builder shall be put to death.

Code # 229

You be the Judge!

What if…a man is unable to pay his debts?

Hammurabi as Judge!

If a man be in debt and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them over to service. For three years they shall work in the houses of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom.

Code # 117

You be the Judge!

What if…a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back?

Hammurabi as Judge!

If a man takes in his own home a young boy as a son and rears him, one may not bring claim for that adopted son.

Code # 185

You be the Judge!

What if…a boy slaps his father?

Hammurabi as Judge!

If a son strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand.

Code # 195

You be the Judge!

How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?

Hammurabi as Judge!

If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.

Code # 2

Main Idea Questions

1. Why is Hammurabi’s Code significant?

2. How did the environment/geography influence the development of Sumeria?

CHAPTER 2 :2

Pyramids on the Nile

The Geography of Egypt

The Gift of the Nile Yearly floods brought silt

and water to desert land Gift of the Nile

Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt Lower Egypt the most

prosperous with rich delta soil

Nile provided easy transportation between upper and lower Egypt

Pyramids on the Nile

Nile River via NASA!!

Geography of Egypt

Environmental Challenges Surrounded by vast and barren deserts Isolated Egyptians but kept out invaders

Geographically Protected/Isolated! Predictable Floods!

How is this different from Mesopotamia?

Egypt United Into a Kingdom

Pharaohs Rule as Gods Head of government, army, and religion Theocracy: is when a king is worshipped as a

divine/Godlike ruler

Builders of the Pyramids Kings ruled even after their deaths More important than palaces they occupied during life. Showed the organizational power of the Old Kingdom

Egyptian Culture

Religion and Life Worshipped over 2,000

gods and goddesses Positive view of

afterlife Mummification:

Preserved the dead to prevent decay of the body

Modern Day Mummy!

Life in Egypt

Slaves (later in Egypt’s history)

King (pharaoh), Queen, and royal family

Wealthy landholders, Priests, government officials, army officers

Middle Class (Merchants and Artisans)

Peasant farmers and laborers

Egyptian Science and Technology

Egyptian Science and Technology Developed a calendar that fell short of true solar year

by six hours

Used advanced mathematical knowledge to build pyramids

Obsidian Surgical Blades

Invaders Control Egypt

Chariot Riders invade Egypt Used horse drawn chariots to conquer Egypt Hyksos ruled for 107 years

Main Idea Questions

1. How did geography influence the development of Egypt?

2. Why did Egyptians mummify bodies?

3. Give examples of advanced technologies that the Egyptians are responsible for.

CHAPTER 2 :3

Planned Cities on the Indus

The Geography of South Asia

The Geography of South Asia Rivers, Mountains, and Monsoons

Indus and Ganges rivers form fertile plain south of the Himalayas

Monsoon winds produce dry air in the winter and heavy rain in the summer

Environmental Challenges Indus river allowed Indians to trade across Indian Ocean Mountains and deserts formed natural barrier to invasion River flooding unpredictable

Civilization Emerges on the Indus River

Planned Cities First cities began to

appear around 2500 BC Cities were planned in

grid-like pattern Like NYC (1st Street- 267th

Street)

Culture and Trade Indus river society was

stable, with little violent conflict

Traded with Sumerians Worshipped many gods

End of the Indus Valley Culture

End of Indus Valley Culture Around 1750 BC, the

wealth of the cities began to decline

By 1500, all major cities of the Indus valley had been abandoned resulting from natural disasters

Main Idea Questions

1. What are the pros/cons for the seasonal monsoons in India?

2. How were the “planned” cities of the Indus Valley different from other early cities?

CHAPTER 2 :4

River Dynasties in China

River Dynasties in China

The Geography of China China’s Heartland

90% of farm land located between Yangtze and Yellow Rivers

Over half of China’s total land is not livable/farmable

Isolated by Himalayas and Pacific Ocean

Environmental Challenges

Planted crops in loess brought by river

Floods unpredictable

Civilization Emerges in Shang Times

The First Dynasties Shang Dynasty arose around 1500 BC Learned to control Yellow River floods

Dames and LeveesEarly Cities

Constantly waged war among each other

Social Classes

Peasants

Warrior nobles

The Origins of Chinese Culture

Family and Society Most important part of Chinese life

Religious Beliefs Worshipped the spirits of family ancestors Also polytheistic, communicated to gods through

oracle bonesDevelopment of Writing

Written and spoken language two different things Need to know over 10,000 characters to be a Chinese

scholar

Zhou Bring New Ideas

Mandate of Heaven Ruler had right to rule

directly from Heaven Brought about the

pattern of the Dynastic Cycle

Dynasties lasted in China until the 1900’s

The Dynastic Cycle In China

Control Through Feudalism

Feudalism: Ruler gives land away in return for services Results in a decentralized government Lords became more powerful than kings as dynasties

lasted longer Improvements in Technology and Trade

First to introduce coined money Advanced from bronze to iron tools

A Period of Warring States Zhou lost control of China in 771 BC Period of civil war lasted 500 years

Main Idea Questions

1. Where is China’s farming “heartland” found?

2. Explain The Mandate of Heaven.

3. Explain the Dynastic Cycle.