Name: _____________________________ Hour: _____

River Valley Packet PrologueEARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS

 Approximately 5000 years ago the first complex, politically centralized civilizations began to crystallize independently along a number of river valleys throughout the southern half of Asia and northern Africa. These civilizations constitute the next step in the organization and centralization of human economic, political, religious, and social institutions and practices.

Why did the first complex, politically centralized civilizations materialize along rivers? Because rivers supplied a continuous if not always dependable flow and supply of water for farming and human consumption. These rivers along with climate, vegetation, geography, and topography shaped the development of the early river valley civilizations. However, while people of these civilizations were dependent on the rivers, the rivers also inspired new technological, economic, institutional, and organizational innovations and developments.

Between 3000 and 2000 B.C.E. such river valley civilizations formed independently of each other along the Indus, the Nile, the Tigris and Euphrates, and the Yellow Rivers. These civilizations shared certain characteristics that distinguished them from the collections of Neolithic communities that preceded them.

Nile River valley civilizations

The Nile River was the axis of two early African civilizations, Egypt and Nubia . The Nile River shaped the development of both civilizations, providing a reliable source of water for farming and linking them to sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean Sea . The Nile gave them limited access to various Bantu peoples to the south and various Mediterranean peoples to the north. Although both civilizations crystallized along the Nile , they developed along different lines. Egypt unified politically earlier and more effectively than Nubia . The ruler-conqueror first united Egypt about 3100 B.C.E. Subsequently, the institution of the pharaoh as deified ruler developed during a period known as the Archaic Period(3100-2660 B.C.E.).

Ancient Egyptian history is chronologically divided by dynasty and “kingdom”. The three principle periods are the Old Kingdom(2660-2160 B.C.E.), the Middle Kingdom(2040-1640 B.C.E.), and the New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.E.). In a number of ways the Old Kingdom is considered the classic era in ancient Egyptian history. This period is marked by the power and influence of the pharaoh being at its height, as manifest in the construction of massive pyramids for burial of the pharaohs. While pyramids were constructed during all three kingdom periods, Egyptians built the largest pyramids for their pharaohs during the Old Kingdom . Of course, these massive monuments have come to define ancient Egypt in popular culture. Arguably the most famous pyramids

were constructed between 2600 and 2500 B.C.E. at Giza , two of the best known being the Great Pyramid of the ruler Khufu and the Great Sphinx.

The periods of the Middle and the New Kingdoms are defined by greater contact with various peoples around the Mediterranean . During the period of the New Kingdom ancient Egypt was at the height of its imperial power in northern Africa and the Mediterranean basin. After the end of the New Kingdom Egypt came under the control of a succession of foreign powers in northern Africa, the Mediterranean basin, Anatolia, and western Asia. Despite long periods of political and/or military subjugation, significant remnants of ancient Egyptian culture survived and even thrived.

 Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means “land between the rivers”, referring to the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. These two rivers were the axes of one of the most influential ancient civilizations in history. With the development of irrigation around 6000 B.C.E. farming villages appeared and grew into larger communities and then cities along these rivers.

Political centralization first occurred in Mesopotamia in much the same way that it took place along the Nile River. From approximately 3200 to 2350 B.C.E. various Sumerian cities dominated Mesopotamia. During this period these cities, ruled by monarchs, came to control surrounding economic hinterlands, and, in the process, evolved into city-states. These city-states were rivals who vied for influence throughout, even dominance of Mesopotamia. In the twenty-fourth century B.C.E. Sargon, the ruler of the city of Akkad, became the first man to unify Mesopotamia under his control. From 2350 to 1600 B.C.E. Mesopotamia was dominated by Babylon, a city that straddled the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Mesopotamia left a number of important cultural legacies for Western civilization. Mesopotamia culture was a synthesis of both Sumerian and Semitic forms. One of these legacies was various legal codes developed by a succession of Mesopotamian rulers. Most notably among these rulers was Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 B.C.E.), a Babylonian ruler who had various legal codes, guidelines, and precedents compiled. This compilation was part of his larger effort to standardize the administration of his kingdom. Another legacy was the Epic of Gilgamesh, a collection of stories about ancient Mesopotamia which centered around a legendary king of Uruk, who was part god. These stories became one of the models for later heroic epics which celebrated the exploits of rulers and their champions.

 Harappan civilization

From roughly 3000 to 1500 B.C.E. a complex, urbanized civilization existed along the Indus River in what is today northern India. This ancient Indus River valley civilization was dominated by several large cities, including Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, and today

is known by the name of the former. The people of this civilization were known as Dravidians.

For a number of different reasons we don’t know as much about Harappan civilization as we do about its counterparts along the Nile, the Tigris and Euphrates, and the Yellow Rivers. Unlike these other civilizations the language of ancient Harappan civilization cannot be deciphered. Our knowledge of this civilization is based almost entirely on various physical remains.

 The Xia, the Shang, and the Zhou Dynasties of Early China

Early Chinese civilization developed along the same lines as that of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Between 7000 and 5000 B.C.E. agricultural villages appeared and grew along the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers.   Ancient Chinese history is marked by three successive dynasties that would become the roots of Chinese culture and civilization. Little is known about the Xia Dynasty (2200-1766 B.C.E.), the first of these dynasties. The Shang Dynasty (1766-1122 B.C.E.) built on the base established by its predecessor, with the help of various technological advances, including bronze metallurgy and horse-drawn chariots. The Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 B.C.E.) expanded upon Shang accomplishments. One of the Zhou Dynasty’s best known achievements was articulation of the concept of the Mandate of Heaven as a justification for the overthrow of an unpopular and/or unsuccessful dynasty.   These three dynasties established many of the threads of Chinese civilization.

 The Legacies of the Ancient River Valley Civilizations

These civilizations laid the foundations for political centralization and organization upon which nearly all subsequent civilizations are built. They also provided many of the roots of human civilization all the way to the present including the practices of monument building, written articulation of legal codes, and the construction of the legal and political infrastructures necessary to run a central government of a state.  If one were transported back in time to one of these early civilizations, one would find much that was familiar.

Information from pbs.org

Notes Section 1

Anthropology

-________________________________________

Archeology

-_________________________________________

Keeping track of Time

-B.C. is time before the birth of Christ

-A.D. is time after the birth of Christ

-Prehistoric:__________________________________________

-humans alive as long ago as 400,000 years ago

Oldest Known People

-lived in Africa

-nomadic: __________________________________________________________

-settlements around rivers lead to agriculture

-animals tamed (dogs, cattle, sheep)

3 Characteristics of Civilization

1. ___________________________________________________________2. ___________________________________________________________3. ___________________________________________________________

Cultural Diffusion

- ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Writing Develops

-need to record trade

-calendars needed to tell when to plant and harvest

What are some other reasons for writing?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

First Civilizations

-_____________________________________________________________________________

Nile River Valley

-King Menes united Egypt along the Nile

-30 different dynasties between 3200 BC and 30 AD

-Pyramids built as tombs of royal families

Tigris and Euphrates River Valley

-present day Iraq

-called Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia

-writing called cuneiform

-the wheel

Hammurabi’s Code

- ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Western Mesopotamia

-Hebrews worshipped Yahweh

-Torah outlined Hebrew laws

-high value on human life

-Judaism (Jewish religion)

Polytheism: ___________________________________________________________________

Monotheism: __________________________________________________________________

Prologue Section 1 guided reading

Read pages 2-6. Answer the questions as you read. Restate the question in your answer.

1. What are archaeologists?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How did humans spread to other parts of the world?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is a civilization?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What are the three characteristics of a civilization?1) ________________________________________________________________________2) ________________________________________________________________________3) ________________________________________________________________________

5. Why did populations increase?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is cultural diffusion?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What is polytheism?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is monotheism?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What is cuneiform?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What is the Code of Hammurabi?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 Basic Features of Civilization Notes

Copying the Red Words

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 Basic Features of Civilization Notes

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. Central governments and law codes

3. _________________________________________________________________

4. Specialized jobs

5. _________________________________________________________________

6. Complex technologies

7. _________________________________________________________________

Cities:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Organized Governments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain Hammurabi’s code: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Complex Religions: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Polytheism- ______________________________________________

Monotheism- ______________________________________________

Reincarnation:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Confucianism-The Chinese philosophy that emphasizes family and ancestors, proper behavior, and duty to society

Ancient China

• Daoism:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Legalism- taught that people were selfish and untrustworthy and had to be controlled by harsh measures.

Hinduism & Buddhism- Ancient India, The soul does not die with the body (reincarnation)

Hinduism

Dharma:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Karma:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Buddhism (Siddhartha Gautama)

Buddha (The Enlightened One)

Four Noble Truths

1) Life evolves sorrow and suffering2) __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________3) __________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Desire can be renounced by following 8 fold path.

Job Specialization: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Social Classes __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Public Works: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the name of this building?

Writing____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why is writing important? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Writing & Communication

Cultural Diffusion- ______________________________________________________________

This would lead to alliances and enemies throughout time.

Prologue Section 2 guided reading

Read pages 7-10. Answer the questions as you read. Restate the question in your answer.

1. Where did the first civilization of India develop?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What two religions developed in India?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is reincarnation?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is karma?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is the caste system?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Why was China cut off from other civilizations?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are the three basic concepts of Confucius?1) ________________________________________________________________________2) ________________________________________________________________________3) ________________________________________________________________________

8. What do Daoists believe?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Describe Legalism:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________ Date _____________________ Hour ___________

River Valleys

Use pages 4-10 to put each term in the box with the river it is associated with.

1. China2. Pakistan3. Iraq4. Egypt5. Also called Yellow

River6. Menes

7. Fertile Crescent8. Hinduism9. Shang Dynasty10. Pharaoh11. Cuneiform12. Confucius13. Caste System

14. Hammurabi15. Pyramids16. Judaism17. Buddhism18. Daoism

Nile River

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Huang River

Indus River

Use the Map on page 4 to answer the following:

1. What continent is the Nile River on? ________________

2. What continent are the Tigris and Euphrates on? ______________

3. Approximately what latitude is the city of Thebes? ______________

4. List three places that Egyptians traded with. ________________________________________________________________

5. What can be found at Giza? ________________________

Use the map on page 7 to answer the following:

6. What mountains contain the headwaters of the Indus River and its tributaries? _______________________

7. What body of water does the Indus River empty into? ________________________________

8. What direction does the Indus flow? _______________________________

Use the map on page 9.

9. List 3 other major rivers of China besides the Huang. __________________________________________________________________________

Prologue Section 4 guided reading

Read pages 17-21. Answer the questions as you read. Restate the question in your answer.

1. Where did most Africans live?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What work did most Africans do?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What did the city-states on the east coast of Africa depend on?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. When did Islam spread to East Africa?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What language was produced in East Africa?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What did wealth and strength depend on in West Africa?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What determined how different cultures thrived in the Americas?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is an adobe?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What did the Mayan’s build?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. How did the Aztec sustain their gods?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. What was Inca religion based on?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Use the Map on page 4 to answer the following:

1. What continent is the Nile River on? ________________

2. What continent are the Tigris and Euphrates on? ______________

3. Approximately what latitude is the city of Thebes? ______________

4. List three places that Egyptians traded with. ________________________________________________________________

5. What can be found at Giza? ________________________

Use the map on page 7 to answer the following:

6. What mountains contain the headwaters of the Indus River and its tributaries? _______________________

7. What body of water does the Indus River empty into? ________________________________

8. What direction does the Indus flow? _______________________________

Use the map on page 9.

9. List 3 other major rivers of China besides the Huang. __________________________________________________________________________

Mediterranean Civilizations

Fill in the following information from the PowerPoint

Greek City StatesGreek City States Region of the ___________ & ___________ Sea.Region of the ___________ & ___________ Sea.

–– GreeksGreeks–– 800- 700 B.C.800- 700 B.C.

_____________ (most important) Acropolis: Greek city-states that were _____________ (most important) Acropolis: Greek city-states that were _________________________________________._________________________________________.

____________ Place____________ Place _______________________ Place_______________________ Place Surrounding area was for ____________________Surrounding area was for ____________________

Homeric AgeHomeric Age Homer: ________________________________________Homer: ________________________________________

–– Give an early glimpse of _____________________Give an early glimpse of _____________________ Developed religionDeveloped religion

–– Explained ________________________________ rather than spirituality.Explained ________________________________ rather than spirituality.–– Gods enjoyed ______________________________Gods enjoyed ______________________________

GovernmentGovernment Athens was ruled by _______________________ until 507 B.C. When they Athens was ruled by _______________________ until 507 B.C. When they

created a direct democracy.created a direct democracy. Direct Democracy- everyone _____________________________ in making Direct Democracy- everyone _____________________________ in making

decisions for the statesdecisions for the states

Who was allowed to vote for The Assembly?Who was allowed to vote for The Assembly?

Foreign PolicesForeign Polices Athens & Sparta _________________________________ to fight Persian’s Athens & Sparta _________________________________ to fight Persian’s Sparta would lead other states against _________________________________ Sparta would lead other states against _________________________________

War.War. Sparta would _____________Sparta would _____________ Greek’s Golden AgeGreek’s Golden Age

–– Cultural ___________________ Cultural ___________________ –– ____________________________________–– ______________________________________________________

SpartaSparta Military service was the most important activity. Military service was the most important activity.

Male Spartan at the age of seven, he was taken from his mother and Male Spartan at the age of seven, he was taken from his mother and sent to live in special military barracks for twenty three years. sent to live in special military barracks for twenty three years.

In barracks they were taught discipline, athletics, survival skills, In barracks they were taught discipline, athletics, survival skills, hunting, weapons training and how to endure the pain. hunting, weapons training and how to endure the pain.

At the age of twenty in the barracks, the male Spartans become At the age of twenty in the barracks, the male Spartans become soldiers for the statesoldiers for the state

The life of a Spartan soldier was with his soldiers. He ate, slept and The life of a Spartan soldier was with his soldiers. He ate, slept and trained with them. trained with them.

They were allowed to marry, but couldn’t live with their wives. Only They were allowed to marry, but couldn’t live with their wives. Only equals were allowed to live with their wives and children. equals were allowed to live with their wives and children.

Equals were the soldiers who reached thirtieth age, but if any soldier Equals were the soldiers who reached thirtieth age, but if any soldier who disgraced himself in any way was risked not becoming an equal.who disgraced himself in any way was risked not becoming an equal.

They were granted expanded rights and allowed to participate in They were granted expanded rights and allowed to participate in politics. However equals were still soldiers. politics. However equals were still soldiers.

Military service was required until age sixty.Military service was required until age sixty.

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great Led the __________________________________________ and the establishmentLed the __________________________________________ and the establishment

of the Greek empire. 331 B.C. of the Greek empire. 331 B.C.

Created Hellenistic Created Hellenistic culture “___________________________” culture “___________________________”

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great The Greek ideals were spread Through “_______________________”The Greek ideals were spread Through “_______________________”

–– ReligionReligion–– MedicineMedicine–– MathematicsMathematics–– ScienceScience

Alexander died at ____________________Alexander died at ____________________–– Family ______________________ and land was split between Family ______________________ and land was split between

____________________________

RomansRomans Republic: Voters ____________________________ (509 B.C.)Republic: Voters ____________________________ (509 B.C.) Rome would expand and establish colonies around the Rome would expand and establish colonies around the

_______________________._______________________.–– Weakened ________________________Weakened ________________________–– 44 B.C. Julius Caesar became _______________________________, would44 B.C. Julius Caesar became _______________________________, would

be stabbed to death.be stabbed to death. Roman CivilizationRoman Civilization Great difference in _________________ existed between the rich and poor Great difference in _________________ existed between the rich and poor

in Rome.in Rome.–– Government gave the poor ______________ & ___________________Government gave the poor ______________ & ___________________–– ________________________________________–– ________________________________________

Roman __________________ would surpass all others.Roman __________________ would surpass all others. Roman CivilizationRoman Civilization Roman architecture would surpass all others.Roman architecture would surpass all others. ConstructionConstruction

–– RoadsRoads–– __________________ __________________ –– AqueductsAqueducts–– __________________________________–– Public buildingsPublic buildings

Roman Aqueduct: carry ____________ from the mountains for the city.Roman Aqueduct: carry ____________ from the mountains for the city.

Roman ______________________Roman ______________________ ReligionReligion The followers of a Jewish teacher, _____________________, founded The followers of a Jewish teacher, _____________________, founded

Christianity.Christianity. Taught people to love ________________________________________, and they Taught people to love ________________________________________, and they

must love others as they love themselves.must love others as they love themselves. ChristianityChristianity Romans were threatened by his message and Romans were threatened by his message and

_______________________________._______________________________. His followers believed that he rose from the _______________ and His followers believed that he rose from the _______________ and

ascended into ______________________. ascended into ______________________.

His ______________________________ proved he was the Messiah, the saviorHis ______________________________ proved he was the Messiah, the savior of mankind sent by god. of mankind sent by god.

Christianity Christianity It would spread through the empire.It would spread through the empire. Gave people ________Gave people ________ 391 A.D. named Rome’s _______________________.391 A.D. named Rome’s _______________________. Church structure createdChurch structure created

–– ______________________ at the top- Latin “Father”______________________ at the top- Latin “Father” Rome would fall & be split & divided by the German Tribes, Rome would fall & be split & divided by the German Tribes,

______________ . ______________ .

Prologue Section 3 guided reading

Read pages 11-16. Answer the questions as you read. Restate the question in your answer.

1. What did Greek civilization become?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What were the most important Greek city-states?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is an acropolis?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Describe Greek religion.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is direct democracy?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What did Socrates establish?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What lands did Alexander the Great conquer?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is a republic?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What happened to the Roman Republic after Caesar’s death?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Who founded Christianity?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Who is the pope?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. List three causes of the decline of the Roman Empire.

1) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What happened to the Roman Empire when Constantine died? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spartan Paper

Directions: From the A & E video you have just watched, you are going to create a firsthand account of a Spartan’s life. If you are struggling, you can

use Google to find more information on the life of a Spartan. The paper needs to be 6 paragraphs and contain 5 – 7 sentences in each paragraph.

• 1 Paragraph- Birth to 7 years old

• 1 Paragraph- Early Training to 20’s & Weapons

• 1 Paragraph- Why you are a Spartan and what it means to fight for your country.

• 1 Paragraph- Talk about the night before the battle at Thermopylae.

• 1 Paragraph- First day of fighting at Thermopylae.

• 1 Paragraph- The end of the War.

Paper is out of 30 points.

Prologue Unit Test Review Sheet

To prepare for this test, do the following:

A. Study everything in the packetB. Answer the following questions. Use complete sentences.

1. What does prehistoric mean? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Where did the earliest people live?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the characteristics of a civilization?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Where did civilizations start?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why were calendars developed?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How did people move from one continent to another?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. From the list that follows, pick the 6 that you know the least about and explain them.

1) Anthropology2) Archeology3) Adobe4) Acropolis5) Direct democracy6) Republic

7) Cultural diffusion8) Cuneiform9) Ethical monotheism10) Legalism11) Aqueduct

1) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. From the list that follows, pick the 3 that you know the least about and explain who they were.

a. Hammurabib. Siddhartha Gautamac. Homerd. Alexander the Greate. Julius Caesarf. Jesus

1) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________