Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia and Egypt Neolithic Revolution Also

Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Egypt

Neolithic Revolution • Also called the agricultural revolution • Was a major change in human life caused by the beginnings of farming. • People shifted from food gathering to food producing. • Food surplus due to agriculture is the most important factor in the development of civilization. • Artifacts-human-made objects such as tools and jewelry

Mesopotamia • The “land between the rivers” • Also known as the Fertile Crescent because the resource-rich land made agriculture and growth possible • Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

People of Mesopotamia • Sumerians • Organization • Independent city-states around 3500 BC • ruled by a king • often warred with each other • Sumerian Culture • Polytheism-belief in more than one god • Believed that many different gods controlled the various forces in nature

People of Mesopotamia • Sumerians cont. • Contributions • Cuneiform writing • Used a reed stylus on clay to make wedge shaped symbols • System of numbers based on 60 • We use this today with telling time • Architecture • Sumerians built pyramid like temples called Ziggurats

Babylonians • King Hammurabi Took over Sumer around 1900 BC became Babylonian Empire • Contributions: • Code of Hammurabi • One of the earliest written law codes • “Eye for an eye” punishment • Lower class/women punished more severely than upper class/ men (unequal) • Astronomy • Believed stars affected their lives BUT learned to predict eclipses and recognize planets • Religious literature • Epic of Gilgamesh: one of the earliest creation stories • Describes creation of man and woman and building an ark before a great flood

Egypt • Geography • 550 miles long, 15 miles on both sides of Nile • Nile floods once a year leaving rich soil • Early Government • Needed to control flooding and for irrigation • Build dams, reservoirs, and canals • Eventually formed two kingdoms • Upper and Lower Egypt • 3100 BC Menes united the two • He was first Pharaoh

Egyptian Life • Absolute Monarchy/ Theocracy • Pharaoh was a living god • Made laws, built canals and public buildings, set taxes, • Assisted by nobles and priests in a bureaucracy • Class System • Nobles, Priests • Lower classes • Peasants and slaves • Could not participate in government • Religion • Polytheistic • Preserved bodies with mummification • Pharaohs in Pyramids

Contributions of Egypt • Architecture and Engineering • Pyramids, temples with columns • Art • Cheerful and colorful frescoes, huge statues, gold jewelry, pottery • Hieroglyphic writing • Began as pictographs • First “paper” called papyrus • Translated with Rosetta stone which has Hieroglyphic and Greek writing on it • Science • 365 day year • Set bones, prescribed drugs, understood much about the body because of mummification

Phoenicians • 1200 BC – Centered north of Palestine • Skilled shipbuilders and navigators • Traded throughout Mediterranean and to Europe and Africa • Contributions • “Missionaries of Civilization” • Brought Mediterranean culture and products to less advanced regions • Traded Purple Dye made from crushed snail shells • Alphabet • Based on sound with 22 letters; Phonetic Alphabet • Eventually becomes the alphabet we use

Hebrews • History • 1400 BC – Settled in Palestine • Exiled to Babylon (later allowed back to Palestine) • Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt (10 Commandments) • Contributions • Monotheism • Old Testament • High moral principles • Ten Commandments • Covenant of Abraham • “father” of Judaism • Made a covenant (agreement) with God • Worship no other God • They were the chosen people

Polytheism v. Monotheism • What is the difference between monotheism and polytheism? • Use evidence from your notes

China • Huang He • Yellow River Valley (northern China) • Called this because of the loess (silt) that turns the water “yellow” • Early agriculture (millet and rice) • Early dynasties will form here • Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, etc…

Early India – 2500 BCE • Modern day parts of Pakistan and India • Little known about this civilization • Language never decoded • Organized into complex city-states • Mohenjo-Daro • Harappa

Bantu Migrations

Bantu Migrations • Long complex process where two groups of Bantu speakers eventually linked up • Bantu based languages began to dominate the continent • This can still be seen today • The Bantu people brought new agricultural practices to mostly nomadic peoples

Modern Language family map of Africa • What language family has the most land? • What is important about the Niger River?

The Olmec – 1200 BCE • First known Mesoamerican civilization • Along the Gulf Coast allowed the Olmec to thrive. • • Resources: Salt, tar, wood and rubber Created large heads that represent rulers Trade network from Mexico City to Honduras Decline - Not fully understood • Outside invasion or self destruction