Early River Valley Civilizations CHAPTER 2 Vocabulary I

Early River Valley Civilizations CHAPTER 2

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 another � Polytheism: Belief in many gods � Empire: A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler � Hammurabi: Babylonian Ruler: 1 st set of written laws

Vocabulary II �Pharaoh: God/King, ruler of Egypt �Theocracy: Government ruled by Religion �Hieroglyphics: Picture based writing �Subcontinent: “Subsection” of a continent �Monsoon: Seasonal rains that bring floods �Oracle Bones: Spiritual bones that predict the future �Mandate of Heaven: Devine, “God(s)” approval to rule �Feudalism: Rulers give land away in return for services

City-States in Mesopotamia CHAPTER 2: 1

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 King �Life in Sumerian Society Hierarchy of Sumerian Society Landholders, Priests Wealthy merchants Peasants (working in fields or workshops) Slaves

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! Code # 229 � 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.

You be the Judge! �What if…a man is unable to pay his debts?

Hammurabi as Judge! Code # 117 �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.

You be the Judge! �What if…a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back?

Hammurabi as Judge! Code # 185 �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.

You be the Judge! �What if…a boy slaps his father?

Hammurabi as Judge! Code # 195 �If a son strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand.

You be the Judge! �How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?

Hammurabi as Judge! Code # 2 � 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.

Main Idea Questions 1. Why is Hammurabi’s Code significant? 1. How did the environment/geography influence the development of Sumeria?

Pyramids on the Nile 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 the most prosperous with rich delta soil Nile provided easy transportation between upper and lower Egypt

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 King (pharaoh), Queen, and royal family Wealthy landholders, Priests, government officials, army officers Middle Class (Merchants and Artisans) Peasant farmers and laborers Slaves (later in Egypt’s history)

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

Planned Cities on the Indus CHAPTER 2: 3

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 gridlike pattern � Like NYC (1 st Street- 267 th 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? 1. How were the “planned” cities of the Indus Valley different from other early cities?

River Dynasties in China CHAPTER 2: 4

River Dynasties in China � The Geography of 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 Levees �Early Cities � Constantly waged war among each other

Social Classes Warrior nobles Peasants

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 bones �Development 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. 1. Explain the Dynastic Cycle.