Egypt Messopotamia River Civilizations Messopotamia The Tigris Euphrates

Egypt & Messopotamia

River Civilizations Messopotamia- The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Indis Valley- Indus River Egypt- The Nile China- The Yangtze and Huang He

Cuneiform The earliest writing system. Made by making wedges on wet clay with a reed. Invented in Sumer (Messopotamia) in~ 3500 BC. Used for record keeping: population, tax records, trade, & religious reasons.

Characteristics of River Civilizations Large scale complex societies. Political power- kings made laws & controlled armies, & was a religious figure. Social Hierarchies- State officials assisted king, usually were nobles. Large scale building projects: Irrigation canals, temples, tombs, & palaces.

Social Hierarchy Kings Nobles & priests Soldiers & Warriors Artisans, merchants and Craftsmen Farmers Slaves

Messopotamia 'between the rivers'

City States Empires Sumer City-state Akkadian Empire Kingdoms Babylonian Empires Assyrian Empire Neo-Babylonian Empire

EGYPT

The importance of the Nile The River Nile was important resource in all of Ancient Egypt was divided into Black lands (Fertile river valley) Red Lands (Dry dessert)

History of Egypt Upper th Egypt & Lower Egypt became united in 4 millenuim BC Old Kingdom 3100 -2050 BC Great pyramid of Ghiza Built Middle Kingdom 2050 -1580 BC New territories conquered Capital moved from Memphis to Thebes New Kingdom 1580 -31 BC Famous pharaohs like King Tut Ramesses II & Cleopatra

Society in Ancient Egypt Pharaohs ruled as absolute monarch They were believed to be descended from gods & had magic powers Responcible for making the Nile flood Dynasties were created

The Egyptian State (Government) Civil Servents Noblemen Priests Scribes Soldiers

What was Society Like? Peasants Craftsmen Merchants Servents Slaves

Egyptian Hierarchy