MAJOR ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AKA RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS o

MAJOR ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AKA RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS o Which is the oldest? o What do they all have in common? o Do you know where deserts and mountains are in relation to where people settled? o Which region will be most war-like and experience frequent conquest?

THINK SHEET What do all of the civilizations have in common? Why?

o Patriarchal society and govt o Centralized Government, god-like leadership o Animistic o Ancestor worship o Human sacrifice o Huang He river = violent flooding at times o Grow millet More isolated SHANG CHINA YELLOW RIVER VALLEY

Harappa Indus River Valley: What do you already know about the Indus River Valley civilization just by viewing the ruins? Mohenjo Daro INDUS RIVER VALLEY o o o Gridded, advanced cities Writing— yes but not deciphered Use of “seals” for stamps/ trade Running water Knowledge of math and zero Settled between the Indus River in modern day India and Pakistan Polytheistic, beginning of Hinduism Aryan ethnic group settles region Political leaders are priestly class Agricultural (wheat, cotton, rice) Caste system begins, rigid social structures, no room for mobility

MODERN IRAQ, SYRIA Political States = Babylon, Assyria, Sumer, Akkadia, Hittites City States– every city is its own kingdom, ruled by a king Kings are religious leaders War-like, frequent conquer Hittites, Babylonians, = well armed city-states. Competition, terrain, and proximity leads to frequent threat of invasion and conquest. Weapons include chariots, iron swords and armor, which allows for initial domination of neighbors.

Outcome of war/ domination JEWISH DIASPORA Diaspora means “scattering”. With Hittite expansion and emergence of polytheistic city-states, pockets of Hebrews (Jews) are forced to flee to different regions, relocating in communities around the Mediterranean. How does this relate to modern eras? Legal Codes: First in the World to develop systems of Codified Law. (written, made into a legal code) Code of Hammurabi (Babylon) • Legal code • Harsh, “eye for an eye” • Based on gender, social class, and economic class

§ Violent, unpredictable flooding let to unpredictable crops § Domesticated animals § Iron tools and technology § Irrigation systems § First to develop sedentary agriculture, reliance on cereal grains = cheap easy to store carbohydrates HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

Social Classes: Political Leaders/ Religious leaders Warriors Skilled Artisans Merchants/ traders Agriculture Women remain below men in status, few legal and social rights • • • Culture Writing = cuneiform • Sumer = calendar, zero, 360 Polytheistic religion (idol worship, temples Beginning of Judaism and monotheism Architecture = ziggarut Wheel, iron technology, Emergence of Patriarchy—male dominated society and government I wish I had more legal rights. I have little to no right to property, jobs, religious leadership, government power.

Trade with Egypt and India Use of currency Agricultural society Govt. directed economy Specialized labor, artisans, skilled workers ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

EGYPT Social Classes = King at top, religious, warriors, artisans, farmers, slaves. Women have some privilege compared to other regions, but not equality. Govt. = Strong centralized govt. Pharoah is god/ king. Directs all economic and social and religious activity. Warred with Mesopot. At times. Axum/ Kush kingdoms linked to Egypt. H-E Interaction = predictable flooding, advanced farming (wheat, barley, grains), Culture = polytheistic, hierarchy of gods, Ra, the sun god worshiped, belief in afterlife, advanced math knowledge, hieroglyphics Economic – trade with Mesopotamia… slave labor, seekers of luxury items/ gold for treasure.

Which Babylonian King is featured in the United States Supreme Court Building? By looking at law, we can see many things about society: ü ü Who is in charge? What is valuable? Are people equal, or does the law favor certain groups? What is the system for justice? Are there courts and judges? HOT TOPICS: MESOPOTAMIA

If any one steal the property of a temple or of the court, he shall be put to death, and also the one who receives the stolen thing from him shall be put to death. If any one find runaway male or female slaves in the open country and bring them to their masters, the master of the slaves shall pay him two shekels of silver. If any one bring an accusation of any crime before the elders, and does not prove what he has charged, he shall, if it be a capital If a man is taken prisoner in offense charged, be put to death. war, and there is a sustenance in his house, but If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go his wife leave house and to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser court, and go to another shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the house: because this wife did accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had not keep her court, and went brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped to another house, she shall into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged be judicially condemned and to his accuser. thrown into the water. CODE OF HAMMURABI

• Judaism = Monotheistic religion emerging about 1500 BCE in Mesopotamian city states Belief in a personal god who made a covenant with his people. **at odds with idol-worshiping Mesopotamian city-states, forced out of region as political refugees • Zoroastrianism-perhaps before Judaism. • Monotheistic religion found in northern regions of Mesopotamia. • Notions of heaven and hell • Notions of person sin and salvation

Hieroglyphics Egypt Cuneiform Sumer (Mesopotamia) WRITING: HIEROGLYPHICS, PHOENICIANS, CUNEIFORM, AND CHINESE SCRIPT Phoenician Alphabet (later used by Europeans)

Shang China Writing as Unifying Society Indus Writing. Not deciphered yet Writing: developments of the Neolithic era. Writing allows governments to unify people in law, trade, and culture.