Ancient Civilizations SOL WHI.3 During the Neolithic Age, permanent settlements appeared in river valleys and around the Fertile Crescent. River valleys provided rich soil for crops as well as protection from invasion. Characteristics of Civilization 1. Organized Government Makes and enforces laws. Plans, organizes and directs large projects. (2. Public Works) roads, schools, and water system roads, schools, and water system Collects taxes. Exercises authority over an organized state. 3. Organized Religion Formalizes religious beliefs and offers guidance to life. Establishes rituals, religious symbols, and sacred places. 4. Division of Labor (Jobs) Provides goods and services. Enables people to develop specialized skills. Encourages trade and new technology. Promotes system of social classes. 5. Class Structure Defines a persons place in society. Reflects the distribution of wealth. 6. Writing System Provides a way to keep accurate records. Serves as a way to pass on knowledge. 7. Cities 8. Art/Architecture Pictograms - earliest form of writing River Valley Civilizations (about 3,500 to 500 BCE) Mesopotamian civilizations Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys Egyptian civilization Nile River Valley and Delta (Africa) Indian civilization Indus River Valley (South Asia) Chinese civilization Huang Ho Valley (East Asia) Other Early Civilizations (about 2000 to 500 BCE) Hebrews (Jews) settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia). Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of the Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia). Nubia was located on the upper (southern) Nile River (Africa). Mesopotamia between the rivers Sumer and Sumerians About 5,000 BCE people began to settle in the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They were farmers and established the first city of Ur Tigris and Euphrates met. Tigris and Euphrates met. Mesopotamia What natural features may have limited the expansion of early Fertile Crescent civilizations? Label on your packet map Cities - Catalhuyuk, Jerusalem, and Jericho Civilizations Phoenicia Bodies of Water Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Tigris and Euphrates Sumer and Sumerians Overproduction of food allowed for Sumerians to begin trade. Traded up and down the Tigris and Euphrates and along the Persian Gulf. Traded up and down the Tigris and Euphrates and along the Persian Gulf. Developed the first writing cuneiform Cuneiform was a wedge shaped writing of pictures to represent words on CLAY tablets Cuneiform was a wedge shaped writing of pictures to represent words on CLAY tablets Came from pictograms Came from pictograms Used by Babylonians and Assyrians Used by Babylonians and Assyrians What do you think Sumerians wrote down? Answer Sumerians wrote down economic exchanges, myths, prayers, laws and business contracts Cuneiform Cuneiform Sumer Government 12 city-states - city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state. Hereditary rule crown is passed down from one family member to another Sumerian Religion Sumerians also created holy temples known as Ziggurats. These were temples to their deities (Deity = god or goddess) These were temples to their deities (Deity = god or goddess) Sumerians were polytheistic they believed in many gods. Sumerians were polytheistic they believed in many gods. Ziggurat Babylonians After 2,000BCE the people of Babylon grew powerful. Babylonians conquered Sumer and united the region under Babylon. The greatest leader of the Babylonians was Hammurabi. Ancient civs of Mid What would it be like to live in a world without laws? (answer in notes) Hammurabis Code was the first set of written laws on stone pillars and clay tablets. It is the worlds oldest surviving law code. It is the worlds oldest surviving law code. 282 laws cover property, rent, and bodily harm. 282 laws cover property, rent, and bodily harm. Established the idea of an eye for an eye Established the idea of an eye for an eye Victim gets to inflict the same injury on the offender. Why write down the laws? Hammurabis Code Babylonians In 605 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II ruled Babylonia and defeated the Egyptians to extend Babylonia. Built a wall around the city with gates to enter - Ishtar Gate In the city of Babylon, he built his temple with the famous hanging gardens. Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Tower of Babel could have been built. Ishtar Gate Hanging Gardens Tower of Babel Babylonians 586 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II crushed the Jews in Judah who had been in rebellion Babylonian captivity captured Jews were enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar II. Babylonian captivity captured Jews were enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar II. Hittites Video Hittites Were fierce fighters of Ancient Mesopotamia. Had mastered the process of smelting iron. Had iron weapons and armor versus bronze. Had iron weapons and armor versus bronze. Hittites Used horse drawn chariots Often fought the Egyptians but were never fully able to conquer them. As soon as others learned to smelt iron weapons, the Hittites were defeated around 1,250BCE. Hittites Horse Drawn Chariots Assyrians The most feared warriors of ancient Mesopotamia. Dominated Mesopotamia from about 1100 BCE until 612 BCE. Neighboring people joined with the Babylonians to destroy the Assyrians in 612 BCE. Assyrians The greatest contribution of the Assyrians was their library at Nineveh. This library contained cuneiform tablets from all over the Fertile Crescent. This library contained cuneiform tablets from all over the Fertile Crescent. Modern scholars have gotten a wealth of historical information from the remains of this library. Modern scholars have gotten a wealth of historical information from the remains of this library. What is the importance of a library? Assyrians and Persians Phoenician Video Why do you think this is the area the Phoenicians conquered Phoenicians Great merchants spread civilization through trade.Great merchants spread civilization through trade. Merchant a person or business that trades Traded along the Mediterranean Sea.Traded along the Mediterranean Sea. Colonized throughout the MediterraneanColonized throughout the Mediterranean Colonize = send a group of settlers and take control of an area Colonize = send a group of settlers and take control of an area Kept records as a part of trade Developed 22 letter alphabet first alphabet. Phoenician Sailors Phoenician Trade Routes Phoenician Alphabet Hooked on Phonics Video