ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA- “THE LAND BETWEEN TWO RIVERS”

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA- DEFINITIONSCITY STATES- self-governing unit made

up of a city and its surrounding villages and farmland.

Monotheism: worshiping one god.“Mono” – means one

Polytheism: worshiping many gods.“Poly” – means many

GEOGRAPHY

Located between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Present-day Iraq

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA- GEOGRAPHYPOSITIVE abundant amount

of clayeasy till-able soilwater supply from

Tigris-Euphrates Rivers

NEGATIVEfew natural

resourcesminimal protection

from deserts and mountains

Settled around 3500 BCEDivided into city-states ---WHY??Region developed first forms of poly - and

monotheismCreated one of the earliest forms of

writing

Basic Facts:

SOCIAL

What do you know about the social aspects of Mesopotamian society?Social hierarchy: kings, priests, nobility,

merchants, farmers, slavesSlaves - POWWomen: unequal to men; men own and inherit

land

POLITICAL ASPECTS OF MESOPOTAMIA

City-States

Always in constant conflict over water and land rights

Created walls for protection, with moats along the outside

Farms located along the outside of the city

Hammurabi’s Code

Hammurabi - King of Babylon (r. 1792-1750 BCE)

282 laws.Based on equal

retaliation.Laws were varied

for the wealthy and powerful.

Intellectual Contributions:

WheelTime – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in

a minute12 month lunar calendararchramp

Religion

Polytheistic; gods based on nature; vengeful

Ziggurats: pyramid site of the temple of the main gods.Each city-state had their own

gods and goddessesSun god – most important.

Life after death was an extension of life.

Ziggurat – Holy Mountain

ECONOMY

Make, sell or barter goods.Trade helped expansion.Development of money will evolve over

time.

RICHgovernment officialsreligious leaderstraders

POORFarmerscraftsman

Trade

Before You Leave…

How do the primary sources read in class (Hammurabi’s Code, Gilgamesh and Genesis) illuminate aspects of Mesopotamian culture, society and politics?

Write 1-2 paragraphs – in complete sentences!

River Valley Civilizations:Egypt, Indus Valley and

Shang China

Unit 1

Foundations, 8000 BCE – 600 CE

AP World History

Objective

To identify the major social, political, cultural and economic features of the Egyptian, Indus and Chinese early civilizations

To compare these features to those of all river valley civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India)

To create a foundation upon which to study the Classical Civilizations (China, India, Greece, Rome)

Foundation and Geography

Egypt 3100 BCE – 343

BCE Unified by King

Menes Nile River Sahara DesertShang China

1750 – 1027 BCE Yellow River (loess – fertile soil) Isolated b/c of Gobi desert and

Himalayan Mountains and Mongolian Plateau

Very Hot and Dry

Indus Valley 2500-1500 BCE Current day northern India

and Pakistan Indus River – irregular; had

to build flood barriers Khyber Pass

Social Aspects of River Valley Civilizations

Egypt Social structure similar to

Mesopotamia Tax collection heaviest on

lower classes Slaves – POW Women had most rights here

– own property, businesses, no formal education; informally involved in politics

Indus Valley Unknown class structure b/c

can’t read writing Merchants at top of social

structure Female goddesses worshipped

so women may be treated better than in China and Mesopotamia; several fertility goddess statutes found

Eventually gives way to caste system

ChinaLow social mobilityFew slaves – not as many

as M. or E. – WHY?Peasants not much better

than slavesPalaces for the emperor;

dependent on military to help run gov’t so they were given many gifts

Strong patriarchal – infanticide

PoliticalChina

Dynastic cycles Kings are descendants or

links to gods King = priest Isolated towns and villages Centralized Government

Egypt Pharaoh Very strong army focused

on expansion of territory and economy (gold, silver, etc) – given to Pharaoh as tribute

Slaves = POW Priests and Nobles help P.

manage empire = Bureaucracy

Dynastic Cycles Few Female Rulers Centralized Government

Indus Valley No palaces found in ruins Businessmen, Craftsmen and

Farmers provided organization and justice for civilization

Unified; centralized government Two major cities: Harappa and

Mohenjo-Daro

Interactions

Mesopotamians trade with IndiaEgyptians trade with Mesopotamia, Nubia

and KushChina stays isolated by geography and

choiceIndus Valley – destroyed by natural

disaster or invasion (Indo-Europeans)Slavery – direct result of warfareInteractions b/w Hebrews and Egyptians

Cultural

Egypt Polytheistic, strong belief in afterlife;

mummification Hieroglyphics (Rosetta Stone) Architecture – Pyramids; Sphinx;

Valley of the Tombs; Imhotep Strong collection of literature, songs,

poetry Egyptian Book of the Dead;

Hymn to Aton Calendar Math = created system of 10 and

geometry Astronomy Knowledge of medicine – first heart

surgeries

India Polytheistic (nature goddess) Public bathing pools Unable to translate writing Complex City Organization =

grid formation Advanced Drainage system Indoor plumbing Wheels for transportation Bronze tools and weapons

China Mandate of Heaven Middle Kingdom Worshipped ancestors and nature

gods Oracle bones – early form of writing;

at least 2000 characters or symbols Walled cities Silk clothes; jade and bone jewelry

Economics

All civilizations dependent on agriculture for economic gain

Some specialization of labor b/c of surplus of foodCloth, pottery, jewelryArchitects – Egypt

Egypt trades a great deal – Mediterranean World; Nubia and Kush (to South)

Merchants – looked down upon by Chinese

Questions –Write a 1-2 paragraph response. Complete Sentences

How does geography play a role in the development of a civilization? Use examples from Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China to support your response

What are some things that are similar throughout all 4 (or most of the 4)? Why?

Due Tomorrow (9/1)