Chapter 1.3

Early Civ. Question…Pyramids- 100,000

workers for many yearsEach block weighs 2.5

tonsLimited technology2 million blocksHow did they do it?Civilization: Highly

organized social order

River Valley Civilizations“Cradlelands”Middle East: Tigris and Euphrates

RiversEgypt: Nile RiverIndia: Indus RiverChina: Yellow or Huang He River

Why these areas?Mild ClimateFertile SoilRivers

FishingWater SupplyFlooding (good and bad)TransportationIrrigation

Features of Civilizations

CitiesHigh wide wallsTemplesPalacesTangled, narrow streetsSmall huts

Well Organized GovtSteady food supplyLeaders

PriestsChanged to Kings- hereditary

Right to rule from the godsLaws, taxes, defense

Complex ReligionPolytheism: belief in many godsRituals- ceremonies, dances,

prayers, hymnsTemplesSacrifice

Animals, crops, humansPriests

Job SpecializationArtisans- skilled craft workers

Pottery, carvings, woven goodsMetalworkers

Copper and bronze (copper and tin mixed make bronze)Bricklayers

Built city wallsMerchants

Sold goods in marketplacesSingers/Dancers/Storytellers

Entertained

Social ClassesRank according to job

Arts/ArchitectureTemples and palacesDecoration on

buildingsStatues of

gods/goddessesPaintings, furniture,

jewelry in tombs

Public Works

IrrigationRoadsBridgesDefensive Walls

WritingTemplesTreaties and taxes, marriage

contractsPictograms- drawings that look like

what they describeScribes

Trained to read and writeKept records for priests, rulers,

merchantsWomen excluded

EmpiresGroup of states or

territories controlled by one ruler

Created common bonds/ ended war

NomadsContinued to live like

stone ageSteppe region in AsiaInteracted with city

dwellersConsidered

uncivilizedConflict and

cooperation

Environmental ChangesVolcanoesOver-farmingFamineResource depletion

Cultural Diffusion

Spread of ideas, cultures, customs, techniques

By force at times