chapter 2 early river valley civilizations. vocabulary i fertile crescent: fertile land located...
TRANSCRIPT
Vocabulary I
Fertile Crescent: Fertile land located between Tigris/Euphrates and extends into the Nile River Delta
Mesopotamia: The land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Floods/Silt)
City-State: A city and its surrounding lands that act as a government (Sphere of influence)
Dynasty: Leaders from the same family Cultural Diffusion: The spread of ideas, customs and
technologies from one people to anotherPolytheism: Belief in many godsEmpire: A group of states or territories controlled by one
rulerHammurabi: Babylonian Ruler: 1st set of written laws
Vocabulary II
Pharaoh: God/King, ruler of EgyptTheocracy: Government ruled by ReligionHieroglyphics: Picture based writingSubcontinent: “Subsection” of a continent Monsoon: Seasonal rains that bring floodsOracle Bones: Spiritual bones that predict the
futureMandate of Heaven: Devine, “God(s)” approval
to ruleFeudalism: Rulers give land away in return for
services
Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Fertile Plains Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
flood Mesopotamia once a year
Unpredictable Floods!!! Farmers planted crops in silt,
or fertile soil left behind from flood
Sumerians came to settle in region
Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Environmental Challenges Flooding unpredictable Defenseless from attack Limited natural
resources (wood, stone, metal)
Creating Solutions Dug irrigation canals to
bring water from river Built protective walls
from mud bricks Traded food for
materials they lacked
Sumerians Create City States
Power of Priests Acted as the Middle-man
between farmers and gods
Demanded a portion of every farmers crop for taxes
Monarchs take control Soldier kings began to
take over from priests after 3000 BC
Kings formed dynasties, or rule by a single family
The Spread of Cities
By 2500 BC Sumerian cities had expanded well beyond fertile crescent
Cultural Diffusion: a new idea or product spreading from one culture to another Examples of Cultural Diffusion….
Work with a partner and come up with a list of 5 examples!!!
Sumerian Culture
A Religion of Many Gods Polytheism: Belief in many gods Gods were all powerful but acted much like humans
Life in Sumerian Society Hierarchy of Sumerian Society
Slaves
King
Landholders, Priests
Wealthy merchants
Peasants (working in fields or workshops)
Science and Technology!
Invented wheel, sail, cuneiform (system of writing), geometry, Measurement (60 seconds = 1 minute, 360 degrees in a circle)
Developed architectural designs such as ramp, arches, columns, and pyramids
Advanced!!!
The First Empire Builders
Babylonian Empire Nomadic warriors
conquered Sumerians around 2000 BC
Most famous king was Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi Oldest known written law
code Harsh set of rules for
society “An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.” Not Equal!!!! (Social Class
Divisions)
You be the Judge!
Decide what you think is a fair way to deal with the problem. Then, see what Hammurabi declared using his laws.
What if…a carpenter builds a house that falls down and kills the owner?
Hammurabi as Judge!
If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make its construction sound, and the house which he has built collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house, the builder shall be put to death.
Code # 229
Hammurabi as Judge!
If a man be in debt and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them over to service. For three years they shall work in the houses of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom.
Code # 117
Hammurabi as Judge!
If a man takes in his own home a young boy as a son and rears him, one may not bring claim for that adopted son.
Code # 185
Hammurabi as Judge!
If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.
Code # 2
Main Idea Questions
1. Why is Hammurabi’s Code significant?
2. How did the environment/geography influence the development of Sumeria?
The Geography of Egypt
The Gift of the Nile Yearly floods brought silt
and water to desert land Gift of the Nile
Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt Lower Egypt the most
prosperous with rich delta soil
Nile provided easy transportation between upper and lower Egypt
Pyramids on the Nile
Geography of Egypt
Environmental Challenges Surrounded by vast and barren deserts Isolated Egyptians but kept out invaders
Geographically Protected/Isolated!
Predictable Floods! How is this different from Mesopotamia?
Egypt United Into a Kingdom
Pharaohs Rule as Gods Head of government, army, and religion Theocracy: is when a king is worshipped as a
divine/Godlike ruler
Builders of the Pyramids Kings ruled even after their deaths More important than palaces they occupied during life. Showed the organizational power of the Old Kingdom
Egyptian Culture
Religion and Life Worshipped over 2,000
gods and goddesses Positive view of
afterlife Mummification:
Preserved the dead to prevent decay of the body
Modern Day Mummy!
Life in Egypt
Slaves (later in Egypt’s history)
King (pharaoh), Queen, and royal family
Wealthy landholders, Priests, government officials, army officers
Middle Class (Merchants and Artisans)
Peasant farmers and laborers
Egyptian Science and Technology
Egyptian Science and Technology Developed a calendar that fell short of true solar year
by six hours
Used advanced mathematical knowledge to build pyramids
Obsidian Surgical Blades
Invaders Control Egypt
Chariot Riders invade Egypt Used horse drawn chariots to conquer Egypt Hyksos ruled for 107 years
Main Idea Questions
1. How did geography influence the development of Egypt?
2. Why did Egyptians mummify bodies?
3. Give examples of advanced technologies that the Egyptians are responsible for.
The Geography of South Asia
The Geography of South Asia Rivers, Mountains, and Monsoons
Indus and Ganges rivers form fertile plain south of the Himalayas
Monsoon winds produce dry air in the winter and heavy rain in the summer
Environmental Challenges Indus river allowed Indians to trade across Indian Ocean Mountains and deserts formed natural barrier to invasion River flooding unpredictable
Civilization Emerges on the Indus River
Planned Cities First cities began to
appear around 2500 BC Cities were planned in
grid-like pattern Like NYC (1st Street- 267th
Street)
Culture and Trade Indus river society was
stable, with little violent conflict
Traded with Sumerians Worshipped many gods
End of the Indus Valley Culture
End of Indus Valley Culture Around 1750 BC, the
wealth of the cities began to decline
By 1500, all major cities of the Indus valley had been abandoned resulting from natural disasters
Main Idea Questions
1. What are the pros/cons for the seasonal monsoons in India?
2. How were the “planned” cities of the Indus Valley different from other early cities?
River Dynasties in China
The Geography of China China’s Heartland
90% of farm land located between Yangtze and Yellow Rivers
Over half of China’s total land is not livable/farmable
Isolated by Himalayas and Pacific Ocean
Environmental Challenges
Planted crops in loess brought by river
Floods unpredictable
Civilization Emerges in Shang Times
The First Dynasties Shang Dynasty arose around 1500 BC Learned to control Yellow River floods
Dames and Levees
Early Cities Constantly waged war among each other
The Origins of Chinese Culture
Family and Society Most important part of Chinese life
Religious Beliefs Worshipped the spirits of family ancestors Also polytheistic, communicated to gods through
oracle bonesDevelopment of Writing
Written and spoken language two different things Need to know over 10,000 characters to be a Chinese
scholar
Zhou Bring New Ideas
Mandate of Heaven Ruler had right to rule
directly from Heaven Brought about the
pattern of the Dynastic Cycle
Dynasties lasted in China until the 1900’s
Control Through Feudalism
Feudalism: Ruler gives land away in return for services Results in a decentralized government Lords became more powerful than kings as dynasties
lasted longer Improvements in Technology and Trade
First to introduce coined money Advanced from bronze to iron tools
A Period of Warring States Zhou lost control of China in 771 BC Period of civil war lasted 500 years