Early CivilizationsUnit 1

(3500 B.C. – 1600 B.C.)

Neolithic Revolution Hunter-Gatherer

societies dominate most of pre-history.

1. Change from nomadic life to farming.

2. Domesticated animals.

Building Blocks of Civilization

1. Water

2. Language

3. Writing

4. Technology

Characteristics of Civilizations1. Organized governments

2. Religion

3. Jobs

4. Social Classes

5. Art and Architecture

6. Public Works

7. Writing

Characteristics of Civilizationsa. Way of keeping records.

b. Groups of people based on power, money, or fighting ability.

c. Roads, sewers, libraries, etc.

d. Belief system

e. Designed to provide order.

f. Buildings and cultural designs.

g. Specialized artisans

First Civilizations Mesopotamia (Iraq) Nile River Valley (Egypt) Indus River Valley (India) Huang He/Yellow River (China)

Mesopotamia: Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamia: Fertile Crescent

Tigris River Euphrates River What new technology allowed these

rivers to become the first area in the world where civilizations could grow? Irrigation

Mesopotamia: Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamia: Writing The writing style used by the people

inhabiting the area of Mesopotamia was called Cuneiform.

Cuneiform is the oldest known form of writing and consists of wedge markings forming a pictogram.

Mesopotamia: Cuneiform

Mesopotamia: City States and Empires

City States of Sumer

Kingdom of Akkad

Babylonian Empire

City States: Sumer In between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

settled a people known as Sumerians. (3500 – 2300 B.C.)

The Sumerians formed City-States City States consist of a central city and the

land around it. The city was there for trade and government purposes while the land was irrigated for food production.

City State: Example

Sumerian City States: Technology The Sumerians came

up with many of the basic inventions and technological advancements that we still put into use today.

Inventions include: Wagon wheel Arch Potter’s wheel Sundial 12 month calendar Number system Developed bronze tools

Kingdom of Akkad Sumerians were

conquered by their northern neighbors called Akkadians. (2300 B.C.)

The Akkadians were led by Sargon I

Kingdom of Akkad

Babylonian Empire Around 1800 B.C. arose another great

empire with it’s capital located in the city of Babylon. Thus the name Babylonian Empire.

This first Babylonian empire is most known for one of its leaders named Hammurabi. Hammurabi is the first known ruler to create a law code and have it written down.

Code of Hammurabi

Egypt Nile River Valley Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms Pyramids and Mummies Hieroglyphics

Egypt: Nile River Valley

Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms Old Kingdom (2700 B.C. – 2200 B.C.)

Narmer of Upper Egypt conquers Lower Egypt uniting those who lived in the Nile River Valley with those who lived on the Nile Delta.

Narmer created the first Egyptian dynasty and established a Theocracy to rule over his kingdom.

Capital located in Memphis

Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms

Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms Middle Kindom (2050 B.C. – 1700 B.C.)

After 150 years of civil war and civil strife a new dynasty takes the throne.

New capital in the city of Thebes. Ended by the Invasion of foreigners

called Hyksos.

Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms

Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms New Kingdom (1600 B.C. – 945 B.C.)

Egyptians overcome and displaced their Hyksos rulers in 1600 B.C. and established a new dynasty.

Egyptian rulers called themselves Pharaohs

Egypt: New Kingdom Akhenaton causes religious turmoil by

switching from Polytheistic beliefs to Monotheistic beliefs.

Polytheism Monotheism

Egypt: New Kingdom Ramses II (The Great) attempts to expand the

empire but is thwarted by the Hittites. The Hittites were a people from Asia Minor

(Turkey) who had conquered an empire for themselves.

The Egyptians and Hittites fought over the area of Syria, neither became victors.

Egypt: Pyramids

Egypt: Pyramids

Egypt: Mummies

Mummies

Mummies

Egypt: Hieroglyphs Writing system used by

the Egyptians that involved using symbols to communicate a message.

Glyphs could represent objects, ideas, and sounds.

Egypt: Hieroglyphs

Egypt: Hieroglyphs With the discovery

of the Rosetta stone archeologists could finally interpret Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Harappa Civilization

Harappa Civilization The Harappan Civilization was based along

the Indus river valley of present day India and Pakistan.

The Harappan economy was based on Monsoons.

They developed a writing system of pictograms similar to both Sumerian Cuneiform and Egyptian Hieroglyphs.

Harappa Civilization

Harappa Civilization: Monsoons

Harappa Civilization: Monsoons

Harappa Civilization: Writing

Harappa Civilization The Harappan dominance of the Indus river valley

lasted from 2500 B.C. to 1500 B.C. They are thought to have perished at the hands of invaders called Aryans.

Harappa Civilization The idea of social classes based on birth was

introduced by the Aryans. The system is known as the Caste System and

is still in effect today. There are five different castes.

China

China: Early Dynasties Xia Dynasty (2200 – 1760 B.C.)

Collection of many early tribes who banded together for protection and trade stability.

Based along the Yellow River. Shang Dynasty

First Dynasty where the central government had absolute control.

Mandate of Heaven. Idea that whoever is in power was put there by heaven.

China: Xia Dynasty

China: Early Dynasties

China: Early Dynasties

China: Mandate of Heaven

China: Oracle Bones

Irrigation

Irrigation

Irrigation

Unit One Project: Create Your Own Civilization1. Name your civilization.

2. Pick a spot in the world to start your civilization and draw it out. Explain why you chose to place your civilization there.

3. Show where at least 3 cities will go.

4. What language will you use? You may use an existing one or make one up. Example: Harrisonish.

5. What will your writing style be like? Will it be like English, Spanish, and German? Or will it be made up of symbols? Explain why you chose what you did.

6. How will social classes be determined?

7. What Jobs will you have?

8. What will your government be like and how will you enforce order?