Miss. Valade

Early Civilizations

Grade SixHistoryEarly civilizations (India, Egypt, China,

and Mesopotamia) with unique governments, economic systems, social structures, religions, technologies and agricultural practices and products flourished as a result of favorable geographic characteristics. The cultural practices and products of these early civilizations can be used to help understand the Eastern Hemisphere today.

Early Civilizations

Ancient India

Ancient Mesopotamia

Ancient Egypt

Ancient China

Known as Ancient India, Indus Valley, or Harappan Civilization

Began around 3000 B.C. and ended around 1500 B.C. – for reasons unknown

Historians believe that India was the largest of the four ancient civilizations

Ancient India

Their written language were symbols known as Indus Script

The symbols were pressed into soft clay with seals (stamps)

Historians struggle to translate the mysterious language

The 1500 cities of the civilization were well planned out and could support as many as 80,000 people

Their buildings were constructed from mud bricksHistorians are not certain about Ancient India’s

religion but some Indus Script symbols are similar to images of modern Hinduism

Ancient India

Began in 5500 B.C. and ended in 525 B.C.Two Kingdoms developed, Upper Egypt and

Lower EgyptThe kingdoms relied on the Nile River– fresh

water, irrigation, and fertile soil Historians know much more about Egypt

compared to the other ancient civilizations because they had more written artifacts

Ancient Egypt

Religion is the center of Egyptian cultureEgyptians were polytheistic– meaning they believed in

many GodsTheir government was a Theocracy– they were ruled by

religious leadersEgyptian kings became known as Pharaohs and were

considered living Gods The King has absolute power and owns all of the land,

food, people, etc. in his kingdomPharaohs established dynasties– family control of

governmentThroughout 4,000 years of Ancient Egyptian history,

there were 31 dynasties

Ancient Egypt

Their written language is known as hieroglyphs– combined symbols and pictures

Egyptians were excellent mathematicians and ship buildersThey created a 365 day calendar, a form of paper, and had

amazing methods for cutting stoneTheir art and architecture is famous has inspired other

civilizationsMost Egyptians lived in mud brick homesThey created an irrigation system with the Nile River to

farmPerformed religious rituals and ceremonies– most well

known is mummification– preservation of the body, wrapped in linen, and placed in a sarcophagus

Ancient Egypt

History divided into six time periods: Old KingdomFirst Intermediate Period Middle KingdomSecond Intermediate PeriodNew KingdomThird Intermediate Period

Kingdom periods were a time of prosperity and peace, temples were built and plenty of food was harvested

Intermediate periods were more difficult times with bad harvests, invasions, and civil war

Ancient Egypt

Began around 2000 B.C. along the Yellow River

Ancient China’s culture and tradition has continued into modern day China

Historians say that China has the oldest continuous civilization in the world

History divided into five dynasties– family controlled governments

Ancient China

Xia Dynasty (2000 B.C. – 1600 B.C.) 17 emperors (kings) in 500 yearsFarmers, bronze weapons, clay pottery, silk

productionShang Dynasty (1600 B.C. - 1046 B.C.)

30 emperors in 600 yearsWorshipped many Gods, ancestor worshipStudied divination– learning what the Gods

wanted, oracle bones

Ancient China

Zhou Dynasty (1046 B.C. – 256 B.C.)Longest dynastyIron Age– iron tipped weapons, iron plowChinese philosophies: Daoism and

ConfucianismDaoism– following the path, the driving force

behind the universe, be in harmony with nature, and have little possessions

Confucianism– doing the right thing for others, family is the most important, and respect elders

Mandate of Heaven– ruler blessed by Heaven to rule the people

Ancient China

Qin Dynasty (221 B.C. – 206 B.C.)Expanded territory, created first empireStandard currency, standard wheel axle size,

standard laws, and standard writing system– small seal script

Legalism– follow laws, listen to governmentBeginning of construction of the Great Wall of

ChinaTerra Cotta Army– 8,000 baked clay soldiers, 600

horses, 130 chariots, as well as acrobats and musicians– each life-size, and unique clay creation stands outside the tomb of Emperor Shi Huang

Ancient China

Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.C.)Considered one of the greatest periods of history in

ChinaHan culture defines modern Chinese cultureConfucianism is named as the official belief system of

the empireExpanded and conquered territory (modern day Korea,

Mongolia, Vietnam, and into Central Asia) Imperial Examinations– tests to find people qualified for

government jobs Inventions: steel, paper, the compass, and porcelainSilk Road– route for China’s silk export- brought about

Buddhism Fortified and lengthened Great Wall to protect Silk Road

Ancient China

Known as the Fertile Crescent or the Cradle of Civilization

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers– provide for humans, crops, and animals, used for irrigation

Mesopotamia means “land between rivers”5000 B.C. – 333 B.C.

Ancient Mesopotamia

8000 B.C. Farming beganBarley, wheat, lentils, chickpeas, onions, garlic,

dates, and lettuceDomesticated sheep, goats, cows, donkey,

oxen, and pigsMesopotamia was a collection of city-states

Nation that is only one cityMajor cities: Eridu, Uruk, Ur, and Lagash

Ancient Mesopotamia

Inventions: Wheel, wagon, number system based on 60, 12

month calendar with 7 days a weekAstronomers studied stars and mapped out

constellationsCreated architectural structures: dome, column,

and archPictograms– written language, pictures used to

represent words or phrasesUsed by Scribes– the only people who knew how to

read and write– recorded daily events, trade, astronomy, and literature on clay tablets

Ancient Mesopotamia

Sumer– first civilization in MesopotamiaCenter of trade, social life, and religionIn the center of each town was a Ziggurat

A religious templeCity layout based on social classes, King’s

palace closest to Ziggurat and slaves the furthest away

Religious beliefs– Polytheistic (belief in many gods)

Sumer influenced new civilizations in Mesopotamia: Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria

Ancient Mesopotamia

http://www.kathimitchell.com/ancivil.html

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/people-places-kids/iraq-mesopotamia-kids/

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Works Cited