Review Unit – A Global View: Early Civilizations

First Civilizations: Asia and Africa

First Civilizations: Asia and AfricaI. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

A. Villages in Nile River valley joined into two kingdoms.

B. King Menes united these kingdoms about 3100 B.C.

C. Old Kingdom (about 2575–2130 B.C.)

D. Middle Kingdom (about 1938–1630 B.C.)

E. New Kingdom (about 1539–1075 B.C.)

II. Egyptian Civilization

A. Belief in many gods and goddesses/afterlife

B. Society organized into classes with pharaoh at top

III. City-States of Ancient Sumer

A. Started along Tigris and Euphrates rivers

B. Floods and irrigation

First Civilizations: Asia and Africa (cont.)

1. Sumerians built dikes, irrigation ditches, and ziggurats.

2. City-states fought for control of land and water.

3. War leaders became hereditary rulers.

C. Advances in learning

1. Sumerians invented cuneiform.

2. Scribes maintained records for the kingdom.

IV. Invaders, Traders, and Empires

A. Sargon of Akkad conquered Sumerian city-states to create first empire, about 2300 B.C.

B. Hammurabi of Babylon conquered Mesopotamia about 1790 B.C.

C. Persian armies overthrew Babylon in 539 B.C.

D. Warfare and trade spread ideas and technology.

First Civilizations: Asia and Africa (cont.)

V. Roots of Judaism

A. Hebrews migrated from Mesopotamia into Canaan about 2000 B.C.

B. Hebrews developed Judaism.

C. Kingdom of Israel established by 1000 B.C.

D. Kingdom split into two parts.

E. Diaspora scattered Jews to different parts of world.