SSWH 1 PresentationAncient World

The Beginning of Civilization

What makes a civilization?1. Centralized Government2. Organized Religion3. Job Specialization/ Social Classes4. Arts, Architecture, Technology5. Infrastructure6. Writing

SSWH1

Analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of societies in the ancient

world from 3500 BCE/BC to 500 BCE/BC.

A.

Compare and contrast Mesopotamian and Egyptian societies, include: religion,

culture, economics, politics, and technology.

3000 BC - City-states form in Sumer, Mesopotamia

2500 BC - Sumerian metalworkers produce bronze spearheads

2350 BC - Sargon defeats the city-states of Sumer

2000 BC - Babylonian empire begins to develop in Mesopotamia

1792 BC - Hammurabi begins to develop code of laws for Babylonian Empire

Why are the Mesopotamians so important?

It is known as the “Cradle of Civilization” because it was first in many things:● First to invent the wheel● First to use sails on boats● One of first to make up a story (Gilgamesh)● First to use cuneiform (writing)● First to use the calendar● First to use the seeder plow● First to give a number place value and recognize the concept of

zero

Mesopotamia Geography● Mesopotamia means between the

rivers● Located between the Tigris

and Euphrates Rivers ○ hot dry climate mixed with

seasonal flooding from the rivers

● Extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf

● Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraq

Mesopotamia Geography

● Considered a River Valley Civilization○ The rivers would overflow,

leaving behind a rich black silt.

Very unpredictable - made it hard to determine when to plant

Sumerians believed when it flooded the gods were angry with them

Mesopotamia Agriculture● Farmers grew wheat, barley,

dates, and other items.● Farmers used irrigation & the

plow● Irrigation created a surplus of

food which led to the growth of cities

● Surplus led to a successful system of trade

● Used the rivers for food and trade

Writing

● first to use writing (around 3,000 BC)● cuneiform - wedge shaped symbols pressed

into clay tablets

What was it used for?● wrote myths and poems

○ most famous was the epic poem called Gilgamesh

● keep records of their transactions ● send messages to other lands without traveling● pass on their knowledge to future generations

Economy● Mesopotamia lacked resources

○ Traded to get metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, etc● At first, the Sumerians traded surplus for these goods

○ later they would develop manufactured goods

● Used the rivers for a trading system● created written contracts, loans and a credit

system● They used a barter system.

○ Traded one good for another● The ability to produce a surplus allowed for

specialization of work

Religion

● Mesopotamians were polytheistic ● Each town was protected by its own,

unique deity or god ● The temple, the center of worship, was also the center

of every city - ziggurats

● Mesopotamians had a very pessimistic view on life○ Tied to the rivers

overflowing and destroying so much

Religion

● wealth devoted to building temples● houses for the priests and priestesses● believed success of crops depended on the gods● believed Priest to be representative to the gods

Government

● laws varied from city state to city state

● After, King Hammurabi conquered the area and created Babylonia○ created written laws that everyone had

to follow ■ 282 laws

● the laws were written in stone (steele) and placed in a public location

● Based on “eye for an eye”

Hammurabi’s Code

“to promote the welfare of the people, make justice visible in the land, destroy the wicked person and the evil, in order that the

strong might not injure the weak.”

● placed all groups in the empire under one law● the intent was to provide a clear system to let all people know of the

laws● Parents arranged marriages, the two parties signed a marriage

contract ● protected women and children

Hammurabi’s Code● dealt with many aspects of daily life:

○ property rights○ Business○ professional services○ Crime○ Family and marriage

● Women still had fewer privileges and rights■ expressed the patriarchal nature of society

Social Organization & Daily Life

● The King held military powers. ● The Governors governed the

territories of the kingdom. ● The aristocracy were priests and

traders. ● The peasants worked the land.

Organization of the City

● Role of the city:○ Religious center (ziggurat)○ Political center (palace)○ Trading center (market)○ Storage for surplus food○ Walls served as defense for

citizens

Egyptian Geography

● The Red Lands○ Barren desert○ Created a

barrier around Egypt

○ Provided a source of precious metals and stones

● Land was viewed as divided into two areas:

● The Black Lands○ Was fertile due to

the black silt left behind after flooding

○ Used for growing crops

Egyptian Geography● The Nile

○ Flows northward○ Longest river in the

world○ Splits Egypt into

Upper and Lower Egypt

● ancient Egyptians lived along the Nile River because it is close to land that can grow crops.

● Benefits:○ Predictable yearly

flooding allowed farming settlements to grow

● Worshiped the river as a god b/c of its abundance

Egyptian Agriculture

● Egyptian society could not have been established without the Nile flooding

● Produced surplus of food● Hand plowed and oxen plowed

the fields● Use of irrigation● Grew wheat, barley, lettuce and

beans

Writing● Known as hieroglyphics - series of pictographs● Written on papyrus● Concept was brought to Egypt through trade with

Mesopotamia● Until the Rosetta Stone was discovered by

Napoleon’s army hieroglyphics could not be translated

What was it used for?● Original idea: provide the means to bring a

concept or event into existence● Began to be used for religious purposes● Eventually was used to record trade

Egyptian Economy● Based on farming and fishing● Taxes paid using agriculture● Used a barter system

● They used a barter system.○ Traded one good for another

● The ability to produce a surplus allowed for specialization of work

Egyptian Religion● Polytheistic● Egyptian Pharaoh = living god● Theocracy = rule based on religious

authority

● Pyramids - built to house the Pharaoh in the afterlife

● Egyptian religion provided a sense of stability

● There was no word for religion● It was an integral part of life

Egyptian Religion

● Religion provided explanations for the natural world● Belief in the afterlife● gods were divided into two categories, sun gods and earth gods● The government devoted enormous amounts of wealth to

temples and the gods

Egyptian Government

● God-King (Pharaoh)

● Upper Class of Nobles and Priests

● Merchants, Artisans, Scribes, and Tax Collectors (The Middle Class)

● Peasants – the largest number of people in Egypt simply worked the land

Social Organization & Daily Life

● Paternalistic society● However, women had a great many

freedoms● Optimistic society - saw their gods

as benevolent● Practiced many forms of

entertainment● houses were built from mud - cool

on the inside & had flat roofs so that in the summer time people could sleep on the tops of them

B.

Describe the societies of India and China, include: religion, culture,

economics, politics, and technology.

India

Where is India?

China

Where is China?

Religion

● Belief in supernatural forces● Priests would read oracle

bones● Belief in life after death● Ancestor worship

● Polytheistic● Religion was tied tightly to

everyday life● Theocratic rule● Vedic Religion - predecessor

to Hinduism● Four religious texts● Belief in the “cycle of life”

China India

Culture

● Some natural barriers● Higher classes lived in the city● Lower classes lived outside the

city● Constant conflict - warlike● The group is greater than the

individual● Family is central to society● Paternalistic

● Social division was not great● Prosperous society● Limited conflict - natural barriers● Paternalistic● Developed a written language● Planned cities - grid system● Around 1750BC culture began to

decline

China India

Economics

● Agricultural based society - most peasants were farmers

● Feudal system develops○ Peasants worked their lords

land inside the walled towns○ Peasant had small plots of

land outside the walls○ Merchants and artisans lived

inside the walled towns

● Thriving trade system● Indus River provided access to

the sea - long distance trading● Barter system● Grew cotton to make cloth● Trade began - 2600 BC● Unpredictability of monsoons

made it hard to farm effectively○ farms were located directly

connected to the Indus

China India

Politics

● City wall built to protect the city

● Constant conflict● Professional warriors● Farming society ruled by an

aristocracy● Central government (King)

with governors in charge of territories to help govern

● Strong central government● Citadel to protect the royal

family● City walls to protect the city● Belief in Karma● System of taxation

China India

Technology

● Flood control and irrigation products

● Mastery of bronze casting● Advances in farming

techniques○ Irrigation○ Plowshares

● Written language

● Use of sophisticated plumbing and sewage

● Advances in math● Made bricks to build structures● Used bronze● Constructed tools● Used a measuring system● Use of water storage

China India

C.

Explain the development of monotheism, include: the concepts developed by the

ancient Hebrews.

Bible History on How Hebrews Came to be...

● Abram lived with his father’s family in Ur but was ‘touched’ by a belief in God

● The king wanted to kill him - his family got out of there - met & married Sarai

● At age 75 God called on him to move south to the land of Canaan, which his descendants would inherit - so he got up and went

● They reached it - God reaffirmed his promise● At 86 with no son, Sarai offered her handmaid to Abram - got his

first son, Ishmael

Bible History on How Hebrews Came to be...

● 13 years later, God appeared, renewed his promise, changed their names, & told Abraham, Sarah was pregnant & that child, Isaac, would be the son of the covenant

● MANY MANY MANY years later descendants began to move into Egypt and eventually the Hebrews are taken as slaves for 400 years

● Moses shows up, plagues, parts the sea, leads the people out of Egypt and back to Canaan

● Received the Ten Commandments● Couple Hundred years later - the Hebrews unite to form the kingdom of

Israel

What did the Ancient Hebrews believe?

● That there was only one god● God had power over everyone and

would protect them● God gave them 10 Commandment to

obey● The Torah is the history of the

Hebrews

Key Facts about the Ancient Hebrews

● Judaism spread because of the forced movement of the Hebrews (Jews)

● First to practice monotheism● Abraham is the “Father of the

Jews”● Ancient Hebrew monotheism most

influenced current day Christianity

D.

Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture.

What

continent

is this?

▪ Africa: earliest ancestors of modern people

▪ all speaking languages derived from one language, Bantu

▪ Most closely associated with spreading of cultures in Africa

Located in Modern day Cameroon

▪ Primary reason for migrating was to find land for farming and grazing

▪ Farmers & ironworkers, their slash and burn style of farming forced them to move

▪ The Bantu cleared the land, then fertilized it with ashes. When the land could no longer support their families, the Bantu moved further south.

▪ stayed on the move to avoid conflict with local hunting and gathering societies

Located in Modern day Cameroon

▪ After hundreds of years, the Bantu settled in southern Africa - didn’t move north because the Sahara Desert blocked the movement

▪ settled near rivers and lakes for the ability to irrigate

▪ Bantu introduced settled agriculture to areas they passed through

▪ spread the use of iron (spread of technology)

▪ Bantu speakers spread their language and skills all throughout Africa

▪ African languages today have Bantu roots

E.

Explain the rise of the Olmecs.

Olmecs were located in Modern

Day Mexico.

Olmec (1200-400 BC)• One of the earliest civilization in

the Americas• Major City: La Venta

• First major civilization – in Mexico– to use ballgames in the

Americas– the first complex civilization in

Mesoamerica

Olmec (1200-400 BC)• One of the earliest complex

civilization in the Americas• Major City: La Venta• Settled along rivers with good

soil for agriculture• Farming led to the development

of towns• The Empire ended due to

changes in the soil which led to under production of crops