Unit 3: Ancient Civilizations Paleolithic Age Known as the Stone Age because simple stone tools were used Earliest period in human history. People were nomadic: they migrated from place to place in constant search of food They were also known as hunter-gatherers Neolithic Revolution Learned how to farm Began to live in permanent settlements Specialized in jobs (each person had their own role in society) Domestication of animals Civilizations formed Early civilizations settled near river valleys because they: Were a good source of water Were a good source of food (fish & animals came flocked to river which made hunting easier) Had fertile soil that was good for farming (especially when annual flooding occurred and renewed the soil Made transportation easy (especially for trading goods) Common features of Ancient River Valley Civilizations: They were polytheistic- people believed in many gods associated with nature Traditional economies (barter-trade with goods (not money)) Subsistence farming: people only farmed enough to take care of family; they didnt produce extra food to sell for a profit The Fertile Crescent The area boxed in, is what the map on the slide before this shows Fertile Crescent Civilizations Sumerians, Babylonians, Hittites, Phoenicians, Persians, Sumerians When: 3500 BC Where: Tigris Euphrates Delta Sumerian Achievements Built ziggurats (large pyramid-like temples) Developed cuneiform (an ancient writing system using pictographs) Invented the wheel, sail, and plow cuneiform ziggurat Babylonians When?: 1700 BC Where?: Tigris Euphrates Delta Babylonians Hammurabis Code: A set of laws posted for all to see. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth Laws were not actually equal for everyone, and depended on your social class. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth Hittites Achievements: Used iron to make weapons Phoenicians When?: 1500 BC Where?: eastern Mediterranean Sea coast carriers of civilization Phoenicians Created an alphabet of 22 symbols which became the basis our the modern alphabet Known as the carriers of civilization Persians When?: 500 BC Where?: Asia minor to Indus Valley Persians Roads increased trade Uniform system of coinage that held value Early Civilizations of India Important groups for today Indus River Valley People (here first, settled near Indus River- fertile soil) Aryans (Warlike invaders, came after- create caste system/ Hinduismwriting system) Indus River Valley Civ I. Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BC- 1500BC) A. Largest of the early civilizations B. Majority of the people were farmers C. Extensive trade with the Middle East D. They were very advanced i.***Cities (like Harrappa & Mohenjo Darro) were planned ii.Uniform building codes iii.Specialized jobs 1.Did they have just cities? Just rural areas? Both? 2.Were their bricks the same size or different sizes? 3.Did they have a sewer system? 4.Did they take baths ever? 5.Were there dentists? Indus Valley civilizations were advanced for their time. This picture shows how advanced they were. They had planned streets, specialized jobs and building materials like bricks. II. The Aryans A.Aryans were warlike/invaders that came through the mountain passes from the north B.Conquered the remains of the Indus Valley C.Religion i.Created the caste system/ Hinduism ii.Traditions passed through Vedas iii.Developed Sanskrit (writing system) iv.Polytheistic The Aryans took the Khyber pass to the Indus valley civilization. The Khyber pass was a route through the Hindu Kush Mountains. The Aryans took this route to the Indus Valley civilization and destroyed them with their iron weapons. Writing systems Their main writing system was sanskrit. It was a very different language from our languages. It was used from 1500 B.C B.C. They made plays in it to perform at palaces. Social Classes C. Villages 1. Mostly farmers and herders 2. Ruled by the rajahs D. Social Classes- people were divided into 4 varnas (mingle, talk, only with other castes when absolutely necessary) 1. Brahmans priests 2. Kshatriyas warriors 3. Vaisyas landowners 4. Sudras servants Ultimately leads to the caste system of Hinduism The Hindu Caste System (started w/ Aryans Important groups for today Indus River Valley People (here first, settled near Indus River- fertile soil). Aryans (Warlike invaders, came after- create caste system/ Hinduismwriting system) South Asia: Physical Map Use this map to help you label each of the geographic features listed in your notes. Gupta Empire: Indias Golden Age When: AD Golden Age: A time of peace and prosperity (many achievements) Gupta Accomplishments Art: Ajante cave paintings Literature: poems, stories Math: Concept of Zero, Decimal system Science: astronomy Medicine: plastic surgery, hospitals, vaccines Religion: Hinduism Major Gupta Rulers Chandragupta ( AD) Samudragupta ( AD) Chandragupta II ( AD) Kumaragupta I ( AD) Skandagupta ( AD) Notice how all their names end with GUPTA End of the Guptas After repelling many invasions, the Guptas finally met their end at the hands of invaders called Hunas. Irresponsible spending of empire resources aided their decline. Even after most of the nation was overrun, they formed alliances with other independent nations and continued to fight. Unfortunately, it was in vain, and the mighty Guptas fell after 310 years of rule. Monsoons: Seasonal winds that change the amount of precipitation Wet (Summer) Monsoon May- September HOT!!! Rainy season Dry (Winter) Monsoon October-April Mild temperatures Little or no rain Ground is parched and cracked Effects of Monsoon on farmers: Farmers plant seeds in the dry, sunbaked earth. The seeds must take root before the summer downpours begin. When it rains, the plants grow If the monsoon is late: the tiny plants wither and die, and famine results. If the monsoon brings too much rain: the crops can be washed away. Monsoon Video (2 min) Monsoon Video Ashoka the Great Reading China Desert Mountains/Plateau Fertile Plains Water Physical Map of China Based on Chinas geography, where do you think most people live in China? The majority of China consists of mountains and deserts a)In ancient times, these physical barriers limited contact with others (cultural diversity) b)The Chinese thought they lived at the center of the Earth= (ethnocentric) c)Today, most people still live in the eastern 1/3 of China where the land is arable (OK for farming) Population Density Terracing What?: small, flat fields built into the sides of mountains Why?: create more farmland, holds soil in place in order to plant crops Where?: sides of hills and mountains Terracing Ancient China The first civilization in China, the Shang Dynasty, developed by the Huang He (Yellow) River Achievements: Bronze work Silk Calendar Irrigation systems Writing system The Mandate of Heaven The Chinese believed that heaven had chosen their leaders and given them the mandate, or right, to rule. The people owed the ruler complete loyalty and obedience The ruler owed the people good government, harmony and order If a ruler failed, the people had the right to rebel Signs that a ruler lost the Mandate of Heaven: Fighting (War, Revolts, Invaders) Floods (Natural Disasters) Famine The Mandate of Heaven The Chinese believed that heaven had chosen their leaders and given them the mandate, or right, to rule. The people owed the ruler complete loyalty and obedience The ruler owed the people good government, harmony and order If a ruler failed, the people had the right to rebel Signs that a ruler lost the Mandate of Heaven: The Mandate of Heaven Directions: On your note sheet, fill in the title for each of the boxes and then draw a picture to go with each one. Fighting Floods Famine Chinese Dynasty Song Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Sui, Tang, Song Sui, Tang, Song Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic Mao Zedong, Deng! Mao Zedong, Deng! (Sing to tune of: Where is Thumbkin?) New Dynasty Brings peace Rebuilds infrastructure Gives land to peasants Protects people Old Dynasty Stops protecting people Lets infrastructure decay Taxes people too much Treats people unfairly Problems Fighting (peasants revolt, invaders attack, bandits raid the country) Floods (or other natural disasters) Famine Generations go by, new dynasty becomes Old dynasty loses Mandate of Heaven New Dynasty claims Mandate of Heaven Writing/ Vocabulary Station Directions: For each vocabulary word, write one good social studies sentence. Please note: Do not just give the definition Use the word in a way that shows you understand it 1.Mandate of Heaven 2.Dynastic Cycle or dynasty 3.Silk Roads The Great Wall of China True or False? The Great Wall 1.Can be seen from space 2.Is one of the 7 Wonders of the World 3.Was built as one giant wall 4.Was built by Qin Shi Huangdi 5.It built of stone walls 6.Was built because they hated foreigners 7.It was an impenetrable barrier to invaders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgLweGWRgKM At first, several states built small, simple walls to keep out invaders and barbaric nomads However, the walls were not very effective. The wall stretches for 6,700 km (4,160 miles). It was built on mountain tops to keep invaders out (barbarian Huns from the north), and move soldiers quickly. The Qin emperor, Shihuangdi, ordered smaller walls destroyed and new walls connected to the major fortifications, to help centralize power. The wall that was built on flat land was also made of stamped earth. There were parts of the various dynasties that did not run along mountain tops, which were harder to defend. What do you see in the image? watchtowers, wall, windows What are the dominant features? watchtowers What can you infer? Men were in the turrets, used for different reasons There was a watchtower built every 100 meters or so. They were intended to watch for enemies and light signal fires to warn people that an attack was coming. The watchtowers had windows that were use to watch for enemies and to shoot arrows, etc, from. They provided safety, too. The Great Wall had gates in it. These were used for trade, communication, and even attacking enemies. Other Interesting Things About the Great Wall of China The wall was also built to keep nomadic people from going out, and from coming back in with stolen property (which would make enemies angry and cause an attack). The Ming Dynasty emperors had the most work done on the wall, and the best because they used bricks and stone instead of rammed (stamped) earth. Commoners were forced to build the wall, where hundreds of thousands died from cold, heat, hunger, or abuse. Many of these peasants were BURIED IN THE WALL and have been unearthed by archaeologists. Its the largest human-built structure in the world. The Great Wall also extends into Mongolia. Chinese Achievements a.Paper b.Porcelain c.Woodblock Printing d.Gunpowder e.Movable Type f.Magnetic Compass g.Paper Money h.Silk Civil Service Exam a.The Chinese wanted the government run by the most talented and learned men b.To be in the government, one had to pass a civil service exam c.Test was on Chinese law, history and traditions as well as Confucian teachings d.Officials gained jobs through merit, not by birth or wealth. e.Lasted until 1900 Golden Ages ( Tang & Song Dynasties) a.Golden age= a time of peace and prosperity b.Increased trade of goods and ideas c.Built a navy d.Foreign merchants and missionaries came e.Chinese influence spread to Korea and Japan f.Block printing and movable type- books can be produced cheaply and easily- increased literacy g.Poetry and painting-Frequently used nature in art Confucianism: I.Confucius was Chinas best-known philosopher, born in about 551 B.C. II. The disorder and suffering caused by constant warfare disturbed Confucius. He wanted to restore peace. III.The Analects- book of Confucius ideas written down by his followers The superior person should set an example for the inferior one and watch out for them. The inferior person should be loyal and obedient IV. Filial Piety- respect and duty that children owe their parents V. Confucius created a guide to proper behavior based on ethical, or moral, principles VI. Family and society are more important than the individual VII. Education sets people apart Daoism (Taoism) Lao Zi, the founder, emphasized the link between people and nature rather than the importance of proper behavior Yin and Yang- the forces of nature that balance each other A society with rules was artificial and disturbed natural order The best government has the fewest rules Legalism I.Rejected Confucian ideas about proper behavior II.Believed people act out of self interest and would respond to rewards and punishment III.Harsh laws imposed by a strong leader would keep society orderly Mayas 1800 BC- 900 AD ***Take note of the time: This is an ANCIENT civilization (not around when the Aztec and Incas are) Geography: Central America/ Mexico Slash and burn farming (cut and burn rainforest to clear room for a field to farm on) Religion Polytheistic Built huge pyramid-temples to honor gods Belief that gods control nature so perform regular ceremonies to keep gods happy Monumental architecture glyphs writing system (similar to the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt) Astronomy- 365 day calendar Math- Use of zero Aztecs Geography: Present day Mexico Chinampas- crops grew on floating gardens Religion Polytheistic Built huge pyramid-temples to honor gods Sacrificed humans and animals to gods Achievements Monumental architecture Capital City: Tenochtitlan Aztec Warrior Incas Geography: -Present day Peru -Andes Mountains Geography Terrace farming (cut steps into Andes mountains to farm on) Irrigation Systems- brought water from mountains to lowlands Religion Polytheistic Built huge pyramid-temples to honor gods Achievements Monumental architecture Main temple was covered in gold Roads Irrigation Machu Pichu Big Ideas about Latin America Mountains, along with tropical forests in the lowlands, created barriers to the movement of people. These features limited contact among areas and contributed to cultural diversity Each of the early civilizations adapted to their environment/geography Early civilizations (Aztecs, Mayas, Incas) were already very advanced before the arrival of Europeans