Early River Valley Civilizations
Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China
Mesopotamia
The Land Between
the Rivers
Irrigation
The water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was essential for getting water to crops. Water rights were often faught over.
The Civilizations of Mesopotamia
Sumer: City-States
3500-2350 BCE
Akkad: First Empire
2350-2190 BCE
Babylon: Second Empire Assyria: Largest Empire
1800-1600 BCE 934-612 BCE
Technology
Examples:
Wheels
Sailboats
Levees
Religion
Polytheistic
Each city-state had its' own god
Ziggurat
People and Culture
Had a sophisticated culture and social structure. This example of art showed different classes of people.
Art/Architecture
Used arches in construction. Built walls for protection.
Created bricks from dried mud.
Gate of Ishtar
Babylon
Economics
Trading was done by bartering.Trading one good or service for another.
The Mesopotamians had an advanced division of labor.
Trade and Transportation
Writing and Language
Cuneiform:
Wedge shaped symbols
Scribes would used a triangular shaped reed to press shapes into clay. Used for record keeping.
Government
Sumerian city-states and the later empires were ruled by kings.
Monarchy(One-ruler)
Egypt
"The Gift of the Nile"
The Dynasties of Egypt
Old Kingdom
2686-2181BCE
The Age of Pyramids
Middle Kingdom
1991-1786 BCE
Expansion south along the Nile
New Kingdom
1570-1070 BCE
The Expansion into the Fertile Crescent
Technology
Inventions include:
The Shaduf
(shown on the left)
Ox-Pulled Plow
Water Clock
Writing Pens
Religion Polytheistic
Egyptians worshipped multiple gods.
People and Culture
Social Pyramid
Art/Architecture
Sculpture and intricate carvings were an important part of Egyptian art.
Economics
The Egyptian economy was centered around farming and trading along the Nile River.
Each year the river would flood and spread rich silt into the soil.
Trade and Transportation
Writing and Language
Hieroglyphics:
Symbols that stand for words.
Scribes would keep records by writing with ink on papyrus. Reeds pressed together in scrolls that is like paper.
Government
Egypt was ruled by a Pharaoh. Their families would rule for generations as a dynasty.
The Pharaoh also had Viziers to help them rule. They acted as advisors and governors.
Government
When a Pharaoh died, their body would be embalmed (preserved) through a process called mummification.
Ancient China
We will focus on 4 dynasties of ancient China.
Shang
Zhou
Qin
Han
Technology
Inventions include:
The Compass
Seismograph
Paper
Religion
Ancestor Worship was a big part of Shang Dynasty Religion.
People and Culture
Three Philosophies shaped the Ancient Chinese dynasties of the Qin and the Han.
Legalism Daoism Confucianism
The Qin The Han The Han
Art/Architecture
The Ancient Chinese are best remembered starting
the construction of the Great Wall of China.
Economics
The Qin Dynasty established standardization of coins and measures to improve their economy.
Trade and Transportation
The Silk Road linked China to Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Ideas and culture, as well as goods ,
were exchanged.
Writing and Language
The Ancient Chinese used pictographs for their writing. Symbols that stand for ideas.
Government
China was ruled by kings and emperors. Their families would rule for generations as a dynasty.
iWrite:
Monday's test will have an essay question. Here's your chance to practice.
How did geography play a role in shaping the civilization of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or China? Compare and contrast any two civilizations.
For a full 10/10 score you must answer in paragraph form with strong supporting details and a clear topic sentence.
Sample Response #1
Mesopotamia had rivers which were important for drinking. So did China. They are similar because they both had kings. Only China had paper. In Mesopotamia they wrote on clay.
What do you think this response would score?
Ideas and Content 5 4 3 2 1
Delivery 5 4 3 2 1
3
3
Sample Response #2
Geography always plays an important role in the shaping of a civilization, and Mesopotamia and China are no exception. The rivers, as well as the surrounding deserts, play a large role in each civilization. In Mesopotamia, the climate was harsh, and it was only possible to have a civilization if you had access to water. Water was always in short supply, so conflicts over water rights influenced government by wars and the creation of empires. There were also a number of inventions, such as levees and canals to manage flood water and help with irrigation. China didn't have the same conflicts over water, but they also dealt with floods because the farmers needed to live near the banks of the rivers to have the silt spread across their farmland to have fertile soil. Most of the people of China, lived, and continue to live on the plain between the rivers. Mesopotomia and China were both impacted greatly by their rivers.
What do you think this response would score?
Ideas and Content 5 4 3 2 1
Delivery 5 4 3 2 1
5
5
$25,000 Pyramid Review
Your job is to make a vocabulary term card that we will use to review. Mr. Oliver will assign the terms, and you need to find out what words would be a dead giveaway of the term. You will write 2-5 words that you think shouldn't be clues to understand the term.
Example: King Tut
Exclusion words: Egypt, Pharaoh, Mummy