The River Valley Civilizations 4,000 BCE to 850 BCE TERMS Civilization Irrigation Transportation Crossroads Dynasty Cuneiform Hammurabi’s Code Irrigation Canals Pharaoh Hieroglyphics Papyrus Great Pyramids @ Giza Cotton Urbanization Silk The Rise of Early Human Civilization

Elements of Civilization (P - S - E) Essential Questions necessary in gaining understanding of any civilization Due to a Surplus of Food during the Neolithic Era, human populations explode Some smaller settlements grow into full fledged Civilizations Elements of Civilization (P - S - E) Cities ____ Central Government ____ Traditional Economy ____ Organized Religion ____ Social Classes ____ Art & Architecture ____ Roads, Bridges, & other Public Works ____ System of Writing ____ Specialized Jobs ____ What is the civilization’s geography like? Topography Climate Effects on the Civilization How does the civilization structure it’s society? What type of political system does the civilization depend on to govern and organize it’s people? How does the government use and distribute its resources to meet the needs of its people?

Complex Human Civilization The earliest complex civilizations develop in fertile River Valleys around the world for 3 major reasons Access to water for Irrigation of Crops Early humans do not have the technology to divert water long distances Highly Fertile farmland Rivers overflow yearly, naturally fertilizing the land Early civilizations do not have the technology to fertilize themselves Transportation for Trade Easy farming creates large surpluses of Crops for trade River provides an easy way to transport large quantities, long distances The 1st River Valley Civilization develops in one of the major Crossroads of the world  The Middle East

Effects of Geography on Early Human Settlement

Check for Understanding The Neolithic Revolution is often considered a turning point in history because   (1) city dwellers learned to control fire (2) societies became more nomadic (3) nuclear families evolved into extended families (4) permanent settlements developed in river Valleys One reason the Euphrates, Indus, Nile, and Tigris valleys became centers of early civilization is that these valleys had (1) borders and elevations that were easy to defend (2) rich deposits of coal and iron ore (3) the means for irrigation and transportation (4) locations in regions of moderate climate and abundant rainfall

Mesopotamia/Sumeria 3,500 – 1,700 BC Location: Fertile Crescent- MIDDLE EAST Rivers: The Tigris & Euphrates Political: Local Rule/Military Dynasty Social: Rigid Social Classes Religion: Polytheistic Economy: Traditional Achievements: Written Language Cuneiform, 12 month calendar System of Written Laws Hammurabi’s Code Advanced Architecture City of Babylon, Ziggurats, Irrigation Canals

Egypt 3,200 – 500 BC Location: North Eastern AFRICA Rivers: The Nile River Delta Political: Dynasty (Pharaoh) Social: Rigid Social Classes by occupation Religion: Polytheistic Economy: Traditional Achievements: Written Language Hieroglyphics, Use of Papyrus Advanced Medicine Mummification, Brain Surgery Advanced Architecture Pyramids at Giza, Sphinx

Check for Understanding Which geographic factor had a major influence on the development of both Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations? (1) river valleys (2) cool temperatures (3) locations near a strait (4) mountains The Code of Hammurabi contained written laws that were designed to (1) create a stable society (2) promote peaceful relations with other cultures (3) provide a framework for the development of democracy (4) emphasize the importance of life after death

Indus Valley/Harappan Civilization (2,500 – 1750 B.C.E.) Location: Southern Indian Peninsula Rivers: The Indus & Ganges Rivers Political: Highly Centralized/Unknown Social: Unknown Religion: Unknown Economy: Traditional (trade heavy) Achievements: Written Language Unknown Developed Extensive Trade Networks Cotton Complex Urbanization Sewage System & Public Baths Grid Pattern Cities

Huang He Civilization (4,000 – 1,027 B.C.E.) Location: NW China Rivers: The Huang He & Yangtze Rivers Political: Dynasty Social: Unknown Religion: Unknown Economy: Traditional Achievements: Written Language Unknown/Ideogram Developed Calendar Developed Extensive Trade Networks Silk Complex Irrigation Systems “The River of Sorrows” The Huang floods erratically

Check for Understanding Which geographic factor had the greatest influence on the early history of South Asia and China?   river valleys vast coastlines (3) island locations (4) tropical rain forests One way in which the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, and Chinese are similar is that these civilizations developed   (1) irrigation systems (2) iron weapons (3) wheeled vehicles (4) block printing systems