Warm-Up List the four river valley civilizations and the rivers by which they are located.

List the traits of a civilization. (Hint: you should have 8) Warm-Up List the traits of a civilization. (Hint: you should have 8)

The First River Valley Civilizations

What makes a civilization a civilization? Cities serve as administrative centers. Political systems based on control of a defined territory (with borders). Job specialization Status systems (mainly based on wealth). Monumental buildings. A system for keeping records. Long-distance trade. Major advances in science and art.

The First Four Civilizations Mesopotamia Egypt Indus River valley China

Mesopotamia Location: fertile plain between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern-day Iraq). Geography and climate make it hard to grow crops, but agriculture was possible: Barley Date palms Animal domestication Trade routes provide other resources.

Mesopotamia Civilization started as a collection of independent city-states. Temples and palaces served as political centers for kings and government. Stratified society: Three classes- Landowners and priests Dependent farmers and artisans Slaves

Mesopotamia Important political figures: Sargon of Akkad Hammurabi Technological innovations: Cuneiform writing Irrigation systems Bronze metallurgy Military techniques Sargon most powerful leader for Akkadian Empire; Code of Hammurabi – 282 laws; eye for an eye; punishments depend on social class of offender; cuneiform – used a stylus like we use today; military techniques included chariots and cavalry (Hittites)

Egypt Location: along the lower Nile River (northeast Africa). Isolated and protected by deserts on all sides. Nile River provides resources for agriculture (flooding). Transportation also easy – current =/= winds

Egypt Small city-states until unified under a king in 3100 BCE. Pharaohs are regarded as political and religious leaders (gods on earth). Pyramids and monuments Local governments carried out pharaohs orders. Rural communities.

Egypt Social classes: High ranking officials Local leaders, business owners, larger farm owners Peasants Slaves Religion based on natural figures and regular cycles.

Indus River Valley Location: Centered around river valleys in modern Pakistan and India. Fertile plains were good for agriculture but suffered from severe and unpredictable floods.

Indus River Valley Flourished from 2600 to 1900 BCE. Downfall a mystery. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro Possibly controlled by a large central government. Technological innovations: Irrigation systems Metallurgy Pottery Social order – caste system

China Xia and Shang 1600-1100 BC Centered around the Yellow and Huang He river valleys. Grew barley (N) and rice (S) Religion was animism Trade-centered economy Scientific – created wheel, calendar, pottery, bronze tools

China Zhou Dynasty Wu Wang ousted Shang 900 year rule using Mandate of Heaven Feudal society – nobles gained power over time Ended 256 BC Qin followed them

Conclusions Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus River valley and China civilizations were all built around large rivers that provided opportunities to develop agricultural systems. Egypt, China and Mesopotamia developed governments centered around an all-powerful king (and the Indus River valley may have been similar). In all four civilizations, the populations were made up of varying ethnicities, but they were all united under a common cultural identity.