CHAPTER 2.5 CIVILIZATIONS OF THE EARLY RIVER VALLEYS

Read pages River Valley Civilizations & Mesopotamia Civilization CIVILIZATIONS OF THE EARLY RIVER VALLEYS

MESOPOTAMIA RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON MESOPOTAMIA WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? WHAT TYPE OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPED? In the eastern region of the Fertile Crescent among the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Farming: Wheat, barley, date palms. Also the use of the plow, animal power, and wheeled carts.

MESOPOTAMIA RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON MESOPOTAMIA WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT? LEADERS? WRITING DEVELOPED? Cities formed around temples that became the central agency that ran city governments. Priest-Kings/officials. Cuneiform. Picture symbols pressed into soft clay tablets. This helped to spread Sumerian culture.

MESOPOTAMIA RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON MESOPOTAMIA MAIN IDEA FROM CULTURE? Hammurabi the first law giver. “An eye for an eye” punishment for crimes. Harsh punishment often to the point of death.

Read pages Egyptian Civilization CIVILIZATIONS OF THE EARLY RIVER VALLEYS

EGYPT RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON EGYPT WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? WHAT TYPE OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPED? In the northeastern region of Africa along the Nile River. Fertile soil around the Nile River allowed agriculture to be imported from the Fertile Crescent. Barley, wheat, flax (used to make linen) cattle, pigs, goats, sheep.

EGYPT RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON EGYPT WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT? LEADERS? WRITING DEVELOPED? King Menes began Egypt’s first dynasty. The kings of this dynasty became to be known as Pharaohs and ruled as absolute monarchs with unlimited power. Hieroglyphs. Both carved in stone and written on paper called papyrus. Used to keep records and communicate information.

EGYPT RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON EGYPT MAIN IDEA FROM CULTURE? River valley civilization focused on agriculture and ruled by family dynasties of Pharaohs.

Read pages Indus Valley Civilization CIVILIZATIONS OF THE EARLY RIVER VALLEYS

INDUS RIVER RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON INDUS RIVER WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? WHAT TYPE OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPED? Current day Pakistan near the Indus River. Wheat, barley, and cotton grew on the large floodplain and through the use of irrigation canals. Domesticated cattle and elephants.

INDUS RIVER RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON INDUS RIVER WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT? LEADERS? WRITING DEVELOPED? Two large cities dominated the region with fortresses that housed members of the ruling class. Developed a writing system that has yet to be decoded.

INDUS RIVER RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON INDUS RIVER MAIN IDEA FROM CULTURE? Developed a complex trading society including metal ornaments, weapons, fine ceramics, cotton clothing, and beads made from precious stones.

Read pages Chinese Civilization CIVILIZATIONS OF THE EARLY RIVER VALLEYS

CHINA RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON CHINA WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? WHAT TYPE OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPED? In the Asian region around the Huang He and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River valleys. Millet (A cereal grain) and rice. The development of agricultural settlements led to a growth in population and complexity.

CHINA RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON CHINA WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT? LEADERS? WRITING DEVELOPED? Several Chinese civilizations, such as the Shang Dynasty, existed at one time. In the south, walled cities with a hierarchical society existed. Shang Dynasty became the first Chinese civilization to keep records using pictograms that stood for objects and ideas. Wrote on many different surfaces from bamboo, to silk, to bone and bronze.

CHINA RIVER VALLEY COMPARISON CHINA MAIN IDEA FROM CULTURE? Many different civilizations grew in size and developed in complexity in the river valleys and vast flood plains.