1. 3A #1 Tigris River Mediterranean Sea Mesopotamian Civilization
Nile River Delta
Egyptian Civilization
Euphrates River
Lower Nile River
Upper Nile River
3A #1
Nubian Civilization

2. 3A #1 Phoenician Civilization
The Fertile Crescent is an area of arable land
Jerusalem
Jordan
River Valley
Hebrew Civilization
3A #1

3. 3A #1 Indian Civilization Chinese Civilization Huang He River
Indus River
3A #1

4. 3A #1

5. 3A 2. Give 2 reasons why river valleys are good places to grow crops.
Fertile Soil from flooding/alluvial soil
Fresh water
3. How could living near a river be dangerous?
Destruction from flooding
4. How did deserts and mountains prevent people from invading the ancient civilizations of Egypt, India, and China?
Deserts and mountains serve as natural barriers that separated people on either side.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
1. Why did ancient civilizations develop in river valleys?
River valleys provided arable land and some offered protection form invaders.
2. Where were the earliest civilizations located?
Ancient civilizations were located in river valleys.
3. When did these civilizations exist?
Mesopotamia was the first civilization to develop in 3500 B.C.E.
Many others developed over the next three thousand years. 3A

6. Social Patterns in Ancient River Valley Civilizations
Dynasties of God-Kings/Pharaohs – Ruling families governed theocracies.
Wealthy Merchants – A small number of people grew rich from trade.
Political Power
Commoners – Many people were farmers or artisans.
Slaves – People who owed debts or were prisoners of war were owned. Not based on race. The practice was widely accepted.
3B #1
Percent of Population

7. City-State Kingdom Empire Smaller than a kingdom or empire.
Development of Political Patterns in Ancient River Valley Civilizations
City-State
Kingdom
Empire
A city and the surrounding territory controlled by one government.
Several city-states & regions controlled by one government.
A political unit in which a number of people/countries are controlled by 1 ruler.
Smaller than a kingdom or empire.
Larger than a city-state, but smaller than an empire.
Larger than a city-state or kingdom.
3B #2

8. 3. Define centralized government.
A government in which one authority rules over many local governments.
4. Define theocracy.
A government in which the ruler is viewed as a divine figure.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of early civilizations?
Strict, rigid social structure
Governments: city-states, kingdoms, and empires
Economy: increase in metallurgy, food, technology, trade, & slavery. 3B

9. Use of metals such as bronze & iron in tools & weapons
Better tools, plows, & irrigation ditches
Increasing trade along rivers and by sea (Phoenicians)
Development of the world’s first cities
Development of slavery
Strong metals allowed for more durable weapons & tools. Civilizations who had these were superior in strength & wealth.
Improved agricultural techniques created larger food surpluses & larger populations.
The Phoenicians & others profited from trade instead of agriculture.
Larger populations created population centers or city-states.
People who were prisoners of war or owed a debt became slaves.
Slavery was accepted in all ancient civilizations.
3B #5

10. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:  What religious traditions developed in ancient civilizations?
Religious Traditions of Ancient Civilizations
Polytheism – Belief in many gods.
Monotheism – Belief in 1 god.
Egyptian
Indian
Chinese
Phoenician
Nubian
Mesopotamian
Hebrew 3C

11. Basics of Judaism 1 Abraham Jerusalem Torah Moses 3D #1
Description
Picture
Number of Gods
Founder
Holy City
Holy Book
Rules/Moral Code
Exodus Prophet 1
Abraham
Jerusalem
Torah
Ten Commandments
Moses
3D #1

12. 3D 2. Define exile. Being forced to leave one’s homeland.
3. Define diaspora.
The scattering of Jewish communities throughout the world.
4. Where did Judaism originate and how did it spread throughout the world?
Judaism originated in Southwest Asia (Jerusalem).
Numerous exiles resulted in scattered communities of Jews throughout the world.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
1. What were the essential beliefs of Judaism?
Jews believe in one God and many prophets.
Their history is in the Torah.
They live by the Ten Commandments.
2. How did Judaism influence Western civilization?
Numerous exiles resulted in scattered communities of Jews throughout Europe and the Americas.
Christianity, the dominant religion of Western Civilization, originated from Judaism. 3D

13. Written Languages of Ancient Civilizations
Essential Question: 1. What forms of language and writing existed in early civilizations?
Written Languages of Ancient Civilizations
Pictograms – language that uses pictures/symbols to represent ideas
Alphabet – language that uses letters to represent different sounds
Hieroglyphics – created by Egyptians
Cuneiform (first writing system) – created by Mesopotamians
Created by Phoenicians 3E