1. Early River Valley Civilizations
Chapter 2

2. Vocabulary I
Fertile Crescent: Fertile land located between Tigris/Euphrates and extends into the Nile River Delta
Mesopotamia: The land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Floods/Silt)
City-State: A city and its surrounding lands that act as a government (Sphere of influence)
Dynasty: Leaders from the same family
Cultural Diffusion: The spread of ideas, customs and technologies from one people to another
Polytheism: Belief in many gods
Empire: A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler
Hammurabi: Babylonian Ruler: 1st set of written laws

3. Vocabulary II Pharaoh: God/King, ruler of Egypt
Theocracy: Government ruled by Religion
Hieroglyphics: Picture based writing
Subcontinent: “Subsection” of a continent
Monsoon: Seasonal rains that bring floods
Oracle Bones: Spiritual bones that predict the future
Mandate of Heaven: Divine, “God(s)” approval to rule
Feudalism: Rulers give land away in return for services

5. City-States in Mesopotamia
Chapter 2:1

6. Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Fertile Plains
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flood Mesopotamia once a year
Unpredictable Floods!!!
Farmers planted crops in silt, or fertile soil left behind from flood

8. Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Environmental Challenges
Flooding unpredictable
Defenseless from attack
Limited natural resources (wood, stone, metal)
Creating Solutions
Irrigation Canals, Flood Walls
Traded food for materials they lacked

9. The Spread of Cities
By 2500 BC Sumerian cities had expanded well beyond fertile crescent
Cultural Diffusion: a new idea or product spreading from one culture to another
Examples of Cultural Diffusion….
Work with a partner and come up with a list of 5 examples!!!

10. Peasants (working in fields or workshops)
Sumerian Culture
A Religion of Many Gods
Polytheism: Belief in many gods
Gods were all powerful but acted much like humans
Life in Sumerian Society
Hierarchy of Sumerian Society
King
Landholders, Priests
Wealthy merchants
Peasants (working in fields or workshops)
Slaves

11. Advanced Science and Technology!
Inventions
wheel
sail
cuneiform (system of writing)
geometry
measurement (60 seconds = 1 minute, 360 degrees in a circle)
created architectural designs such as….
ramp, arches, columns, and pyramids
Advanced!!!

12. The First Empire Builders
Babylonian Empire
Nomadic warriors conquered Sumerians around 2000 BC
Most famous king was Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi
Oldest known written law code
Harsh set of rules for society
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
Not Equal!!!! (Social Class Divisions)

13. Main Idea Questions Why is Hammurabi’s Code significant?
How did the environment/geography influence the development of Sumeria?

14. Pyramids on the Nile
Chapter 2:2

15. Pyramids on the Nile The Gift of the Nile Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
The Geography of Egypt
The Gift of the Nile
Yearly floods brought silt and water to desert land
Gift of the Nile
Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
Lower Egypt=Mediterrenean
Soil rich with Silt
Transportation

16. Nile River via NASA!!

17. Geography of Egypt Environmental Challenges Predictable Floods!
Surrounded by vast and barren deserts
Isolated Egyptians but kept out invaders
Geographically Protected/Isolated!
Predictable Floods!
How is this different from Mesopotamia?

18. Egypt United Into a Kingdom
Pharaohs Rule as Gods
Head of government, army, and religion
Theocracy: is when a king is worshipped as a divine/Godlike ruler
Builders of the Pyramids
Kings ruled even after their deaths
More important than palaces they occupied during life.
Showed the organizational power of the Old Kingdom

19. Egyptian Culture Religion and Life
Worshipped over 2,000 gods and goddesses
Positive view of afterlife
Mummification: Preserved the dead to prevent decay of the body
Modern Day Mummy!

20. Life in Egypt King (pharaoh), Queen, and royal family
Wealthy landholders, Priests, government officials, army officers
Middle Class (Merchants and Artisans)
Peasant farmers and laborers
Slaves (later in Egypt’s history)

21. Egyptian Science and Technology
Developed a calendar that fell short of true solar year by six hours
Used advanced mathematical knowledge to build pyramids
Obsidian Surgical Blades

22. Invaders Control Egypt
Chariot Riders invade Egypt
Used horse drawn chariots to conquer Egypt
Hyksos ruled for 107 years

23. Main Idea Questions
How did geography influence the development of Egypt?
Why did Egyptians mummify bodies?
Give examples of advanced technologies that the Egyptians are responsible for.

24. Planned Cities on the Indus
Chapter 2:3

26. The Geography of South Asia
Rivers, Mountains, and Monsoons
Indus and Ganges rivers form fertile plain south of the Himalayas
Monsoon winds produce dry air in the winter and heavy rain in the summer
Environmental Challenges
Indus river allowed Indians to trade across Indian Ocean
Mountains and deserts formed natural barrier to invasion
River flooding unpredictable

29. Civilization Emerges on the Indus River
Planned Cities
Cities were planned in grid-like pattern
Like NYC (1st Street- 267th Street)
Culture and Trade
Stable Environment
Traded with Sumerians
Polytheistic

30. End of the Indus Valley Culture
End of Indus Valley Culture
Around 1750 BC, the wealth of the cities began to decline
Natural Disaters

31. Main Idea Questions
What are the pros/cons for the seasonal monsoons in India?
How were the “planned” cities of the Indus Valley different from other early cities?

32. River Dynasties in China
Chapter 2:4

33. River Dynasties in China
The Geography of China
China’s Heartland
90% of farm land located between Yangtze and Yellow Rivers
Over half of China’s total land is not livable/farmable
Isolated by Himalayas and Pacific Ocean
Environmental Challenges
Planted crops in loess brought by river
Floods unpredictable

35. Social Classes
Warrior nobles
Peasants

36. The Origins of Chinese Culture
Family and Society
Most important part of Chinese life
Religious Beliefs
Worshipped the spirits of family ancestors
Also polytheistic, communicated to gods through oracle bones
Development of Writing
Written and spoken language two different things
Need to know over 10,000 characters to be a Chinese scholar

37. Zhou Bring New Ideas Mandate of Heaven
Ruler had right to rule directly from Heaven
Brought about the pattern of the Dynastic Cycle
Dynasties lasted in China until the 1900’s

38. The Dynastic Cycle In China

40. Control Through Feudalism
Feudalism: Ruler gives land away in return for services
Results in a decentralized government
Lords became more powerful than kings as dynasties lasted longer
Improvements in Technology and Trade
First to introduce coined money
Advanced from bronze to iron tools
A Period of Warring States
Zhou lost control of China in 771 BC
Period of civil war lasted 500 years

41. Main Idea Questions Where is China’s farming “heartland” found?
Explain The Mandate of Heaven.
Explain the Dynastic Cycle.