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Chapter 2

Chapter 2. Mesopotamia. Greek for “land between the rivers” Although mostly arid (dry), there lies an area known as the Fertile Crescent due to its arch shape and rich agricultural capabilities. The Rivers. Two rivers frame Mesopotamia Tigris Euphrates

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Chapter 2

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  1. Chapter 2

  2. Mesopotamia • Greek for “land between the rivers” • Although mostly arid (dry), there lies an area known as the Fertile Crescent due to its arch shape and rich agricultural capabilities

  3. The Rivers • Two rivers frame Mesopotamia • Tigris • Euphrates • Both flooded Mesopotamia at least once a year leaving behind silt (a thick bed of mud) • Silt produces fertile soil for agriculture • Farmers used the rivers as irrigation sources • Agricultural growth = population growth = cities

  4. Environmental Challenges • Sumerians first settle and farmed Mesopotamia in 3300 B.C. • The Sumerians were attracted to good soil • The Sumerians faced three challenges • Unpredictable flooding and a period of little to no rain • No natural barriers for protection (defenseless) • Limited natural resources (building materials)

  5. Solutions for Challenges • Dug irrigation ditches for steady flow of water • Built city walls with mud bricks for defense • Sumerians traded grains, cloth, and tools for natural resources

  6. Solutions = Civilization • Because Sumerians needed to solve the challenges of their landscape, they began to organize • This organization needed leaders and rules • These leaders and the rules they produced became the foundation of a government and a civilization

  7. City-States • The Sumerians gave us city-states • City-state = a city and its surrounding land functioning as one unit • At the center of all Sumerian city-states was the ziggurat • Ziggurat = a step-shaped temple were priests ruled city-states

  8. Theocracy • Sumerian culture was a theocracy • Theocracy= rule by divine (god) authority • The rulers passed their rule onto their sons and they did the same • This series of rule by a family is called a dynasty

  9. Polytheism • Polytheism = the belief in many gods • The Sumerians tried to please their gods through work and sacrifice • The rulers saw themselves appointed by the gods • The people saw themselves as servants of the gods

  10. Sumerian Life • Sumerians had social classes that defined and separated groups • Women had more rights than other later civilizations • New ideas and inventions: • Wheel, sail, plow • First to use bronze • Math; measuring and architecture • Writing = Cuneiform

  11. Empires • An empire brings together several peoples, nations, or previously independent states under the control of one ruler. • Sargon of Akkad: • 2350 B.C. conquered Sumer • Adopted Sumerian culture • Helped to spread Sumerian culture and knowledge

  12. Babylonia • 2000 B.C. Amorites conquer Sumer and established the capital of Babylon • Babylonian empire reached its peak under the reign of Hammurabi • Hammurabi’s Code: • System of laws put together to establish order and rule

  13. The Egyptians • The Nile • World’s longest river • Flows south to north • Foundation of Egyptian civilization • The gift of the Nile • Yearly predictable flooding • Left behind silt • Farmers worshipped the Nile as a god • Egypt = “the gift of the Nile”

  14. Egyptian Challenges • Flooding amount varied • Too little = starvation • Too much = devastation • Desert = natural barriers/isolation but… • Desert = natural barriers/ protection

  15. Upper and Lower Egypt • Cataracts = choppy whitewater that prohibited travel • Egypt divided into Upper and Lower Egypt between Mediterranean Sea and first cataract of the Nile

  16. Upper and Lower Egypt • Upper Egypt • Area between first cataract and Nile river delta • It is the southern portion of the two areas • Lower Egypt • Area from the Nile river delta to the Mediterranean • It is the northern portion of the two areas

  17. Ease of Travel • Nile flows north • Boats flow with current • Winds blow south • Boats use sails • United the villages • Promoted trade

  18. Narmer • United Upper and Lower Egypt • Established capital at Memphis • Where Upper and Lower met

  19. Pharaohs • Kings were gods themselves • Pharaohs were god-kings • As powerful as spiritual gods • Pharaoh was the center of all things • Government • Military • Religion • Life

  20. Pyramids • Pharaohs ruled after their death • Their tombs were more important than their palaces • Pyramids (p. 39)

  21. Mummification • Egyptians believed in an afterlife • Mummification to preserve the body for the afterlife

  22. Egyptian Life • Used social classes • Could break from your social class • Women were entitled to same rights as men • Marriage and divorce

  23. Hieroglyphics • Used symbols for words and sounds • First written on clay tablets • Papyrus – reeds that could be formed into a paper-like sheet

  24. Indus River Valley • Subcontinent – includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh • Mountains serve as protective barriers to river valley • Indus and Ganges Rivers form Indus River Valley

  25. River Valley Similarities • Rivers carry water and silt • Monsoon – seasonal wind • Bring flooding in summer months

  26. Challenges • Flooding unpredictable • Rivers sometimes changed course • Monsoons unpredictable

  27. Civilization • Larger area influenced by civilization than other areas • Planned cities • Grid system used for planning • Plumbing and sewage • Citadel • Strong central government

  28. Harappa • One of the largest Indus Valley sites • Flood control • Streets • Bathrooms

  29. Harappan Culture • Written language using symbols • Toys = _______________ • Few weapons = _________________ • Religion thought to be polytheistic with a theocracy • Trade was prominent • Use of rivers to travel • Artifacts from other areas of the world

  30. River Dynasties • China • Natural barrier • Gobi Desert • Taklimakan Desert • Himalayas

  31. River Dynasties • River Systems • Huang He (Yellow) • “yellow river” • Yellow silt called loess • Chiang Jiang (Yangtze)

  32. Challenges • Flooding • Devastating • Huang He = “China’s Sorrow” • Isolation • Had to rely on what they could produce • Attacks • Even though isolated, still open enough for invasion

  33. Dynasties Rise • Xia Dynasty • Brought irrigation • Shang Dynasty • First Chinese rulers to leave written records • Social classes • Large walls for defense • Zhou Dynasty • Mandate of Heaven • Feudalism

  34. Early Culture • Center of civilized world • Family • Respect for elders • Women inferior • Social classes • Nobles (rulers/wealthy) • Peasants (workers) • Religion • Spirits of ancestors • Oracle bones

  35. Writing • Spoken v. written • Common written language unites all of China • Difficult to learn • Nobles v. peasants

  36. Dynastic Cycle • Dynastic Cycle – pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties (p.54) • Mandate of Heaven • Divine approval to rule • Feudalism – ruling system in which nobles oversee lands under control of a central leader

  37. Technology and Trade • Roads • Canals • Coins • Cast iron

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