Four River Valley Civilizations

1. Four Ancient River Valley Civilizations Four River Valley Civilizations

4. All of the world’s earliest civilizations had something in common- they all arose in river valleys that were perfect locations for farming. Three key factors made river valleys good for farming: The fields that bordered the rivers were flat, which made it easier for farmers to plant crops. The soils were nourished by flood deposits and silt, which made them very fertile. The river provided the water farmers needed for irrigation.

8. Fertile Crescent: a large arc of rich, or fertile, farmland. • Mesopotamia was actually made of two parts: • Northern Mesopotamia:was a plateau bordered on the north and the east by mountains. • Southern Mesopotamia:was a flat plain. The two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates flowed down from the hills into this low-lying plain. • Rise of Civilization: • Hunter-gatherer groups settled in Mesopotamia more than 12,000 years ago. • First farm settlements developed in Mesopotamia around 7000 B.C. and grew wheat, barley, and other types of grain. • Plentiful food led to population growth and surplus. Around 4000 – 3000 B.C. cities began to develop and fewer people needed to farm which led to the development of other jobs such as crafters, traders, religious and government officials.

11. Timeline of Mesopotamian History 8000 B.C. First Development of Agriculture 2500 B.C. Sumerians begin to develop their civilization 3500 – 1850 B.C. City of Ur is a major center of trade 3200 B.C Earliest writing found 2800 B.C. First Semitic (ancestors of Hebrew, Phoenician, and Arabian) people settle in Mesopotamia 2360 B.C. Akkadian Empire founded by Sargon 1792 – 1750 B.C. Rule of Hammurabi, king of Babylon 1750 B.C. Babylon Empire 721 – 705 B.C. Assyrian Empire at height of power 689 B.C. Babylon destroyed by Assyrians 539 B.C. Mesopotamia conquered by Alexander the Great