Geography of Ancient Civilizations

1. Geography of Ancient Civilizations

3. Mesopotamia • “Land between two rivers” • What two rivers? • Tigris and Euphrates • Fertile Crescent • Refers to the fertile region surrounding a collection of rivers in the Middle East • Sumer • First early civilization

4. Mesopotamia

5. Mesopotamia • Dealing with and exploiting the Tigris and Euphrates rivers • Irrigation • Trade • Early form of government • How/why does government first form?

6. Mesopotamia • Other Achievements • Ziggurats • Hammurabi’s Code • How did geography impact the development of Mesopotamian civilizations?

8. Ancient Egypt • The Nile River • Irrigation • Most of Egypt is desert so people settled along the banks of the Nile River • The Nile provided drinking water and water for irrigation • Why is Lower Egypt ‘higher’ than Upper Egypt?

9. Ancient Egypt • The Nile River • Agriculture • The Nile flooded regularly • Flooding deposited fertile silt along the banks of the Nile • The Three F’s!

10. Ancient Egypt • The Nile River • Trade • The Nile provided a natural highway for trade • Entire cities were created as a result of this trade network along the Nile River

11. Ancient Egypt • How did geography impact the development of Ancient Egypt?

13. Indus River Valley • Indus River • Ganges River • Subcontinent

14. Indus River Valley • The Indus River Valley is located on the Indian Subcontinent • Monsoon Season! • Indus Valley Civilizations had to adapt to the torrential rains that ravaged the subcontinent every year • What are some ways the population adapted?

15. Indus River Valley • Two major cities of the Indus River Valley • Harappa • Mohenjo-Daro • Large populations and areas with surpluses of food • Large granaries stored food during monsoon seasons

16. Indus River Valley • Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa • Grid-patterned cities • Indoor plumbing • Traders, farmers Layout of Indus city of Mohenjo-Daro

17. Indus River Valley • How are the Indus River Valley Civilizations impacted by their geography?

19. Yellow River and Yangzi River Valley • Geographic Isolation • Mountains • Deserts • Jungles • Oceans • Middle Kingdom • Having little contact with other cultures, the Chinese

20. Yellow River and Yangzi River Valley Civilizations

21. Yellow River and Yangzi River Valley Civilizations • How are the Yellow River and Yangzi River Valley Civilizations impacted by their geography?

24. West African Kingdoms

25. The Sahara Desert

26. The Savannah

27. West African Kingdoms • West African Natural Resources • Gold! • Salt! • Why would these resources be important? • What problem do traders in West Africa face?

28. West African Kingdoms • How are the West African Kingdoms impacted by their geography?

30. Ancient Greece

31. Geographic Feature Effects Greek Geography United parts of Greece; sea trade was important as Greece had few natural resources. Sea Land Mountains made transportation, communication among cities difficult; small, independent communities developed; poor resources spurred growth of colonies; poor food production limited population growth. Climate Moderate climate allowed for an outdoor lifestyle, open-air discussions.

33. The Holy Roman Empire

34. Composition of the Roman Republic • Senate • 300 Patricians • Consul • 2 Patricians elected by Senate • Dictator • Limited Powers • Cincinnatus • Census • Plebians • Artists, merchants, farmers, traders lack representation

36. Holy Roman Empire • Positive Impact of Geography • Negative Impact of Geography

37. Geographic Feature Effects Roman Geography Peninsula provided natural boundaries. Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea Sea Land Much more easily unified than Greece; Apennine Mountains are much less rugged than mountains in Greece; Broad fertile plains supported booming population growth Alps in the North provided natural boundary Climate Moderate climate allowed for an outdoor lifestyle, open-air discussions.