Mesopotamia region of the Middle East that is between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. also called F

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Mesopotamia region of the Middle East that is
between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. (also
called Fertile Crescent)
THE GREAT RIVER CIVILIZATIONS
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Sumerians lived in the Fertile Crescent and
built the first great civilization.
SUMER

• - Lived in southern Mesopotamia.

- Societies were formed because people were
organized to get jobs done.
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Irrigate bringing water from the river (Tigris
Euphrates) and water their crops.
SUMER

• - Built canals and water raising devices to water
  fields.

- Built dikes to stop floods and hold water in
lakes.
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City-states self-governing city that also
governs nearby villages.
SUMER

• - Walls around each city-state protected the
  citizens from outside invaders.

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The Growth of Cities
SUMER

• - 12 city-states run by a group of citizens and a
  chosen leader.

- Were war-like people who always attacked each
other.
- Each city-state had a marketplace, temples, and
houses.
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Division of Labor
SUMER

• - Skilled workers copper, stone, pottery,
  weaving leather.

- Leaders and managers, traders, merchants, boat
builders.
- Priests and priestesses.
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Inventions
SUMER

• - Land measurement called IQU now called an
  acre.

- Grain measurement developed the quart as
standard.
- Time measurement based on the number 60.
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Inventions
SUMER

• - Writing started history by being able to
  record things.

- Put marks in clay and then baked them to make
them hard.
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SUMER

• Pictograms simple pictures of common things.
  (cattle, grain, people)

Cuneiform the first true writing.
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Cuneiform
SUMER

• - Allowed civilizations to record laws, customs,
  history, and make education possible, improve
  business, and helped religion grow.

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Scribe after 12 years of studying, a student
would become an official writer.
SUMER
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Polytheism belief in many gods and goddesses.
SUMER
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Ziggurat temple where Sumarians would worship,
some were 6 to 7 stories high.
SUMER
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Society in Sumer
SUMER

• - Society was made of different classes.

- Nobles were the wealthiest class, they owned
all of the land.
- Some nobles were relatives of the king and
priests.
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Society in Sumer
SUMER

• - Most people were commoners.

- Commoners were merchants, scribes, farmers,
skilled workers.
- Commoners could become wealthy by buying land.
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Society in Sumer
SUMER

• - Clients were the 3rd class of people in Sumer.

- Clients were people who worked for nobles or
priests.
- They were sometimes given land to work on, but
not own.
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Society in Sumer
SUMER

• - Slaves were the 4th and lowest class in Sumer.

- Most slaves were prisoners of war, some were
slaves due to punishment.
- Slaves could buy freedom if they could earn or
borrow money.
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Empire a group or lands of people ruled by one
government
SUMER
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Babylonians ruled Mesopotamia from 1900 to 1700
B.C.E.
BABYLON
Hammurabi the greatest Babylonian King.
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- Hammurabi built dams across the Euphrates River
giving him power to control the rivers water
flow.
BABYLON
- This included floods droughts.
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Code of Law written collection of laws that
apply to the people ruled by one government.
BABYLON
- This was Hammurabis greatest accomplishment.
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The Code of Law covered
BABYLON
- Criminal laws
- Rules for business
- Trade
- Banking
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The Code of Law covered
BABYLON
- Land ownership
- Military Service
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Nile River was the river that ran through the
Egyptians land.
EGYPT
- Egyptians depended on the flooding of the river
so that there could be rich crops.
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Nile River was the river that ran through the
Egyptians land.
EGYPT
- The Nile is the worlds longest river. It
flows over 4000 miles.
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Calendar split into 12 months, based on the
rising and setting of the moon.
EGYPT
- The Egyptians created the calendar so that they
knew when the river was going to flood.
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- The flooding of the Nile began in May and ended
in September due to heavy rains.
EGYPT
- Sometimes too much water meant flooding of the
villages.
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- The water from the rains was poured into
ditches which carried it to the fields.
EGYPT
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Annual Flooding
EGYPT

• Inundation May through September.

- River is flooding.
- People are free to work on building projects.
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Annual Flooding
EGYPT

• Emergence September to February.

- Water returns to the river.
- People trap water in ponds and plant seeds in
mud.
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Annual Flooding
EGYPT

• Drought February to May.

- River is normal.
- People harvest their crops.
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The Gift of The Nile
EGYPT

• - Silt left behind by the water.

- Left a strip of land that was rich farming soil.
- Could have been 5 to 15 miles wide.
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The Pharaoh
EGYPT

• Pharaoh ruler of Egypt who lived in a great
  palace.

- Had great power, expected to rule fairly.
- Were worshipped as a god.
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The Pharaoh
EGYPT

• - Had nobles and officials to help.

- Collected taxes, planned building projects,
enforced laws.
Menes was the first Pharaoh.
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Religious Beliefs
EGYPT

• - Each village worshipped its own god.

- Gods often pictured as animals.
Re first god recognized by all Egyptians, he
was the Sun God.
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A Surplus of Food
EGYPT

• - Surplus of wheat, barley, and dates used for
  trade.

- Mediterranean coast-traded for cedar and pine
timber. used for boats and furniture
- African coast- traded for ivory, ebony, pet
monkeys.
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Arts and Crafts
EGYPT

• Skilled workers of copper and gold.

- Used a potters wheel.
Other skilled workers carpenters jewelry
makers linen weavers builders
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Love of Life
EGYPT

• - Acrobats and musicians

- Liked to look beautiful rubbed oil in
skin wore make up men and women wore
jewelry
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Egyptian Writing
EGYPT

• Hieroglyphics - (sacred writing) picture
  writing.

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Egyptian Writing
EGYPT

• - Scribes were important people

Officials Tax collectors Engineers
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Egyptian Writing
EGYPT

• - Recorded on stone, walls, and paper.

- Used sharp reeds as pens.
- Made ink from soot, ground plants, and water.
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The Old Kingdom
EGYPT

• - 2700 to 2200 B.C.E.

- Age of Pyramids.
Imhotep advisor to the Pharoah, first to become
famous without being king. - Designed 1st
pyramid
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Building Pyramids
EGYPT

• Pyramids were built as tombs, or burial places,
  for the pharaohs.

- 1st pyramid was built for Pharaoh Zoser.
Mummification preserving the bodies of the dead
with spices and minerals. - The mummies were
then put in elaborate wooden boxes.
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Building Pyramids
EGYPT

• - About 80 pyramids were built in the valley of
  Giza.

- The Great Pyramid was built in 2600 B.C.E.
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The Great Sphinx
EGYPT

• The Great Sphinx was another great building.
• - It has the body of a lion.
• - It has the head of a man.
• - 66 ft. high.
• - Forearm extends 187 ft.

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The Great Sphinx
EGYPT
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Mummies
EGYPT

• After being buried, bodies started to decay, so
  the Egyptians started mummification
• - process took 70 days
• - washed body, then applied oils
• - removed the brain
• - removed organs
• - put organs in jars

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Mummies
EGYPT

• - Then body was again washed and filled with salt
• - Body was then covered in salt and left for 40
  days
• - Decorated body with jewels and dyes
• - Wrapped in linen
• - Mask placed over head
• - Funeral ceremony

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The Middle Kingdom
EGYPT

• 2050 - 1850 B.C.E.

- A rise in the middle class (there were neither
nobles nor peasants)
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The Middle Kingdom
EGYPT

• Types of jobs in the middle class
• - scribes
• - traders
• - government workers
• - land owners

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The Middle Kingdom
EGYPT

• The Capital was Thebes
• - constructed a temple for the chief god of
  Thebes named Amon.

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The New Kingdom
EGYPT

• 1750 - 1090 B.C.E.

- Empire included Syria, Palestine, Nubia.
- Did not build pyramids, tried to protect
pyramids from grave robbers.
- Built monuments and temples instead.
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The New Kingdom
EGYPT

• - Pharaoh Ahkenaton and Queen Nefertiti angered
  Egyptian priests at this time because they forbid
  worshipping Amon, the chief god of the previous
  pharaoh.

- They practiced monotheism, the worship of only
one god.
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The New Kingdom
EGYPT

• Ramses II was the last strong Pharaoh

- He ruled for 67 years - He was wise and
powerful, but the kingdom collapsed about 100
years after his death - This empire was followed
by many small kingdoms
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Indus River begins in the snow covered
mountains and flows southwest into the Arabian
Sea.
INDUS VALLEY
- There the Indus Valley civilization was birthed
around 3000 BCE and lasted until 1500 BCE.
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Subcontinent large landmass that is
geographically separated from the rest of the
continent.
INDUS VALLEY
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Himalaya mountains that separate the Indian
subcontinent from the rest of Asia.
INDUS VALLEY
- Mount Everest is the highest peak at 29,035
feet high.
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Harappa archeologists discovered this city in
1921 and most of the Indus Valley civilization
lived here.
INDUS VALLEY
- This city lasted around 1000 years.
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Mojenho-Daro city discovered by archaeologists
that was around 400 miles south of Harappa.
INDUS VALLEY
- Mojenho-Daro means Mound of the Dead
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INDUS VALLEY
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Citadel strong fortress that stood at the end
of Mojenho-Daro.
INDUS VALLEY
- The Citadel was surrounded by thick walls that
to protect against enemies
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HOMES
INDUS VALLEY
- Houses were one or two stories high, made of
baked brick, with flat roofs, and were just about
identical. Each was built around a courtyard,
with windows overlooking the courtyard.
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HOMES
INDUS VALLEY
- The outside walls had no windows. Each home had
its own private drinking well and its own private
bathroom. Clay pipes led from the bathrooms to
sewers located under the streets. These sewers
drained into nearby rivers and streams.
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CLOTHING
INDUS VALLEY
- Men and women dressed in colorful robes. Women
wore jewelry of gold and precious stone, and even
wore lipstick! Among the treasures found was a
statue of a woman wearing a bracelet. (Bracelets
with similar designs are worn today in India.) .
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ENTERTAINMENT
INDUS VALLEY
- A beautiful small bronze statue of a dancer was
found, which tells us that they enjoyed dance and
had great skill working with metals.
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ENTERTAINMENT
INDUS VALLEY
- In the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro, scientists
have found the remains of a large central pool,
with steps leading down at both ends. This could
have been a public swimming pool, or perhaps have
been used for religious ceremonies.
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ENTERTAINMENT
INDUS VALLEY
- Around this large central pool were smaller
rooms, that might have dressing rooms, and
smaller pools that might have been private baths.
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SUBCONTINENT OF ASIA
INDUS VALLEY
- The Indian subcontinent is part of a tectonic
plate that has been moving for more than 200
million years.
-The plate was once attached to Africa, Australia
and Antarctica. It separated and collided with
Asia 50 million years ago.
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HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS
INDUS VALLEY
- The Himalayas are the worlds tallest
mountains, towering more than five miles above
sea level. Himalaya means Home of Snow because
the tallest peaks of the Himalayas are always
capped with snow.
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HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS
INDUS VALLEY
- No plant life grows near the mountains peak
due to powerful winds, extremely cold
temperatures, and a lack of oxygen. Many
adventurous people attempt to climb Everest every
year.
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THE CASTE SYSTEM
INDUS VALLEY
- About 1500 BCE, powerful nomadic warriors known
as Aryans appeared in northern India. The
warriors were from Central Asia, but managed to
overcome the Himalayas by finding lower passes in
the mountains.
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THE CASTE SYSTEM
INDUS VALLEY

• The Aryans divided their society into separate
  castes. Castes - were unchanging groups. - A
  person born into one caste never changed castes
  or mixed with members of other castes. Caste
  members lived, ate, married, and worked with
  their own group.

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THE CASTE SYSTEM
INDUS VALLEY
- At the top of the caste system were the Brahmin
the priests, teachers, and judges. -Next came
the Kshatriya, the warrior caste. -The Vaisya -
were the farmers and merchants-Sudras - were
craft workers and laborers.
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THE CASTE SYSTEM
INDUS VALLEY
The Untouchables were the outcastes, or people
beyond the caste system. - Any job that involved
ending a life, such as fishing.- Killing or
disposing of dead cattle or working with their
hides.- Any contact with human emissions such
as sweat, urine, or feces. This included
occupational groups such as sweepers and washer
men.
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MONSOONS
INDUS VALLEY
Monsoons - are strong, often violent winds that
change direction with the season. - Monsoon
winds blow from cold to warm regions because
cold air takes up more space than warm air.
- Monsoons blow from the land toward the sea
in winter, and from the sea toward land in the
summer.
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MONSOONS
INDUS VALLEY
- Indias winters are hot and dry. - The
monsoon winds blow from the northeast and carry
little moisture. - The temperature is high
because the Himalayas form a barrier that
prevents cold air from passing onto the
subcontinent.
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MONSOONS
INDUS VALLEY

• The summer monsoons roar onto the subcontinent
  from the southwest.- The winds carry moisture
  from the Indian Ocean and bring heavy rains from
  June to September.- The torrential rainstorms
  often cause violent landslides.

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The End of the Indus Valley Civilization
INDUS VALLEY

• We dont know what happened to the Indus River
  Valley civilization. It seems to have been
  abandoned about 1500 B.C.E. - It is possible
  that a great flood weakened the civilization.
  - The moving tectonic plates that created the
  Himalayas may have caused a devastating
  earthquake. - It is also possible that the
  people may have been defeated by another
  culture.

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Huang Ho In English it is known as Yellow
River.
HUANG HO
- gets its name from the extremely high volume
of windblown silt called loess, which is
dusty, yellow soil
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Huang Ho is also known as Chinas Sorrow
HUANG HO
- It is called this because of the flooding
that has killed thousands of people who lived
along the banks.
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- The floods have also caused famines.
HUANG HO
Famine wide spread shortages of food.
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Shang Kingdom Chinas first dynasty
HUANG HO
Dynasty a line of rulers who belong to the
same family
- The Shang dynasty shaped the lives of people
living along the Huang Ho.
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SHANG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
HUANG HO
- Believed their gods controlled nature and their
ancestors lived in another world but had power
over life.
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SHANG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
HUANG HO
- The highest gods were the nature spirits. This
included wind, earth, river, thunder gods.
- Next came the gods who were linked to specific
natural features such as the god of the Huang
River
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SHANG DYNASTY
HUANG HO
- The Shang rulers were able to create new towns
by giving land to relatives.
- The towns provided food, clothing, and soldiers
for the Shang rulers.
- Prisoners taken in war were forced into slavery.
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SHANG DYNASTY
HUANG HO
- Near the end of the dynasty, the capital was
destroyed by invaders.
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SHANG CULTURE
HUANG HO
- The earliest Shang writing looked much like
Cuneiform. (pictures)
- Symbols could also stand for ideas and objects.
- The writing has been found on bronze pots and
stone.
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SHANG CULTURE
HUANG HO
- Some writing was found on sheep and cattle
bones.
- They called these bones Oracle Bones.
- The priests thought that these bones answered
questions about the future.
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Oracle Bone
HUANG HO
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Zhou 3000 years ago, under their king Wuwang,
they defeated the Shang army and established a
new dynasty in the Huang Ho valley.
HUANG HO
- The Zhou dynasty has been called Chinas
Classic Age because of its great growth.
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- The Zhou were also known for their creativity.
HUANG HO
- The five books that formed the basis of
Chinese literary style, were written at this
time.
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- The Five Books were
HUANG HO
- Book of Poetry (songs) - Book of History -
Spring of Autumn Annals - Book of Changes -
Book of Rituals
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- The Zhou had the idea that they had the right
to start a new dynasty because of the Mandate of
Heaven.
HUANG HO
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Mandate of Heaven governments may rule so long
as they do so fairly, benefiting the people, and
performing the proper religious duties. The most
important duty is to honor your parents and
ancestors.
HUANG HO
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- The Zhou claimed that the last Shang king had
been an evil man.
HUANG HO
- Therefore, the Mandate of Heaven had removed
him and given power to Wuwang.
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- Wuwang died soon after his conquest of the
Shang, his brother Duke of Zhou took over.
HUANG HO
- Wuwang had an infant son, who was to be king,
so the Duke of Zhou led the dynasty until he was
old enough
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- The Duke of Zhou is remembered as a great
Chinese hero and an example of great leadership.
HUANG HO
- He defeated a rebellion by the Shang and also
defended the kingdom from attacks from the east.
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- Zhou rule lasted for around 200 years, and was
followed by a period of warfare called Warring
States Period.
HUANG HO
- A man named Confucius lived during this time,
he united China and made the country strong with
his leadership.