Early River Valley

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QUIT
Early River Valley Civilizations, 3500 B.C.450
B.C.
Chapter Overview
Time Line
City-States in Mesopotamia
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SECTION
MAP
Pyramids on the Nile
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SECTION
Planned Cities on the Indus
3
SECTION
River Dynasties in China
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SECTION
Visual Summary
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Early River Valley Civilizations, 3500 B.C.450
B.C.
The river valley civilizations develop from small
farming villages. The civilizations create laws,
centralized governments, writing systems, and
advanced technologies. The process of trade
spreads new ideas to and from these
civilizations.
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Early River Valley Civilizations, 3500 B.C.450
B.C.
Time Line
3000 B.C. City-states form in Sumer, Mesopotamia.
1792 B.C. Hammurabi develops code of laws for
Babylonian Empire.
1027 B.C. Zhou dynasty forms in China.
450 B.C.
3500 B.C.
2660 B.C. Egypts Old Kingdom develops.
1550 B.C. Indus Valley civilization declines.
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City-States in Mesopotamia
MAP
Key Idea
Working together to overcome environmental
challenges leads to the development of
centralized government and cities in Mesopotamia.
The Sumerian civilization influences later
civilizations.
Overview
Assessment
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City-States in Mesopotamia
MAP
Overview
Fertile Crescent silt irrigation
city-state dynasty cultural diffusion
polytheism empire Hammurabi
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The development of this civilization reflects a
pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout
history.
The earliest civilization in Asia arose in
Mesopotamia and organized into city-states.
Assessment
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City-States in Mesopotamia
MAP
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List three environmental challenges the
Sumerians faced and their solutions to these
challenges.
unpredictable flooding
irrigation
defenselessness
walled cities
trade
limited resources
continued . . .
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City-States in Mesopotamia
MAP
1
Section
Assessment
2. What advantages did living in cities offer the
people of ancient Mesopotamia? Do modern cities
offer any of the same advantages? THINK ABOUT
characteristics of Sumers city-states
characteristics of Sumers economy and society
development of organized government
ANSWER
Opportunity for wealth diversity of work
available government that promotes laws, manages
economy, and provides assistance better housing
city walls and armies for protection proximity
to temple more social contact. Cities today
offer many of these advantages.
Possible Responses
continued . . .
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City-States in Mesopotamia
MAP
1
Section
Assessment
3. Do you think that living in a river valley
with little rainfall helped or hurt the
development of civilization in Mesopotamia?
Explain your response.
ANSWER
It helped, because the Sumerians had to develop
the technology and organization to get water to
the fields. This led to the development of
organized government.
Possible Response
End of Section 1
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Pyramids on the Nile
Key Idea
Egyptian civilization develops along the Nile
River. Upper and lower Egypt are united into a
kingdom and ruled by pharaohs, who are believed
to be gods. Egyptian customs for preparing and
burying the bodies of the dead include
mummification and burying pharaohs in pyramids.
Overview
Assessment
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Pyramids on the Nile
Overview
cataract delta Menes pharaoh theocracy
pyramid mummification hieroglyphics
papyrus
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Along the Nile River, civilization emerged in
Egypt and became united into a kingdom ruled by
pharaohs.
Many of the monuments built by the Egyptians
stand as a testament to their ancient
civilization.
Assessment
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Pyramids on the Nile
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. Give four examples of Egyptian
achievements.
Mummification
Pyramids
Hieroglyphics
Written numbers
Advances in medicine
Calendar
continued . . .
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Pyramids on the Nile
2
Section
Assessment
2. Three natural features determined the
boundaries of ancient Egyptian civilization the
Nile River, the First Cataract, and the
surrounding desert. In your judgment, which of
these features was most important to Egypts
history?
ANSWER

• The Nile Riverit provided fertile soil, a
  predictable growing season, and easy
  transportation within Egypt.
• The First Cataractit presented an obstacle to
  trade and communication with peoples on the
  upper Nile.
• The desertsthey limited outside contact but also
  prevented invasions.

Possible Responses
End of Section 2
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Planned Cities on the Indus
Key Idea
The Indus Valley people build planned cities with
sophisticated sewage and plumbing systems.
Archaeological evidence suggests the Indus
civilization is stable and prosperous. Indus
Valley culture ends mysteriously.
Overview
Assessment
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Planned Cities on the Indus
Overview
subcontinent monsoon
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The first Indian civilization built well-planned
cities on the banks of the Indus River.
The culture of India today has its roots in the
civilization of the early Indus cities.
Assessment
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Planned Cities on the Indus
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Section
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List the environmental conditions faced
by the people of the Indus Valley. For each one,
explain whether the condition was a benefit or a
drawback.
(-) too little rain (-) too much rain
monsoons
() spread deposits of rich soil over wide
area (-) unpredictable
floods
high mountains
() natural barrier helped protect against
invasion
large desert
() natural barrier helped protect against
invasion
continued . . .
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Planned Cities on the Indus
3
Section
Assessment
2. What evidence has led historians to the
following beliefs about Indus civilization? (a)
The cities were run by a strong central
government. (b) Indus people carried on trade
with Sumer. (c) Society was generally peaceful
and stable.
ANSWER
(a) Planned cities, uniform buildings, sanitation
systems (b) Indus seals found in Mesopotamia
(c) Uniform housing, childrens toys, few
weapons
End of Section 3
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River Dynasties in China
Key Idea
Ancient Chinese civilization is ruled by powerful
family dynasties. Just rulers are believed to
have divine approval. In Chinese culture, family
is central to society and religion. Improvements
are made in technology and trade. Feudalism is
established.
Overview
Assessment
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River Dynasties in China
Overview
loess oracle bone Mandate of Heaven
dynastic cycle feudalism
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The early rulers introduced ideas about
government and society that shaped Chinese
civilization.
The culture that took root during ancient times
still affects Chinese ways of life today.
Assessment
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River Dynasties in China
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Section
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List the major developments in the
early Chinese dynasties.
Xia is the first Chinese dynasty.
Shang develop writing.
Zhou are first to control by feudalism.
Shang develop first cities.
Zhou claim Mandate of Heaven.
continued . . .
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River Dynasties in China
4
Section
Assessment
2. The group was often more important than the
individual in Chinese culture. In your judgment,
what are the benefits and drawbacks of this
belief? THINK ABOUT
family roles
the characteristics of a ruler
role of spirit gods
ANSWER

• Benefitsfamily cares for elderly, less
  government money spent on social programs,
  respect for deceased family members/gods
• Drawbacksless time for individuals to pursue
  interests, difficult to break away when family or
  ruler is unjust

Possible Responses
continued . . .
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River Dynasties in China
4
Section
Assessment
3. Do you think that the Zhou Dynastys downfall
resulted because of their method of control? Why
or why not? THINK ABOUT
feudalism
the large division of rich and poor
the vast controlled lands
the noble-king relationship
ANSWER
Possible Responses

• Yesgreat distance between ruler and ruled, lords
  were greedy, chaotic warfare
• Nothe Zhou ruled successfully for 300 years.
  Their downfall wasnt because of feudalism but
  because invaders killed the backbone of the
  dynasty, the Zhou monarchy.

End of Section 4