Chapter 1- Presentation Notes Flashcards
Things all River Valley civilizations have in common
- by water
- had water problems
- government
- polytheistic
- displayed all 5 traits
- adapted to life where they lived
Mesopotamia environmental problems
- exposed
- flooding
- lack of resources
Mesopotamia solutions to environmental problems
Flooding- irrgiation
Exposed-built mad brick walls
Lack of resources-trade
Mesopotamia region
- oldest civilization
- Middle East
City states
Common culture with own ruler and independent government
Ziggurat
Temple, most important religious and government building
What religion did mesopotamia have
Polytheistic (many gods)
What type of writing did Mesopotamia have
Cuneiform
Mesopotamia 5 key traits
Adv. cities- they had people, buildings like the ziggurat and traded resources
Adv. technology-wheel, plow, irrigation
Complex institutions- polytheistic religion, had a government
Record keeping-cuneiform
Specialized workers-potters, artists, ruler
Babylonians
Famous king-Hammurabi- created Hammurabi's code -1st written law code -Harsh -Government responsibility -Applied to everyone, but not equally Capital-Babylonia
The Nile
Nile=life
- worshipped as a god
- predictable flooding
- unified through travel
Egyptian Desert
Desert=Death
-isolated and protected
Pharoah
God king -> theocracy
Theocracy
Government and religion as 1
Pyramids
Tomb for pharaoh
Hieroglyfs
Writing
Papyrus
Paper
Calender
Developed by Egyptians. 30 days per month 365 days per year
Math and geometry
Developed by Egyptians
Harappan river
Granges and Indus-floods were common
Egyptian river
Nile river
Mesopotamian river
Tigris and Euphrates
What were the Harappans known for
- City planning
- plumbing
- man-made islands
- oven-baked bricks
Harappan language
-Still not translated
Harappan culture
- Uniform
- no classes
- Toys-> had leisure time and wealth
Trade in Harappa
Trade-plentiful
China rivers
Yellow and Yangtze rivers: river floods
What was China isolated by
Gobi desert, Seas, Mountains=Himalayas, Plateaus=Tibet
China Environmental Challenges
Flooding, isolation for trade, but vulnerable to attack, only 10% of the land is farmable
China settlements
- Shang cities were built of wood
- Surrounded by massive earthen walls
China social classes
Nobels
Peasants
Role of family in china
- family was central importance
- patriarchal or male dominiated
China religious beliefs
- polytheistic
- used oracle bones
- mandate of heaven
Mandate of heaven
Leaders of ancient china intertwined religion and government and called it mandate of heaven. Dynasty families were placed in positions if power by the gods and when dynasty ended, it was because the gods wanted it to end
China tech advances
Roads, canals,coined money, iron
