The Origins of the Civilization of Egypt and Mesopotamia Flashcards
What characterized the rise of these civilizations just before 3000 BC?
increasing urbanization, birth of states, invention of writing
Neolithic period/revolution
use of stone tools
rainfall agriculture
use of rain to grow crops
(natural and artificial) irrigation agriculture
use of irrigation to grow crops (floods, human-made channels)
focus shifted to other areas in addition to food production. What was the result?
people started to specialize in all kinds of arts and crafts. civil service and priesthood emerged
where were the most powerful cities located?
banks of big rivers (Nile, Euphrates, Tigris)
cuneiform script
used in Mesopotamia
hieroglyphic script
used in Egypt
sedentary way of life
dealt with growing crops, agriculturalists stayed stationary in one area
nomadic way of life
dealt with herding and animal growing, nomads moved from pasture to pasture after their herds
transhumance
seasonal migration of people
transition from arable land to desert was…
abrupt in Egypt, more gradual in Mesopotamia
accessibility to the areas
Egypt was more isolated, whereas Mesopotamia was accessible from every side
