Post on 16-Dec-2015
transcript
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA- “THE LAND BETWEEN TWO RIVERS”
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA- DEFINITIONSCITY STATES- self-governing unit made
up of a city and its surrounding villages and farmland.
Monotheism: worshiping one god.“Mono” – means one
Polytheism: worshiping many gods.“Poly” – means many
GEOGRAPHY
Located between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Present-day Iraq
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA- GEOGRAPHYPOSITIVE abundant amount
of clayeasy till-able soilwater supply from
Tigris-Euphrates Rivers
NEGATIVEfew natural
resourcesminimal protection
from deserts and mountains
Settled around 3500 BCEDivided into city-states ---WHY??Region developed first forms of poly - and
monotheismCreated one of the earliest forms of
writing
Basic Facts:
SOCIAL
What do you know about the social aspects of Mesopotamian society?Social hierarchy: kings, priests, nobility,
merchants, farmers, slavesSlaves - POWWomen: unequal to men; men own and inherit
land
POLITICAL ASPECTS OF MESOPOTAMIA
City-States
Always in constant conflict over water and land rights
Created walls for protection, with moats along the outside
Farms located along the outside of the city
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi - King of Babylon (r. 1792-1750 BCE)
282 laws.Based on equal
retaliation.Laws were varied
for the wealthy and powerful.
Intellectual Contributions:
WheelTime – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in
a minute12 month lunar calendararchramp
Religion
Polytheistic; gods based on nature; vengeful
Ziggurats: pyramid site of the temple of the main gods.Each city-state had their own
gods and goddessesSun god – most important.
Life after death was an extension of life.
Ziggurat – Holy Mountain
ECONOMY
Make, sell or barter goods.Trade helped expansion.Development of money will evolve over
time.
RICHgovernment officialsreligious leaderstraders
POORFarmerscraftsman
Trade
Before You Leave…
How do the primary sources read in class (Hammurabi’s Code, Gilgamesh and Genesis) illuminate aspects of Mesopotamian culture, society and politics?
Write 1-2 paragraphs – in complete sentences!
River Valley Civilizations:Egypt, Indus Valley and
Shang China
Unit 1
Foundations, 8000 BCE – 600 CE
AP World History
Objective
To identify the major social, political, cultural and economic features of the Egyptian, Indus and Chinese early civilizations
To compare these features to those of all river valley civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India)
To create a foundation upon which to study the Classical Civilizations (China, India, Greece, Rome)
Foundation and Geography
Egypt 3100 BCE – 343
BCE Unified by King
Menes Nile River Sahara DesertShang China
1750 – 1027 BCE Yellow River (loess – fertile soil) Isolated b/c of Gobi desert and
Himalayan Mountains and Mongolian Plateau
Very Hot and Dry
Indus Valley 2500-1500 BCE Current day northern India
and Pakistan Indus River – irregular; had
to build flood barriers Khyber Pass
Social Aspects of River Valley Civilizations
Egypt Social structure similar to
Mesopotamia Tax collection heaviest on
lower classes Slaves – POW Women had most rights here
– own property, businesses, no formal education; informally involved in politics
Indus Valley Unknown class structure b/c
can’t read writing Merchants at top of social
structure Female goddesses worshipped
so women may be treated better than in China and Mesopotamia; several fertility goddess statutes found
Eventually gives way to caste system
ChinaLow social mobilityFew slaves – not as many
as M. or E. – WHY?Peasants not much better
than slavesPalaces for the emperor;
dependent on military to help run gov’t so they were given many gifts
Strong patriarchal – infanticide
PoliticalChina
Dynastic cycles Kings are descendants or
links to gods King = priest Isolated towns and villages Centralized Government
Egypt Pharaoh Very strong army focused
on expansion of territory and economy (gold, silver, etc) – given to Pharaoh as tribute
Slaves = POW Priests and Nobles help P.
manage empire = Bureaucracy
Dynastic Cycles Few Female Rulers Centralized Government
Indus Valley No palaces found in ruins Businessmen, Craftsmen and
Farmers provided organization and justice for civilization
Unified; centralized government Two major cities: Harappa and
Mohenjo-Daro
Interactions
Mesopotamians trade with IndiaEgyptians trade with Mesopotamia, Nubia
and KushChina stays isolated by geography and
choiceIndus Valley – destroyed by natural
disaster or invasion (Indo-Europeans)Slavery – direct result of warfareInteractions b/w Hebrews and Egyptians
Cultural
Egypt Polytheistic, strong belief in afterlife;
mummification Hieroglyphics (Rosetta Stone) Architecture – Pyramids; Sphinx;
Valley of the Tombs; Imhotep Strong collection of literature, songs,
poetry Egyptian Book of the Dead;
Hymn to Aton Calendar Math = created system of 10 and
geometry Astronomy Knowledge of medicine – first heart
surgeries
India Polytheistic (nature goddess) Public bathing pools Unable to translate writing Complex City Organization =
grid formation Advanced Drainage system Indoor plumbing Wheels for transportation Bronze tools and weapons
China Mandate of Heaven Middle Kingdom Worshipped ancestors and nature
gods Oracle bones – early form of writing;
at least 2000 characters or symbols Walled cities Silk clothes; jade and bone jewelry
Economics
All civilizations dependent on agriculture for economic gain
Some specialization of labor b/c of surplus of foodCloth, pottery, jewelryArchitects – Egypt
Egypt trades a great deal – Mediterranean World; Nubia and Kush (to South)
Merchants – looked down upon by Chinese
Questions –Write a 1-2 paragraph response. Complete Sentences
How does geography play a role in the development of a civilization? Use examples from Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China to support your response
What are some things that are similar throughout all 4 (or most of the 4)? Why?
Due Tomorrow (9/1)