Tigris River Mediterranean Sea Nile River Delta Egyptian Civilization Lower Nile River Upper Nile River

Euphrates River

Mesopotamian Civilization

3A #1

Nubian Civilization

Phoenician Civilization

Jerusalem Jordan River Valley Hebrew Civilization

The Fertile Crescent is an area of arable land

3A #1

Indian Civilization

Chinese Civilization

Huang He River
Indus River

3A #1

3A #1

2. Give 2 reasons why river valleys are good places to grow crops. Fertile Soil from flooding/alluvial soil Fresh water 3. How could living near a river be dangerous? Destruction from flooding 4. How did deserts and mountains prevent people from invading the ancient civilizations of Egypt, India, and China? Deserts and mountains serve as natural barriers that separated people on either side. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: 1. Why did ancient civilizations develop in river valleys? River valleys provided arable land and some offered protection form invaders. 2. Where were the earliest civilizations located? Ancient civilizations were located in river valleys.

3. When did these civilizations exist? Mesopotamia was the first civilization to develop in 3500 B.C.E. Many others developed over the next three thousand years.

3A

Social Patterns in Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Dynasties of GodKings/Pharaohs Ruling families governed theocracies.

Commoners Many people were farmers or artisans.

Slaves People who owed debts or were prisoners of war were owned. Not based on race. The practice was widely accepted.

3B #1

Percent of Population

Political Power

Wealthy Merchants A small number of people grew rich from trade.

Development of Political Patterns in Ancient River Valley Civilizations

CityState
A city and the surrounding territory controlled by one government.

Kingdom
Several citystates & regions controlled by one government.

Empire
A political unit in which a number of people/countries are controlled by 1 ruler.

Smaller than a kingdom or empire.

3B #2

Larger than a city-state, but smaller than an empire.

Larger than a city-state or kingdom.

3. Define centralized government. A government in which one authority rules over many local governments. 4. Define theocracy. A government in which the ruler is viewed as a divine figure. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

1. What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of early civilizations? Strict, rigid social structure Governments: city-states, kingdoms, and empires Economy: increase in metallurgy, food, technology, trade, 3B & slavery.

Use of metals such as bronze & iron in tools & weapons Better tools, plows, & irrigation ditches

Strong metals allowed for more durable weapons & tools. Civilizations who had these were superior in strength & wealth.

Improved agricultural techniques created larger food surpluses & larger populations.

Increasing trade along rivers and by sea (Phoenicians) Development of the worlds first cities

The Phoenicians & others profited from trade instead of agriculture.

Larger populations created population centers or city-states. People who were prisoners of war or owed a debt became slaves. Slavery was accepted in all ancient civilizations.

3B #5

Development of slavery

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What religious traditions developed in ancient civilizations?

Religious Traditions of Ancient Civilizations

Polytheism Belief in many gods.

Egyptia n Indian Chinese Phoenic ian Nubian

Monotheism Belief in 1 god.

Mesopo tamian

Hebrew

3C

Basics of Judaism
Description Number of Gods Founder Holy City Holy Book Rules/Moral Code Exodus Prophet Picture

Abraham
Jerusalem Torah
Ten Commandments

Moses

3D #1

2. Define exile. Being forced to leave ones homeland. 3. Define diaspora. The scattering of Jewish communities throughout the world.

4. Where did Judaism originate and how did it spread throughout the world? Judaism originated in Southwest Asia (Jerusalem). Numerous exiles resulted in scattered communities of Jews throughout the world.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: 1. What were the essential beliefs of Judaism? Jews believe in one God and many prophets. Their history is in the Torah. They live by the Ten Commandments.

2. How did Judaism influence Western civilization? Numerous exiles resulted in scattered communities of Jews throughout Europe and the Americas. Christianity, the dominant religion of Western Civilization, originated from Judaism.

3D

Essential Question: 1. What forms of language and writing existed in early civilizations?

Written Languages of Ancient Civilizations

Pictograms language that uses pictures/symbols to represent ideas

Alphabet language that uses letters to represent different sounds

Hieroglyphics created by Egyptians

Cuneiform (first writing system) created by Mesopotamians

Created by Phoenicians

3E