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SSWH 1 PresentationAncient World
The Beginning of Civilization
What makes a civilization?1. Centralized Government2. Organized Religion3. Job Specialization/ Social Classes4. Arts, Architecture, Technology5. Infrastructure6. Writing
SSWH1
Analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of societies in the ancient
world from 3500 BCE/BC to 500 BCE/BC.
A.
Compare and contrast Mesopotamian and Egyptian societies, include: religion,
culture, economics, politics, and technology.
3000 BC - City-states form in Sumer, Mesopotamia
2500 BC - Sumerian metalworkers produce bronze spearheads
2350 BC - Sargon defeats the city-states of Sumer
2000 BC - Babylonian empire begins to develop in Mesopotamia
1792 BC - Hammurabi begins to develop code of laws for Babylonian Empire
Why are the Mesopotamians so important?
It is known as the “Cradle of Civilization” because it was first in many things:● First to invent the wheel● First to use sails on boats● One of first to make up a story (Gilgamesh)● First to use cuneiform (writing)● First to use the calendar● First to use the seeder plow● First to give a number place value and recognize the concept of
zero
Mesopotamia Geography● Mesopotamia means between the
rivers● Located between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers ○ hot dry climate mixed with
seasonal flooding from the rivers
● Extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf
● Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraq
Mesopotamia Geography
● Considered a River Valley Civilization○ The rivers would overflow,
leaving behind a rich black silt.
Very unpredictable - made it hard to determine when to plant
Sumerians believed when it flooded the gods were angry with them
Mesopotamia Agriculture● Farmers grew wheat, barley,
dates, and other items.● Farmers used irrigation & the
plow● Irrigation created a surplus of
food which led to the growth of cities
● Surplus led to a successful system of trade
● Used the rivers for food and trade
Writing
● first to use writing (around 3,000 BC)● cuneiform - wedge shaped symbols pressed
into clay tablets
What was it used for?● wrote myths and poems
○ most famous was the epic poem called Gilgamesh
● keep records of their transactions ● send messages to other lands without traveling● pass on their knowledge to future generations
Economy● Mesopotamia lacked resources
○ Traded to get metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, etc● At first, the Sumerians traded surplus for these goods
○ later they would develop manufactured goods
● Used the rivers for a trading system● created written contracts, loans and a credit
system● They used a barter system.
○ Traded one good for another● The ability to produce a surplus allowed for
specialization of work
Religion
● Mesopotamians were polytheistic ● Each town was protected by its own,
unique deity or god ● The temple, the center of worship, was also the center
of every city - ziggurats
● Mesopotamians had a very pessimistic view on life○ Tied to the rivers
overflowing and destroying so much
Religion
● wealth devoted to building temples● houses for the priests and priestesses● believed success of crops depended on the gods● believed Priest to be representative to the gods
Government
● laws varied from city state to city state
● After, King Hammurabi conquered the area and created Babylonia○ created written laws that everyone had
to follow ■ 282 laws
● the laws were written in stone (steele) and placed in a public location
● Based on “eye for an eye”
Hammurabi’s Code
“to promote the welfare of the people, make justice visible in the land, destroy the wicked person and the evil, in order that the
strong might not injure the weak.”
● placed all groups in the empire under one law● the intent was to provide a clear system to let all people know of the
laws● Parents arranged marriages, the two parties signed a marriage
contract ● protected women and children
Hammurabi’s Code● dealt with many aspects of daily life:
○ property rights○ Business○ professional services○ Crime○ Family and marriage
● Women still had fewer privileges and rights■ expressed the patriarchal nature of society
Social Organization & Daily Life
● The King held military powers. ● The Governors governed the
territories of the kingdom. ● The aristocracy were priests and
traders. ● The peasants worked the land.
Organization of the City
● Role of the city:○ Religious center (ziggurat)○ Political center (palace)○ Trading center (market)○ Storage for surplus food○ Walls served as defense for
citizens
Egyptian Geography
● The Red Lands○ Barren desert○ Created a
barrier around Egypt
○ Provided a source of precious metals and stones
● Land was viewed as divided into two areas:
● The Black Lands○ Was fertile due to
the black silt left behind after flooding
○ Used for growing crops
Egyptian Geography● The Nile
○ Flows northward○ Longest river in the
world○ Splits Egypt into
Upper and Lower Egypt
● ancient Egyptians lived along the Nile River because it is close to land that can grow crops.
● Benefits:○ Predictable yearly
flooding allowed farming settlements to grow
● Worshiped the river as a god b/c of its abundance
Egyptian Agriculture
● Egyptian society could not have been established without the Nile flooding
● Produced surplus of food● Hand plowed and oxen plowed
the fields● Use of irrigation● Grew wheat, barley, lettuce and
beans
Writing● Known as hieroglyphics - series of pictographs● Written on papyrus● Concept was brought to Egypt through trade with
Mesopotamia● Until the Rosetta Stone was discovered by
Napoleon’s army hieroglyphics could not be translated
What was it used for?● Original idea: provide the means to bring a
concept or event into existence● Began to be used for religious purposes● Eventually was used to record trade
Egyptian Economy● Based on farming and fishing● Taxes paid using agriculture● Used a barter system
● They used a barter system.○ Traded one good for another
● The ability to produce a surplus allowed for specialization of work
Egyptian Religion● Polytheistic● Egyptian Pharaoh = living god● Theocracy = rule based on religious
authority
● Pyramids - built to house the Pharaoh in the afterlife
● Egyptian religion provided a sense of stability
● There was no word for religion● It was an integral part of life
Egyptian Religion
● Religion provided explanations for the natural world● Belief in the afterlife● gods were divided into two categories, sun gods and earth gods● The government devoted enormous amounts of wealth to
temples and the gods
Egyptian Government
● God-King (Pharaoh)
● Upper Class of Nobles and Priests
● Merchants, Artisans, Scribes, and Tax Collectors (The Middle Class)
● Peasants – the largest number of people in Egypt simply worked the land
Social Organization & Daily Life
● Paternalistic society● However, women had a great many
freedoms● Optimistic society - saw their gods
as benevolent● Practiced many forms of
entertainment● houses were built from mud - cool
on the inside & had flat roofs so that in the summer time people could sleep on the tops of them
B.
Describe the societies of India and China, include: religion, culture,
economics, politics, and technology.
India
Where is India?
China
Where is China?
Religion
● Belief in supernatural forces● Priests would read oracle
bones● Belief in life after death● Ancestor worship
● Polytheistic● Religion was tied tightly to
everyday life● Theocratic rule● Vedic Religion - predecessor
to Hinduism● Four religious texts● Belief in the “cycle of life”
China India
Culture
● Some natural barriers● Higher classes lived in the city● Lower classes lived outside the
city● Constant conflict - warlike● The group is greater than the
individual● Family is central to society● Paternalistic
● Social division was not great● Prosperous society● Limited conflict - natural barriers● Paternalistic● Developed a written language● Planned cities - grid system● Around 1750BC culture began to
decline
China India
Economics
● Agricultural based society - most peasants were farmers
● Feudal system develops○ Peasants worked their lords
land inside the walled towns○ Peasant had small plots of
land outside the walls○ Merchants and artisans lived
inside the walled towns
● Thriving trade system● Indus River provided access to
the sea - long distance trading● Barter system● Grew cotton to make cloth● Trade began - 2600 BC● Unpredictability of monsoons
made it hard to farm effectively○ farms were located directly
connected to the Indus
China India
Politics
● City wall built to protect the city
● Constant conflict● Professional warriors● Farming society ruled by an
aristocracy● Central government (King)
with governors in charge of territories to help govern
● Strong central government● Citadel to protect the royal
family● City walls to protect the city● Belief in Karma● System of taxation
China India
Technology
● Flood control and irrigation products
● Mastery of bronze casting● Advances in farming
techniques○ Irrigation○ Plowshares
● Written language
● Use of sophisticated plumbing and sewage
● Advances in math● Made bricks to build structures● Used bronze● Constructed tools● Used a measuring system● Use of water storage
China India
C.
Explain the development of monotheism, include: the concepts developed by the
ancient Hebrews.
Bible History on How Hebrews Came to be...
● Abram lived with his father’s family in Ur but was ‘touched’ by a belief in God
● The king wanted to kill him - his family got out of there - met & married Sarai
● At age 75 God called on him to move south to the land of Canaan, which his descendants would inherit - so he got up and went
● They reached it - God reaffirmed his promise● At 86 with no son, Sarai offered her handmaid to Abram - got his
first son, Ishmael
Bible History on How Hebrews Came to be...
● 13 years later, God appeared, renewed his promise, changed their names, & told Abraham, Sarah was pregnant & that child, Isaac, would be the son of the covenant
● MANY MANY MANY years later descendants began to move into Egypt and eventually the Hebrews are taken as slaves for 400 years
● Moses shows up, plagues, parts the sea, leads the people out of Egypt and back to Canaan
● Received the Ten Commandments● Couple Hundred years later - the Hebrews unite to form the kingdom of
Israel
What did the Ancient Hebrews believe?
● That there was only one god● God had power over everyone and
would protect them● God gave them 10 Commandment to
obey● The Torah is the history of the
Hebrews
Key Facts about the Ancient Hebrews
● Judaism spread because of the forced movement of the Hebrews (Jews)
● First to practice monotheism● Abraham is the “Father of the
Jews”● Ancient Hebrew monotheism most
influenced current day Christianity
D.
Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture.
What
continent
is this?
▪ Africa: earliest ancestors of modern people
▪ all speaking languages derived from one language, Bantu
▪ Most closely associated with spreading of cultures in Africa
Located in Modern day Cameroon
▪ Primary reason for migrating was to find land for farming and grazing
▪ Farmers & ironworkers, their slash and burn style of farming forced them to move
▪ The Bantu cleared the land, then fertilized it with ashes. When the land could no longer support their families, the Bantu moved further south.
▪ stayed on the move to avoid conflict with local hunting and gathering societies
Located in Modern day Cameroon
▪ After hundreds of years, the Bantu settled in southern Africa - didn’t move north because the Sahara Desert blocked the movement
▪ settled near rivers and lakes for the ability to irrigate
▪ Bantu introduced settled agriculture to areas they passed through
▪ spread the use of iron (spread of technology)
▪ Bantu speakers spread their language and skills all throughout Africa
▪ African languages today have Bantu roots
E.
Explain the rise of the Olmecs.
Olmecs were located in Modern
Day Mexico.
Olmec (1200-400 BC)• One of the earliest civilization in
the Americas• Major City: La Venta
• First major civilization – in Mexico– to use ballgames in the
Americas– the first complex civilization in
Mesoamerica
Olmec (1200-400 BC)• One of the earliest complex
civilization in the Americas• Major City: La Venta• Settled along rivers with good
soil for agriculture• Farming led to the development
of towns• The Empire ended due to
changes in the soil which led to under production of crops