Ancient River Valley Civilizations
Map of Meopotamia
River valley civilizations (about 3500 to 500 b.c. [b.c.e.])
· Mesopotamian civilization: Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys (Southwest Asia)
· Egyptian civilization: Nile River Valley and Nile Delta (Africa)
· Indian civilization: Indus River Valley (South Asia)
· Chinese civilization: Huang He Valley (East Asia)
These river valleys offered rich soil and irrigation water for agriculture, and they tended to be in locations easily protected from invasion by nomadic peoples.
· Mesopotamian civilization: Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys (Southwest Asia)
· Egyptian civilization: Nile River Valley and Nile Delta (Africa)
· Indian civilization: Indus River Valley (South Asia)
· Chinese civilization: Huang He Valley (East Asia)
These river valleys offered rich soil and irrigation water for agriculture, and they tended to be in locations easily protected from invasion by nomadic peoples.
Other early civilizations (about 2000 to 500 b.c. [b.c.e.])
· Hebrews settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia).
· Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia).
· Nubia was located on the upper (southern) Nile River (Africa).
· Hebrews settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia).
· Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia).
· Nubia was located on the upper (southern) Nile River (Africa).
Social, Political, and Economic Patterns
King Tut, Pharaoh of Egypt
Development of social patterns
· Hereditary rulers: Dynasties (rulers from the same family) of kings, pharaohs
· Rigid class system where slavery was accepted
· Hereditary rulers: Dynasties (rulers from the same family) of kings, pharaohs
· Rigid class system where slavery was accepted
Development of political patterns
· World’s first states (i.e., city-states, kingdoms, empires)
· Centralized government, often based on religious authority
· Written law codes (e.g., Ten Commandments, Code of Hammurabi)
· World’s first states (i.e., city-states, kingdoms, empires)
· Centralized government, often based on religious authority
· Written law codes (e.g., Ten Commandments, Code of Hammurabi)
Development of economic patterns
· Use of metal (e.g., bronze, iron) tools and weapons · Increasing agricultural surplus: Better tools, plows, irrigation · Increasing trade along rivers and by sea (Phoenicians) · Development of the world’s first cities Development of the practice of slavery within most cultures in the ancient world, taking various forms |
Religious Traditions
Ra, Egyptian God
Development of religious traditions
· Polytheism was practiced by most early civilizations.
Monotheism was practiced by the Hebrews.
· Polytheism was practiced by most early civilizations.
Monotheism was practiced by the Hebrews.
Judaism
Modern Day Jerusalem
The monotheism of Abraham became the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—religions that changed the world. The Hebrews were the first to become monotheists.
Origins of Judaism
· Abraham
· Moses
· Jerusalem
Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Judaism
· Belief in one God (monotheism)
· Torah, which contains the written records and beliefs of the Jews
· Ten Commandments, which state moral and religious conduct
Spread of Judaism
· Exile
Diaspora (Jews living outside of Israel)
Origins of Judaism
· Abraham
· Moses
· Jerusalem
Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Judaism
· Belief in one God (monotheism)
· Torah, which contains the written records and beliefs of the Jews
· Ten Commandments, which state moral and religious conduct
Spread of Judaism
· Exile
Diaspora (Jews living outside of Israel)
Language and Writing
Cuneiform Writing
· Pictograms: Earliest written symbols
· Hieroglyphics: Egypt
· Cuneiform: Sumer
Alphabet: Phoenicia
· Hieroglyphics: Egypt
· Cuneiform: Sumer
Alphabet: Phoenicia