RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS

BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION 5000 years ago-

Civilizations begin to form. Complex & politically

centralized. Along river valleys-

Throughout southern half of Asia & northern Africa .

The next step in organization & centralization- Economically. Politically. Religiously.

WHY ALONG RIVERS? Rivers supply a

continuous flow & supply of water! Farming. Human consumption.

Shape development- Early river valley

civilizations. The rivers also inspire

innovations- Technology. Economics. Institutions. Organizational.

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

4 RIVER VALLEY CULTURES

BETWEEN 3000 - 2000 B.C. Form along-

Tigris & Euphrates. Nile. Indus. Yellow.

These civilizations share characteristics- Distinguish them

from previous Neolithic communities.

MESOPOTAMIA

Greek word– “Land Between the Rivers.” Tigris & Euphrates Rivers.

One of most influential ancient civilizations

In history. An arc of land from

Mediterranean Sea to Persian Gulf- Called “Fertile Crescent.” “Cradle of Civilization.”

MESOPOTAMIA

MESOPOTAMIAN GEOGRAPHY Two rivers become basis

for wealth of region- Soil is enriched over

years by layers of silt deposited by two rivers.

Developed irrigation- 6000 B.C.

Rich soil & abundant crops- Sustains life in early

civilization.

MESOPOTAMIA Consists of current-

Assyria, Akkad, & Sumer. Three main

independent cities in Southern Mesopotamia- Eridu, Ur, Urak.

Exert Political & economic dominance- Over surrounding

countryside.

MESOPOTAMIA Centralization occurs-

3200 - 2350 BC. Sumerian cities

dominate- Ruled by monarchs.

2350 - 1600 BC- Mesopotamia dominated

by Babylon.

2090 BC Statue of Ruler

ECONOMY The Sumerian city-states-

Based on farming & trade. The people known for-

Metalwork, woolen textiles, & pottery.

Copper, tin, & timber imported goods exchanged- Dried fish, wool, wheat, &

metal goods. Invented the wheel

around 3000 BC- Makes transportation of

good easier & quicker.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE 3 major social groups in- 

Nobles, commoners, slaves. Nobles include many

royal & religious officials. Commoners work for

palace & temple- Farmers, merchants, &

crafts people. Over 90%of people are

farmers. Slaves build buildings-

Belong to palace officials.

BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES Most famous &

important building- Temple dedicated to

gods & goddesses of the city. 

Called a ziggurat. Built atop massive

stepped tower. Housing is built by

sun-dried bricks- Small portion of

buildings made by stone or wood.

TOOLS/WEAPONS/TECHNOLOGY Tools-

Saws, Chisels, Hammers, Braces, Bits, Nails, Pins, Rings, Hoes, Glue.

Weapons- Arrowheads, Axes,

Knives, Lancepoints, Swords, Daggers, Clubs, Armor.

Technology- Writing system,

Number system, First wheeled vehicles, Irrigation systems, Boats, Calendar.

WRITING/LITERATURE One of greatest

accomplishments- Invention of earliest

known system of writing.

Create written documents by using triangular-tipped stylus- Make wedge-shaped

impressions in soft clayCuneiform script, Sumerian

MESOPOTAMIA Many important cultural

legacies. Epic of Gilgamesh-

Collection of stories. Becomes model for later

heroic epics. Celebrates exploits of rulers

& their champions. Code of Hammurabi (1772

BC)- One of the earliest written

code of laws!!! Consolidates Hammurabi’s

power. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a

tooth”

RELIGION Each town & city-

Protected by a god. Temples connect

heaven & earth- Center of both religion &

learning for entire community

Everyone is expected to sing hymns, say prayers, make sacrifices.

Bring offerings to local temple (ziggurat).

NILE RIVER VALLEY

NILE RIVER VALLEY Starts at northern

most peak of Nile River- Time of Neolithic

Revolution.   This early civilization-

Forms down lush fields of Nile River.

Protected by water & desert- Civilization able to grow

into Egypt & surrounding colonies.

NILE RIVER VALLEY Surrounding seas-

Serve as barrier against war & disease.

Reliable source of water for farming- Seasonal flooding fertilizes

land.   Essential for survival, growth,

& economic success. Egypt unifies politically-

~3100 B.C. Lower & Upper Egypt. Institution of Pharaoh. Deified ruler develops during

this period.

NILE RIVER VALLEY Ancient Egypt divided into

Dynasties & “Kingdoms”- Old Kingdom-

2660-2160 B.C. Middle Kingdom-

2040-1640 B.C. New Kingdom-

1550-1070 B.C. Old Kingdom-

Considered the classic era. Power & influence of

pharaoh- At its height.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE King (Pharoah)-

Ruler of land. Female companion also

has special status. Ruling Class-

Related to King. Or of high importance.

Craftsman- Make weapons & tools

for people. Work on decorations

for tombs.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE Farmers-

Most people of Nile are farmers.

Only vaguely distinguished by their tombs.

Marginalized Groups- Very little known about

people. Did not live in organized

structures. Acted as military.

Slaves- Servants often used & sold. Pyramids built by servants

who are paid in beer.

NILE RIVER VALLEY Construction of massive

pyramids- Burial of the pharaohs. Obsessed with death/afterlife!

Constructed during all 3 kingdoms- Largest pyramids for pharaohs

during the Old Kingdom. Most famous are

constructed 2600 - 2500 BC-

@ Giza Great Pyramid of ruler Khufu. Great Sphinx.

TOOLS/WEAPONS/TECHNOLOGY/ LITERATURE/RELIGION

Produced 365-day calendar- Based on astronomy.

Developed early Geometry- Used for designing

fields & canals. Hieroglyphics created-

Carved on tablets for communication.

Polytheistic religion- Multiple gods.

Rosetta Stone (196 BC)

Book of the Dead (1550 BC)

INDUS RIVER VALLEY

INDUS RIVER VALLEY Indus River Valley

Civilization- Starts about 2500 BC. South-western part of

Indus River. Largest city-

Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan). Settlements stretch all

along river. First city discovered-

Harappa. AKA Harappan

Civilization.

HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION Natural borders-

Consist of mountains & Arabian Sea.

Protects from attack & disease.

Water from river fertilizes & irrigates crops.

Proximity to river allows boats to become viable transportation option.

Complex, urbanized- Founded by people known

as Dravidians. Language can’t be

deciphered!  Our knowledge is based

entirely on various physical remains.

ECONOMY (AGRICULTURE) Widespread irrigation

systems- Allow population to

provide food for themselves.

Wheat & barley primary crops- Rye, peas, cotton, & rice

also grown. Domestication of

animals- Serve as important tool

for cultivation. Source of food.

ECONOMY (TRADE) The economy

depends greatly on trade.

Trade conducted within civilization- As well as with

Mesopotamia. Advancement in

technology- Leads to carts & early

boats. Used as main method

of trade & travel. 

SOCIAL STRUCTURE People born into social

classes- Can’t be changed.

Caste system- Four main classes Brahmins-

Priests & king. Kshatriyas-

Warriors & aristocrats – rulers.

Vaishyas- Cultivators, artisans, &

merchants. Shudras-

Peasants & serfs.

BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES Individual buildings have

early "sanitation" system- Bathing & restroom.

All houses had access to water- About same size. Had one or two stories!!! Made of dry bricks.

No large monuments or structures- Roadside drainage

(ditches).

TOOLS / WEAPONS / TECHNOLOGY Tools-

Bronze, copper, iron. Weapons-

Bronze. Arrows were crafted.

Technology- Large irrigation systems. Precise measurement &

weighing equipment. Technology used to aid

agriculture. Boats & carts employed to

facilitate trade. Get invaded & conquered

By the Aryans

RELIGION (HINDUISM & BUDDHISM)

Both Hindus & Bhuddhists- Stress non violence. Believe in karma, dharma,

& cycle of rebirth. Hindus focus-

Priests, rituals, & many gods.

Buddhists urge each person- Seek enlightenment

individually. Through meditation. Also reject Hindu caste

system.

YELLOW RIVER VALLEY

YELLOW RIVER VALLEY Early Chinese civilizations-

7000 - 5000 BC Yellow River valley

Civilization begins in China- Around 4000 BC. Start of many Chinese

Empires. Many ethnic groups &

cultures begin in this era. Vast area populated by

diverse ethnic groups- Over time become more or

less single culture

XIA, SHANG, & ZHOU 3 successive

dynasties- Xia Dynasty-

2200-1766 BC. Little is known.

Shang Dynasty- 1766-1122 BC. Bronze metallurgy. Horse-drawn

chariots. Zhou Dynasty-

1122-256 BC. Concept of the

Mandate of Heaven.

YELLOW RIVER GEOGRAPHY Yellow river stretches

across China- More than 2,900 miles.

Carries rich yellow silt- From Mongolia to Pacific

Ocean. Yangtze river is longer-

About 3,400 miles across central china.

Two major rivers taken together- Create great food-

producing area.

GEOGRAPHY (CONT) China has two major

rivers running through it- Only 10% of its land is

fertile & rich enough to grow crops.

Another negative- China is surrounded by

mountain ranges & river valleys.

Hard for people to travel & trade their crops and live stocks.

Have to rely on their own food.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE Shang King rules from

capital city- Anyang.

Kingdom divided into different territories- Ruled by aristocratic

warlords (military leaders).

King has power to add/remove them.

Believe in supernatural forces- They can talk to Gods. Receive help when

needed.

GENDER ROLES Family very important-

Authority of family belongs to father.

Father- Always arranges

marriages for his daughters.

Controls amount of education received by children.

Chooses career for his sons.

GENDER ROLES Mother occupies

subordinate position- Unable to own property.

Typical Chinese family contains Mother. Father. Sons. Unmarried daughters.

All live in home together.

All rituals performed by males.

LITERATURE Zhou literature very

important to Chinese people.

Different books. "Book of History" "Book of Change" "Book of Rites" "Book of Songs.“

Most Zhou writings destroyed- By the first empire.

ECONOMY Lack written language for

an extensive period- Documented economics are

rare. Civilization primarily

focuses on day to day agriculture- Not spontaneous growth. The Silk Road will develop

later. People travel the silk

road- For trading purposes. Brings cultural immersion. And “black death.”

 LEGACIES OF RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS

Lays foundations- Political centralization &

organization. All subsequent

civilizations are built upon these.

Also- Monument building. Written legal codes. Legal & political

infrastructures to run a central government.