Five Themes Questions To Ask About A Culture

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Location

What is the absolute and relative location of this civilization?

Ur = 31˚N 48˚E Located in the fertile crescent. Also located between the Tigris

and Euphrates river.

Cairo = 30˚E 30˚N Located near the Nile Delta located near the Mediterranean.

Jerusalem = 46˚N 35˚E Located in the Middle East bordered by the Mediterranean

sea.

Region/Human Environment Interaction of Sumer/Mesopotamia

The physical characteristics of Sumer are located by fertile crescent, Tigris and Euphrates river, Persian gulf, and flat plains.

Natural resources are mainly clay, obsidian, minerals, and little timber.

Climates are usually hot and dry. Fertile soil used for growing crops spring floods make spongy marshes.

People used the spring floods to help them grow there crops also the used irrigation canals to move the water towards there

crops.

Region/Human Environment Interaction of Ancient Egypt

Physical characteristics are mostly desert, Nile valley, all six cataracts,

Natural Resources contain papyrus, Nile river, gold, carnelian, basalt copper, granite, and alabaster.

Climate contained mostly hot and dry but there was also three seasons flood season, planting season, and harvest season.

The Nile valley was used to grow crops due to its fertile soil.

Region/Human Environment Interaction of The Israelites

Physical Characteristics are fertile plains, grassy slopes, rocky hills and arid deserts.

Natural Resources were gold and honey. Very hot weather and not any farmers. They had a planting season, growing season, and wet season.

They were nomads who lived in tents and herded many animals like sheep, goats, and cattle.

Economics/Movement for Sumer/Mesopotamia They invented one of the first wheel and game

board. Made of wood and stone. Irrigation was a way for them to get there food. These are some of there goods and the way they were produced.

Mesopotamia got most of there goods from civilizations such as Egyptians and the Israelites.

They transported goods by boats donkey and caravans.

Economics/Movement for EgyptGoods were produced at home or

bought at markets. They made amulets, clothes, paper, and pottery.

They usually transported goods by boat across the Nile River and caravans. Gold was used as money or great value They usually traded with Sumer and the Israelites.

Economics/Movement for the IsraelitesMost products were made at home.

They made common clothing jewelry and pottery. They didn’t have a real source of money but gold was very valued then. They exchanged many of there goods with Egypt and Sumer.

They transported goods by donkey camels and goats.

Political Science of Sumer/MesopotamiaThey were mainly ruled by there priests

only if they had no enemies. Later on they made enemies so they had kings such as Hammurabi, Sargon, and Gilgamesh. Leaders were selected by there gods as they believed. There laws consisted of the Hammurabi code. They believed you needed to follow these laws or you would be punished.

Political Science of Ancient Egypt Egypt had one main leader known as

the Pharaoh. Some of there leaders consisted of Ramses, Hatshepshut, and Tuhtmose the third. The pharaoh usually passed down his leadership to his son. Throughout history the pharaohs would form many different dynasties. The Egyptians had many laws but woman didn’t get as much privileges as men.

Political Science of the Israelites

The Israelites were a monarchy having many Kings such as Saul, David, and Solomon.

Kings were believed to be chosen by god or were heir to the thrown. They had many laws, but they believed in the ten commandments and followed the torah.

Knowledge, Education, and the Arts of Sumer/Mesopotamia Cuneiform was a main form of writing that the

Mesopotamians invented it was used to keep track of trade. They were one of the first civilizations to also invent the game board and the first wheel.

All of these items tell us something special about this civilization. Cuneiform tells us some information on what they traded or kept track of.

Knowledge, Education, and the Arts of Ancient EgyptThe Egyptians had invented the lunar

calendar then they invented the calendar based of Sirius. They also invented pyramids for the afterlife and hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics teach us about all there gods and there beliefs.

Knowledge, Education, and the Arts of the IsraelitesThe Israelites were the first people to

have the belief in one god. They also believed and followed the torah. The torah tells us all of the stories that the Israelites had. Also the belief in one god might have caused wars between other polytheistic civilizations.

Religion of Sumer/MesopatamiaThey believed that there were many

gods and gods for almost everything. They believed that if they lived a good life then the gods would not punish them.

They needed to worship there gods and please them if they did not want to be punished by there gods.

Religion of Ancient Egypt

The Egyptians had a polytheistic religion and had gods for just about anything. The Egyptians created pyramids because they believed that the afterlife would be a better place then earth. There lives were meant to be pure with no sin. If they lead this life they would move on to the afterlife and not go to the underworld.

Religion of the Israelites

The Israelites were the one civilization that believed in one god. The Israelites believed they needed to follow the 10 commandments to go to heaven. God also wanted them to find Jerusalem or the promise land. That is how they were supposed to live there lives.

Sociology of Sumer/Mesopotamia People live in family’s and have children and wives.

Slaves were usually very poor people or sold themselves to slavery or could even be prisoners of war.

They had many different divisions such as the king would be separated from the other people of his city.

Women and girls usually worked at home and did house work. Men and boys spent there time hunting and helping get money for the family.

Sociology of Ancient Egypt

People in Egypt have big families. Families are very important for the Egyptians families watched after one another. Slaves were common in Egypt. They had many divisions such as only Pharaohs and high priests were allowed in the back chamber of the temples. Most of the day the Egyptians would worship there gods.

Sociology for the Israelites

They had families, but were nomadic so they moved around a lot and had no slaves cause everyone was equal in there society. There were divisions and most of there time was spent worshiping god.

Citations

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook, “A Message of Ancient Days”

The Ancient World by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

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