Focus #2 8-26-08pg. 86 (map)

1. What is the title of the map? 2. Where did all of these civilizations begin

around? 3. pg. 80-84 Name three categories or

elements of culture. 4. (Yes or No) Can different cultures have

things in common?

Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt

Chapter 16

Section 1

Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt

Egypt, in North Africa, and Mesopotamia, in Southwest Asia, were the earliest known civilizations.

A civilization is a highly developed or advanced culture.

Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt

The time of the earliest civilizations is known as the Bronze Age.

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris River and the Euphrates River.

Today, this area is

located in Iraq.

Why would people want to settle in between two rivers?

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia

was part of the

region known as

the Fertile Crescent.

*Fertile Crescent-

1.Known for rich soil

2.good for farming 3.irrigation

4.easy transportation 5. protection

Mesopotamia

Around 4500 B.C., people began settling in this area.

Farming Revolution-People could produce their own food and not have to travel to get it.

12 month calendar was used based on the phases of the moon.

With a steady food supply, the population grew larger.

Questions: (notes/pgs. 80-85)

1. What is cultural diffusion? 2. Name two ways that cultures are

spreading faster than ever before. Explain. 3. Why did early civilizations start around

river valleys? 4. Explain two benefits to living around water

for early civilizations and one negative aspect for living around water.

Sumer

The earliest city-states arose in an area called Sumer.

The Sumerians grew wealthy from trade.

Sumerians invented the wheel and sailboat.

Religion and Government

Religion was based on polytheism.

At first, each city-state was a theocracy.

First Systems of Writing

The Sumerians were the first to write and keep records of laws.

Sumerians created cuneiform.

Akkad and Babylon

Akkad conquered Sumer and several other city-states.

Akkad’s King Sargon created the first empire. Over time, the Akkadian Empire weakened

and was defeated by the Kingdom of Babylon.

Babylon’s greatest king was Hammurabi. Babylonians created a number system based

on 60.

Hammurabi’s Code

Code was a law. “An eye for an eye and

a tooth for a tooth”

A New Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the city of Babylon and made it a center of trade and culture.

Babylon was known for its “hanging gardens.”

Phoenicians

Phoenicians were important traders of Mesopotamia.

They formed an alphabet that represented the sound of language.

Egypt – Gift of the Nile

Egyptian civilization arose along the Nile River in Northeast Africa.

Most ancient Egyptians lived near the river and its delta.

The Pharaoh

Narmer, a king of Upper Egypt, conquered Lower Egypt and united the two of them.

Narmer had the title of pharaoh.

Egypt was a theocracy.

Religion

Egyptians believed in many gods and godesses. Each stood for some part of nature.

The most important were the sun god Re, the river god Hapi, and the sky god Horus.

Religion

The Egyptians believed in a form of life after death.

The linen wrapped bodies were known as mummies.

Rich people were buried in elaborate tombs. The largest tombs were pyramids and

belonged to pharaohs.

Trade and Conquest

The Hyksos ruled Egypt for 150 years. They taught the Egyptians to use bronze and iron weapons and horse-drawn chariots.

With the new technology, Egypt was able to trade in more places.

Egyptian Writing

The ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics.

They carved and painted hieroglyphic characters on their monuments or on papyrus.

Mathematics and Medicine

They used a number system based on ten.

They were the first to use splints, bandages, and compresses.

Decline

Egypt eventually grew weak. Priests and pharaohs struggled for power. Egypt was conquered by Greece and Rome.