Download Human Origins and River Valley Civilizations

Human Origins
On what continent do scientists believe
humans originated?
Africa
What type of scientists study artifacts?
Archaeologists
Paleolithic Age vs. Neolithic Age
Which age lasted from about 2.5 million to 8000
BCE and is considered the “Old” Stone Age?
Paleolithic Age
Which age lasted from about 8000 to 3000 BCE
and is considered the “New” Stone Age where
the Neolithic Revolution took place?
Neolithic Age – advancements included growing of
crops and herding of animals
River Valley Civilizations
Geography
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Identify the four rivers the following
civilizations developed along:
1. Sumer (Mesopotamia):
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
2. Egypt:
Nile
3. India
Indus
4. China
Huang He /Yellow River
Geography – Why did these
civilizations develop along rivers?
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Water for farming/ crops
Irrigation Networks
Flooding – the good and bad?
Transportation and
communication
Identify the winds that brought
rain to the Indus civilizations:
MONSOONS!
Natural Barriers?
Deserts and Mountains
River Valley Civilizations –
Technology
Why would settling down lead to more
advanced technology? (Think about food
supply)
 Urban (City) Planning – Ex. Indus and
grid/ plumbing system
 Use of metal tools/ weapons – bronze/
iron
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River Valley Civilizations – Advanced
Technology
Architecture – cities, temples
Examples –
Pyramids of Egypt and the
Ziggurats of Sumer
 Writing Systems – for keeping
records, stories, history
 Examples –
 Cuneiform (Sumer),
Hieroglyphics (Egypt), China
(Calligraphy)
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River Valley Civilizations –
Belief Systems
What is the term for the
belief in many gods?
 POLYTHEISM
 Places of worship –
temples
 Belief in the after life –
burials, pyramids,
tombs, mummification in
Egypt
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River Valley Civilizations –
Culture and Political Systems
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Culture – Organized Social Class
System
 Hierarchy – 1. Rulers
(Sometimes worshipped as Gods),
2. Nobles/ Priests, 3. Specialized
Workers, Warriors, 4. Peasants
 Art – reflected beliefs
 Laws – created to keep order
 Example?
 Hammurabi’s Code – Eye for
an eye…