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Accomplishments of Ancient Civilizations Around 3500 B.C., cities/civilization developed. During this time, there were great changes born out of necessity and for the advancement humans. During the New Stone Age, permanent settlements appeared in river valleys and around the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent is land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. River valleys were the “Cradles of Civilization.” Early civilizations made major contributions to social, political, and economic progress. The river valleys provided rich soils (Silt), irrigation waters for agriculture, as well as protection from invasion by nomadic peoples. Silt is rich soil deposited after flooding. Development of Political Systems: - World’s first states (city-states, kingdoms, empires). A city-state is a center of government and its surrounding areas. - Centralized government (often based on religious authority). - Written law codes (Ten Commandments, Code of Hammurabi). Development of Economic Patterns: - Metal tools and weapons (bronze and iron). - 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 in the ancient world among most cultures, taking various forms. Development of Language and Writing: Language and writing were important cultural innovations. - Pictograms were the earliest written symbols. - Cuneiform (top right) (Sumer). - Hieroglyphics (bottom right) (found in Egypt). - Alphabet (Developed by the Phoenicians). Development of Social Patterns: - Hereditary rulers (dynasties of kings and pharaohs). A dynasty is a sequence of rulers. - Ridged class system, where slavery was accepted. Development of Religious Traditions: - Religion was a major part of life in all early civilizations. - Polytheism (belief in many gods/deities) was practiced by most early civilizations. - Monotheism (belief in one God) was practiced by the Hebrews. - Religious structures were developed such as ziggurats in Mesopotamia. Ziggurats were temples in the center of the cities. Other religious structures included pyramids in Egypt. River Valley Civilizations (About 3500 to 500 B.C. [B.C.E.]) Mesopotamian Civilization – Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys (Southwest Asia) Mesopotamia is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia means the land between two rivers. Mesopotamia began as urban societies in southern Iraq at around 3500 BC, and ends in the 6th century BC. It is widely considered to be the cradle of civilization in the West Mesopotamian people invented many technologies including metal and copper-working, glass and lamp making, textile weaving, flood control, water storage, and irrigation. The Code of Hammurabi: Hammurabi, ruler of the Babylonian Empire of the Fertile Crescent, created a code of laws that stated violations and their punishments; instead of fining violators, the code called for “an eye for an eye.” This represents early law. Egyptian Civilization – Nile River Valley and Delta (Africa) Ancient Egypt started around 3200 B.C. Egyptians lived and adapted along the Nile River Valley. Predictable flooding allowed for irrigation of crops. With a fertile valley and surplus crops, Egyptians prospered under rulers called Pharaohs. Pyramids were built as tombs for Pharaohs. The Egyptians’ achievements included a written language called hieroglyphics, advanced building techniques, literature, mathematics, medicine, papyrus (Egyptian Paper made from reeds) and many other forms of technology. Indian Civilization – Indus River Valley (South Asia) The Indus River Valley Civilization started about 2500 B.C.E. and lasted about 700 years. It was located along the south-western part of the Indus River. Natural borders consisted of mountains and the Arabian Sea, sheltering the civilization from attack and disease. Water from the river fertilized and irrigated crops. Most people in the Indus River Valley Civilization were farmers and some were merchants and traders. In the large cities, some houses had complex plumbing systems and sewers. They developed a system of weights and measures. Archaeologists have concluded that the cities in this area had a complex government. Chinese Civilization – Huang He Valley (East Asia) Around 2500 B.C. the Yellow (Huang He) River Valley Civilization began in China, which was the start of the many Chinese Empires. Many of the ethnic groups and cultures began in this era in China. This history, in which a vast area populated by diverse ethnic groups became, over time, a more or less single culture, began in the Yellow River Valley. Early on, they made advances in agriculture, irrigation (water), pottery, ships, lacquer, silk, weaving, and carving. Other Early Civilizations (About 2000 to 500 B.C.) Hebrews settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley (part of the Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia). Origin of Judaism The monotheism of Abraham became the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These religions changed the world. The Hebrews were the first to become monotheists. Beliefs, Traditions, and Customs of Judaism: - Belief in one God (monotheism) - Torah which contains written records and beliefs of the Jews. - Ten Commandments which state moral and religious conduct. - Abraham, leader of the Hebrews was a herder and trader who left Ur in Mesopotamia around 1900 B.C. to settle in Canaan in the Middle East near the Jordan River. Today, Canaan is made up of Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. In the 1200’s B.C., Moses led the Hebrews, who were enslaved in Egypt, out of Egypt in an exodus into the Sinai Desert. - Jerusalem is the Jewish holy city. It is of great importance to the Hebrew Faith. Judaism spread in two main ways. The first way is exile. When Abraham was exiled from Mesopotamia, it led to the spread of the religion. The second way is Diaspora, which is the dispersion of the Jews beyond Israel (their homeland). Communities developed and some were enslaved. Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of the Fertile Crescent in southwest Asia). They were known as sea traders because of their location. Nubia was located on the upper (southern) Nile River (Africa). By 3000 B.C., a civilization developed on the southern part of the Nile River and made contact with Egypt; in 2000 B.C., Nubian civilization became the kingdom of Kush.