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The Spread of Human Civilizations: The Great River Valleys OVERVIEW 3.1 Population Growth and Cultural Divergence: 5000 B.C.E. – 2500 B.C.E. Intensified Settlement Areas→ Government Functions→ Early States & Leaders→ Types of Diversified Economic Activity Mesopotamia flood & irrigation management, defense, collecting & storing grain, intermediaries w/gods, temple building city-states w/ kings, hereditary ruling class & oracle advisors grain agriculture, varied herding; specialized crafts activity, extensive local & regional trade by merchants, multiple urban centers, mobilization of citizens for constructing ziggurats & other monumental buildings Egypt flood & irrigation management, defense, collecting & storing grain, intermediaries w/gods, temple building unified regional state w/king (pharaoh) and priests & scribes as advisors grain agriculture & cattle herding = surplus → trade w/Africa, Arabia for timber, incense, precious metals; state-priest controlled economic system; mobilization of citizens for construction of pyramids, other monumental buildings Indus flood & irrigation management, defense, food distribution & storage, urban planning & construction; intermediaries w/gods flood & irrigation management, defense, intermediaries w/gods possible priests or administrative-rulers large scale agriculture & cattle herding = surplus → local & regional trade; craft specialization dynastic rulers, w/scribes & oracles as advisors large scale grain, soybean agriculture = surplus → regional trade, craft specialization; growth of urban areas China OVERVIEW 3.2: The Ecology of Civilizations Region→ Environmental diversity → Primary modifications→ Economic Consequences Mesopotamia—TigrisEuphrates rivers) delta: marshlands, ponds, lakes, waterways; upriver alluvial plains flooded irregularly; harsh summer sandstorms, intense heat; winter floods, rainstorms; lack of forests, stone irrigation, dependence on winter crops: wheat, onions, barley, chick-peas; intensive plowing w/oxen; damming rivers with reeds, brushwood, eath widespread cultivation of grains, herding leads & regional trade, use of mud-brick for housing, temples Egypt--Nile river delta: marshlands, ponds, lakes; upriver: “black earth,” alluvial plain created from regular floods from central African headwaters; bordered by Sahara desert, with scattered oasis wide alluvial floodplain, frequent changing river courses, varied climate—coastal outposts, hot interior, upriver Himalayan headwaters; twice a year floods, from spring snow melt & monsoon rains unpredictable river floods surrounding areas creating “loess “soil --basis of agriculture exploitation of lush delta, flooded alluvial plain with irrigation, creating orchards, gardens continuing surplus of basic commodities based on wheat, barley flour—bread, beer leads to population increase, regional trade widespread irrigation of rainless upriver regions, grazing on grasslands, marsh areas dependence on wheat, barley w/two harvests a year; rapid population growth, urbanization dikes, irrigation canals built channel ferocious flooding; creation of water basins to store water early exploitation of savanna grasslands, buffalo & other animals, eventual drying of Yellow river basin & dependence on grain farming—mostly millet. Indus --Indus, Sarasvati rivers China —Yellow river OVERVIEW 3.3: Politics and State Power in River Valley Societies State Leader & Symbolic Role Method of Unification Ruler’s Means of Control Egypt state Pharaoh (herdsman) sometimes function as god organizing labor to manage floods; distributing food; use of Nile river as highway to unify, control Pharaoh’s commands, policies function as law, regarded as divine Mesopotamia city states Kings/Royal magicians emulate gods Emperor/engineer, builder, hunter organizing labor; distributing food; competition with other city-states earliest law codes; rituals performed by oracles guide decisionmaking organizing dike-building, irrigation, use of Yellow river as highway to unify, control harnessing river, irrigation; distributing food; engineering & construction of complex urban systems Ritual divination using oracle bones— foretelling future, interpreting will of spirits Chinese state (starting with Shang dynasty) Indus Civilization uncertain if singular ruler or priest dominated ruling class unknown; widespread standardization of measurements, trade point to coordination, leadership