Download Study aid #3: Connections/Summary Tables

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