Download The Rise of the River Valley Civilizations

THE RISE OF THE RIVER
VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
Part I
RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
As humans developed agriculture, their
cultures changed as well.
The first civilizations grew around major
rivers around the same time in history.
The geographic regions provided optimal
climate, transportation, and fertile soil to
grow crops.
MESOPOTAMIA
Between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, a
civilization developed between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers.
MESOPOTAMIA
Between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, a
civilization developed between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers.
Most historians call the land
Mesopotamia.
This is the first known civilization.
MESOPOTAMIAN AGRICULTURE
The climate of the area is hot and dry, so
farmers used irrigation to grow crops.
MESOPOTAMIAN AGRICULTURE
The climate of the area is hot and dry, so
farmers used irrigation to grow crops.
Because food grew more easily, the
population increased.
People began to specialize in activities
other than farming.
MESOPOTAMIAN GOVERNMENT
Early Mesopotamians built several city states, each with its own ruler.
Later, these city-states united under a
common ruler.
Hammurabi, a ruler of Babylon, created
the first written laws, known as
Hammurabi’s Code.
HAMMURABI’S CODE
195: If a son strikes his father, his hands shall be
cut off.
197: If a noble breaks a noble’s bone, his bone
shall be broken.
RELIGION
The early Mesopotamians were
polytheistic, believing in as many as
2,000 gods.
RELIGION
The early Mesopotamians were
polytheistic, believing in as many as
2,000 gods.
Some of the specialized workers were
priests.
Many times, the priests were also the
rulers, making the governments of
Mesopotamia theocracies.
ARCHITECTURE AND SCIENCE
Mesopotamians built ziggurats as
religious and government buildings.
In southern Mesopotamia, Sumerians
invented the wheel and the sailboat.
They also discovered the process of
making bronze, a metal that is stronger
than copper.
ARCHITECTURE AND SCIENCE (CONT.)
Using bronze tools, the Sumerians rerouted water from the rivers to drier
areas.
ARCHITECTURE AND SCIENCE (CONT.)
Using bronze tools, the Sumerians rerouted water from the rivers to drier
areas.
Sumerians devised a calendar and a 60based number system.
They also invented the earliest known
writing system – cuneiform.
WOMEN IN MESOPOTAMIA
Women in that society were responsible
for raising children and keeping the
home.
Wealthy women could go to the market
alone, and could conduct business in the
absence of the husband.
Women of the royal family had the
highest status of all women.
NOTES QUIZ
1. What two rivers create the boundary of
Mesopotamia?
2. What is the belief in two or more gods?
3. What are two of the inventions of the
Sumerians?
4. What was the first written code of
laws?