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Ancient Civilizations (Civilization Name) Social Structure Economics Culture: Class system, gender relations Political Structure Govt Interactions: Humans and the Environment Religion, writing, literature, art, language, technology, music, and architecture Use a whole sheet of paper to create this graphic organizer (can also use a chart) for the following civilizations: • • • • • Mesopotamia Egypt Indus Valley Yellow River (China) Olmec & Norte Chico (use two different colors) Currency, trade Rise of Civilization 4th Millennium BCE • New discoveries transformed permanent settlements into civilizations – – – – – Bronze Writing Strong Govt’s Religion Language • First civilization emerged in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) c. 3500 BCE Location of Early Civilizations What environmental conditions were needed to develop the first civilizations? Ancient Mesopotamia Government • Initially, priest-kings rule citystates – Sumerians (c. 3500 BCE) • City-states evolve into empires – Acadians (c. 2334-2218 BCE) • Land owning aristocracy dominated • Developed formal legal codes Religion • Believed in 3,000 gods • Goal: Appease gods to control nature • Art and literature focus on gods and religion • Built ziggurats Society • Social stratification – Hierarchy in class • Slavery was common – One could become a slave through war, crime, or debt – Slaves were used in temples, public buildings, or private homes • Patriarchal – Plow based agriculture = need for strong men – Specialized labor – leaves women out of positions • Women could hold most occupations – Laws support patriarchy • Divorce, property rights, etc • “Respectable” women forced to veil in public – Women symbolic of nature? • Makes them a source to “dominate” according to the argument of civilizations attempt to dominate over nature Culture • Hammurabi's Code – First codification of laws • Epic of Gilgamesh – First known literary work – Contains story of great flood – Gives major insight into culture of Mesopotamia Economy Science & Technology • Inventions: wheel, sail, and plow • Bronze metallurgy • 1st system of writing – Cuneiform • 1st number system – Based on units of 10, 60, & 360 • Astronomy Ancient Egypt • Relatively isolated • Nile flooded regularly, predictably – Provided rich soil, easy soil to farm – Civilization regulated flooding, surveying • Control the Nile; control society Government • Formed by 3000 BCE – Unified territorial state • Unified for most of history – Old (Early) Kingdom – Middle Kingdom – Late Kingdom • Theocracy – Pharaoh was a god-king – Women could be pharaohs • Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BCE) Ramses II Religion • Thousands of gods – Gods have animal and human qualities – Gods & goddesses • Rulers viewed as god-kings • Relatively egalitarian • Believe in afterlife – Heaven & Hell • A good/bad after life – Mummification – Pyramids & Temples Society • Social Stratification – Limited opportunity for social mobility • Slavery common • Women have more rights – Could own property, propose marriage, and demand a divorce Culture • Hieroglyphic writing on papyrus • Mathematics – Geometry • Calendar system – 365 days (off by 6 hours) • Medicine • Architecture – Showcase their math skills Ancient India & China Indus Valley Civilization: Mohenjo-Daro & Harappa Indus River Valley • Cities emerge around 25002000 BCE – Larger territory than other early civs • Culturally unified city-states – Harappa and MohenjoDaro • Extensive city-planning – Unified: • Weights, measures, architecture, building styles • Mysterious ending – No signs of palaces, temples, kings, tombs, or warriors – Environmental degradation? – Aryan invasion? Indus River Valley • Polytheistic religion – Influenced Hinduism • Undecipherable writing system • No standing army – No weapons found at these sites • Advanced technology – – – – Plumbing systems The Great Bath AC (kind of) Cities in grid patterns • Apartment style buildings • “cookie cutter” 2 br houses for workers Ancient China • Xia Dynasty – Legendary…imaginary… (aliens) • Developed in isolation along the Huang He (Yellow) River • Shang dynasty emerged c. 1500 BCE – Warlike kings & landed aristocracy dominate • Large division in class – Cities surrounded by massive earthen walls Ancient China • Chinese Society – Family at center of society • Extended-family structure – Women were subordinate • Chinese Culture – Believed spirits of family ancestors could bring good fortune or disaster – Oracle bones (right) • Wrote on them using pictographs – Bronze & silk Dynastic Cycle Mandate of Heaven Rulers are chosen to rule by heaven (Considered Son of Heaven) and will continue to rule as long as heaven is pleased; if heaven is not pleased, heaven will pass the mandate to another family The Olmec • Olmec emerge in Mesoamerica c.1400-400 BCE • Olmec zone is dense tropical forest – High rainfall - over 300 cm/year • Agricultural based – Maize, beans, squash The Triad • Cities developed out of many chiefdoms – Become center for religious ceremonies • Elaborate temples, alters, pyramids, and tombs • May be responsible for the first written language in Americas (900 BCE) Olmec Government & Society • Several city-states with common culture • Social Hierarchy – Highest rank is that of the chief – Dominated by landed aristocracy – Laborers forced to build temples, palaces, and drainage canals Olmec Religion • Polytheistic – Deities blended male & female, animal & human characteristics • Feathered-serpent god (right) – Shamans organized religious life • Religion led to development of writing system and calendar Olmec Art • Building of clay pyramids and temple mounds • Particular sculptural style – Jaguars – Fine jade carving – Colossal heads Norte Chico • 3000-1800 BCE in Peru – Same as Mesop./Egypt • Area consisted of 25+ urban centers – Smaller cities – No defensive walls • Little sign of warfare • Less economic specialization • Based largely on fishing and trade • Not a “grain-based” civ. • Polytheistic • Famous for monumental architecture and weaving – No evidence of any art or ceramics • No evidence of writing – Used quipu for record keeping (later adapted by Inca) Legacy of Ancient Civilizations • Writing systems, religions, and technology was influenced the development of new civilizations and cultures • Ancient civilizations decline by 1000 BCE – Subject to nomadic invasions • Political and cultural centers shift to new geographical areas (except China)