Download Beginnings of Civilization 4 million B.C.

GPS Standard
SSWH1: The student will analyze the origins,
structures, and interactions of complex societies
in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500
BCE to 500 BCE.
a. Describe the development of Mesopotamian
societies; include the religious, cultural,
economic and political facets of society, with
attention to Hammurabi’s law code.
Essential Question (EQ)
How did the first
civilizations develop and
grow into functioning
societies?
Mesopotamia
• Earliest of all civilizations
BECAUSE people formed
permanent settlements.
Before, humans were
nomads.
• Mesopotamia is a Greek
word meaning “between
the rivers,” specifically,
the area between the
Tigris and the Euphrates
Rivers (in present day
Iraq).
Mesopotamia
• Early civilizations
here lasted for about
3,000 years.
• The first people here
irrigated the land
making it suitable for
farming, developed
systems of writing
and invented the
wheel – you know, so
you guys can drive
cars - - - >
Mesopotamia
• The area between and
around the Tigris and
the Euphrates is known
as the Fertile Crescent –
because the land is
fertile and kinda shaped
like a crescent moon.
• The land here is hot and
dry and when it does
rain, it pours.
Windstorms can also
affect the area.
• But the farm land is
good!
Four Main Groups Lived Here
Sumerians (3500 – 2000 BCE)
Akkadians (2340 – 2000 BCE)
Babylonians (1830 – 1500 BCE)
Assyrians (1100 – 612 BCE)
Sumerians
• Grew crops of
barley, dates and
sesame seeds
• Built canals
• Invented the
wheel!!!
• Traded using barely
• Priests controlled
the land in the name
of the gods.
Akkadians
• Conquered the
Sumerians in 2331
BCE
• Sargon the Great
was their King.
• They were
conquered by
barbarians by 2200
BCE.
Babylonians
• Controlled all of
Mesopotamia in 1830
BCE.
• Hammurabi was their
King – His law code is
his legacy.
• They traded using
grain.
• Hammurabi built a wall
surrounding their
major city.
The Louvre
Code of Hammurabi
• To enforce his rule, Hammurabi
collected all the laws of Babylon in a
code that would apply to everyone.
• This is the most extensive law code in
the ancient world.
• 282 laws are inscribed on a stone pillar.
• This is the origin of “an eye for an eye”
type laws.
Assyrians
• After Hammurabi died,
the Assyrian kings
dominated and took
over Babylon.
• Ruled by fear with a
permanent army and
harsh taxes.
• The Assyrians were
eventually put down by
a revolt of the people.
Impact of Mesopotamian Life
• The first civilizations
grew out of relative
stability close to water
and fertile land.
Because of this stability
these civilizations
became societies
focused on trade, law,
the growth of regular
food and inventions.
Ancient Egypt
GPS Standard
• SSWH1 The student will analyze the
origins, structures, and interactions of
complex societies in the ancient
Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BCE
to 500 BCE.
• B. Describe the relationship of religion
and political authority in Ancient Egypt.
Essential Question (EQ)
• Why were religion and
politics so important to
the people of Ancient
Egypt?
Ancient Egypt
• The Nile River is the
lifeblood of Egypt,
contributing to its
religious beliefs and
economy.
• Longest river in the
world.
• Egypt had much
more fertile land
than Mesopotamia.
Ancient Egyptian Gods
• Polytheistic – Belief in
multiple gods
• Theocracy –
Government where
priests rule in the name
of a god or gods.
• Gods over nature and
life and death.
• The Pharaoh, or king,
was also worshipped
throughout Egypt.
Mummification
• Mummification was a
religious and a political
belief. The pyramids
and other burial sites
were created to house
the mummified bodies
and belongings of
important political
figures.
• Egyptians believed they
could bring their body
and belongings into the
afterlife.
Egyptian Mummy
Religion and Politics
• The religion of the
Egyptians helped them
make sense of nature
and the world around
them, while politics
helped them to control
and manage their lands.
• Egypt was a theocracy
– religion and politics
were intertwined.
Akhenaten – Monotheist Pharaoh
Your Takeaway
• Religion and politics
are important to
Egyptians because they
are intertwined in their
theocratic society. Their
belief in many gods is
an example of how they
tried to understand the
world around them and
how to govern their
kingdom.
Hapi, God of the Nile River
Ancient Systems of Writing,
Trade and Monotheism
GPS Standard
• c. Explain the development of monotheism;
include the concepts developed by the
ancient Hebrews, and Zoroastrianism.
• d. Describe early trading networks in the
Eastern Mediterranean; include the impact
Phoenicians had on the Mediterranean
World.
• e. Explain the development and importance
of writing; include cuneiform, hieroglyphics,
and the Phoenician alphabet.
Essential Question (EQ)
• Why did monotheism develop and what
were the beliefs of the ancient Hebrews
and followers of Zoroastrianism?
• Why did systems of writing develop
and why were they important,
especially to trade, government and
religion?
Cuneiform
• First system of
writing developed.
• Cuneiform was a
system of writing
developed by the
Sumerians.
• Cuneiform uses a
series of pictures
that represent
objects or sounds.
Hieroglyphics
• Hieroglyphics were
created by the Ancient
Egyptians.
• It is a series of
characters representing
alphabetic letters and
nouns.
• No one could read
Hieroglyphics until they
were translated using
the Rosetta Stone in the
1820’s.
Phoenician Alphabet
• The Phoenician
Alphabet was created
by the Phoenicians and
is the oldest alphabet.
• 22 letters, no vowels.
• Spread by the
Phoenicians across the
Mediterranean because
of how widely they
traded.
How Writing Changed Trade
• Writing was invented
TO HELP WITH TRADE!
• The Phoenician
Alphabet spread
quickly and was
adopted by other
cultures because the
Phoenicians were
masters of trade.
• Trade became easier
because most traders
now used the same
language.
Monotheism
• Monotheism is the
belief in only one
god as opposed to
Polytheism, which is
the belief in two or
more gods.
• Let’s look at
Judaism and
Zoroastrianism.
Judaism and Zoroastrianism
• Jews believe in one
god, “the Lord.”
• Judaism began in Israel
in the Middle East.
• Followers of
Zoroastrianism believe
the teachings of the
Iranian prophet
Zoroaster.
• Zoroaster preached in
the belief of only one
god, Ahura Mazda, or
“Wise Lord.”
Your Takeaway
• Writing developed in
the ancient world to
assist with trade, long
distance
communication and to
convey significance.
The Phoenicians,
masters of trade,
spread their alphabet
on the trade routes
because of their
success.
• Monotheism and
Polytheism are two
different belief systems
about gods. Mono
meaning belief in 1 god,
poly meaning belief in
more than 1. 2
examples of
Monotheism are the
Jews and followers of
Zoroastrianism.
The Rise and Fall of Chinese and
Indian Empires
GPS Standard
• SSWH2 The student will identify the
major achievements of Chinese and
Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500
CE.
• a. Describe the development of Indian
civilization; include the rise and fall of
the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age”
under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka.
• c. Describe the development of Chinese
civilization under the Zhou and Qin.
Essential Questions (EQ)
• How did empires rise and
fall in ancient India and
China?
• What was China like
under the Zhou and Qin
Dynasties?
Rise and Fall of the Maurya Empire
(India)
• The Maurya Empire was
the first Indian dynasty
– it was large and
powerful empire with a
strong army.
• Chandragupta unified
most of India and
founded and ruled the
Maurya Empire.
• It was a great time of
social and religious
reform.
Emperor Ashoka (India)
• Emperor Ashoka
was the grandson of
the former ruler
Chandragupta.
• Ashoka helped
bring the Mauryan
Empire to its
greatest heights.
• Ashoka’s death was
the cause of the
downfall of the
Mauryan Empire.
The “Golden Age” Under The
Gupta Empire (India)
• Founder: Different dude
named Chandragupta.
• Time of peace,
happiness and stability.
• SO – poetry, art,
architecture, literature,
math, medicine,
astronomy.
• Concept of 0, Pi, CSections, Plastic
Surgery.
• Conquered by the
Huns.
Zhou Dynasty (China)
• Believed their rulers
were Mandated by
Heaven – that
Heaven approved
the ruler and would
only change rulers
when necessary.
• The Lords’ families
refused to support
and fight for the
government, which
eventually fell to
invaders.
Qin Dynasty (China)
• Warring States
Period turns Zhou
into smaller regions,
and Qin region
emerges as Qin
Dynasty.
• Rules all of China by
brute force and
ruthlessness.
• Burns books and
kills scholars.
• Builds 1st Great Wall
of China.
Your Takeaway
• Indian empires formed
under charismatic and
strong rulers. Under
these rulers society
was stable and this led
to a renaissance of art,
literature, mathematics
and science, especially
in the Gupta Empire.
Dynasties fell when
rulers died or when
they were invaded.
• The Zhou Dynasty in
China was troubled
because of its
governmental structure
– which eventually led
to its end. The Qin
Dynasty rose out of the
ashes and was
consequently brutal
and ruthless in its rule
to maintain power.
Hinduism and Buddhism
GPS Standard
SSWH2 The student will identify the
major achievements of Chinese and
Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500
CE.
b. Explain the development and impact of
Hinduism and Buddhism on India and
subsequent diffusion of Buddhism.
Essential Question (EQ)
• How did Hinduism and
Buddhism develop and
impact India?
Hinduism
• Hinduism includes four
main goals of human
life:
• Dharma: Duties
• Artha: Work
• Kama: Emotions
• Moksha: Freedom
• Hindus practice rituals,
family-oriented rites of
passage and annual
festivals.
• Believed to be one of
the oldest religions in
the world.
Buddhism
• Buddha was a real person,
known as the founder of the
religion and an “enlightened
teacher.”
• The Buddha stressed that a
state of peace called nirvana
could be reached by
improving
one's spiritual discipline and
following the Four Noble
Truths – (1) Suffering is
caused by people (2)
Wanting Things. For people
to (3) Stop Wanting Things,
they must follow the Noble
Eightfold Path.
Development of Religions
• Hinduism cannot be
traced back to one
leader or founder. The
religion is a set of
beliefs accumulated
over thousands of
years.
• Buddhism was founded
by Buddha, who set out
upon the world to
discover why man
suffered and to offer
teachings to reduce
suffering.
Hinduism’s Impact on India
• The idea of “karma” and
reincarnation in Hinduism
affected the Indian caste
system. If you were born
into a higher caste, it is
because of karma and
good deeds in your prior
life.
• Together, Hinduism and
the caste system ruled
everything – what you
could eat, how you
dressed, who you
socialized with, etc.
Buddhism’s Impact on India
• Buddhism rejected
India’s caste system.
• Buddhists thus became
laborers and
craftspeople (Sudra or
Untouchables).
• Many followers took a
vow of poverty and
accepted a life of
traveling and teaching
the word of Buddha.
Your Takeaway
• Hinduism was not
founded by a leader but
is a set of beliefs
accumulated over
thousands of years.
Hinduism is intertwined
with the Indian caste
system – the concepts
of karma and
reincarnation affect
beliefs about classes in
Indian society.
• Buddhism was founded
by Buddha, a great
teacher. He rejected
the Indian caste system
and instead worked to
help his followers find
peace and reject desire
for worldly
possessions. By
following this belief
system, even the lowest
members of Indian
society could find
peace.
Confucianism
Georgia Performance
Standard
SSWH2 The student will identify the
major achievements of Chinese and
Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500
CE.
Explain the impact of Confucianism on
Chinese culture; include the examination
system, the Mandate of Heaven, the status
of peasants, the status of merchants, and
the patriarchal family, and explain diffusion
to Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea.
Essential Question (EQ)
• What was the impact of Confucianism
on Chinese politics, social status and
families? How did it spread to other
countries?
What is Confucianism?
• It’s a civil religion, meaning
its more of a philosophy
than faith-based belief
system.
• It was begun by Chinese
philosopher Confucius.
• His teachings, preserved in
the Analects, focused on
creating ethical models of
family and public interaction,
and setting educational
standards. He died in 479
B.C. Confucianism later
became the official imperial
philosophy of China.
How Did Confucianism Impact
Chinese Culture?
• Confucianism taught social
values and helped establish
infrastructure of churches,
schools and state buildings.
• Men were dominate and
educated, women were
subordinate.
• This led to the practice of
foot-binding because
women agreed to undergo
the pain to prove worth and
social character.
The Examination System
• Men interested in entering
the civil service in China
were forced to take an exam
on Confucian Philosophy.
• This was an attempt to
recruit men based on merit
rather than family or political
connection.
• Men spent 20-30 years
studying the philosophy
before taking the test.
The Status of Merchants and
Peasants
• Another social order
system – this one
under
Confucianism!
• Shi - Scholars
• Nong – Peasant
Farmers
• Gong – Craftsmen
• Shang – Merchants
and Traders
Confucianism’s Impact on the
Family
• Society is not a
collection of
individuals, but
families.
• Care for all members of
your family – babies to
the elderly.
• Caring for your family is
a contribution to your
government.
How Confucianism Spread
• Voluntary acceptance
due to China’s
influence.
• It was also accepted to
promote family culture
and the ruler of a
country as a head of all
families.
• Confucianism did
spread by conquest to
Korea.
Georgia Performance
Standards
SSWH2 The student will identify the
major achievements of Chinese and
Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500
CE.
e. Explain how the geography of the
Indian Subcontinent contributed to the
movement of people and ideas.
Essential Question (EQ)
• How did the geography of the Indian
subcontinent contribute to the
movement of people and ideas?
Geography of India
• India’s south is
surrounded by the
Indian Ocean.
• The north is defined by
the Himalayan Mountain
Range, including Mount
Everest.
• The western side is
desert and the eastern
side is plains.
Geography’s Impact on
People and Ideas
• The Himalayans kept
out invaders and
prevented immigration
from other countries.
• The Ganges and Indus
Rivers creates more
fertile lands and
provided water, drawing
in the population.
• The ideas of people
who could not adapt to
the geography died out.
Persia
Assyrian Empire
• A huge empire that
stretched from Cyprus in
the Mediterranean to Iran.
• Famous for their cruelty
and fighting prowess, the
Assyrians were also
monumental builders, as
shown by their
archaeological sites.
• Assyrians became weak
after the death of their
last ruler and the empire
fell apart.
Persian Empire
• Their empire was in
modern-day Iran.
• Religion was
Zoroastrianism until it
was replaced in the 7th
Century by Islam.
• This was a kind, gentle
kingdom with no taxes
and laws were carried out
fairly.
• Many modern-day
Iranians are ethnic
Persians.