Download Social Studies notes over River Valleys Civilizations

Social Studies notes over River Valleys Civilizations
Egyptian river valley civilization:
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Papyrus is a reed-like plant use to make paper and other things like baskets, sandals, and river rafts.
Hieroglyphics is writing system used by Egyptians that uses pictures to create sounds and form words.
A physical feature of Egypt is deserts to the East and West of the Nile River valley and north of the river lays
the Mediterranean Sea.
The Nile River provides:
 Drinking water for people and animals,
 Water for bathing
 Used for growing crops,
 Fishermen caught fish from it,
 A means for transporting good up river to the Mediterranean Sea
Egypt surrounded on 2 sides by deserts east and west of the Nile River valley and Mediterranean Sea to the north
Social Class in Egypt
Pharaoh
Priests and Nobles
Traders, Artisans, Shopkeeper, scribes
Farmers
and
Herders
Unskilled
Workers
India's Civilizations and River valley of the Ganges River
Social Class in India
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Brahmins- Priests
Kshatriyas - Warriors &Rulers
Vaisyas
- Common people
Sudras
Unskilled workers)
Monsoons are important to India because the monsoons rains brought lots of water for their crops but also
caused flooding problems for people.
Dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family. Example; Grandfather was a ruler, then father, son and
grandson.
India's greatest advancements were in mathematics. They invented the zero and a symbol for it and another
for infinity. Also the numbers system we use today 1-9 and algebra. They set algorithms, a way to solve
problems.
The Ganges River Valley led to a settlement then empire and the development of early India.
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India's first dynasty was Mauryan family dynasty.
Gupta Dynasty was important because of their advancements in math and science.
The Mahabharata teaches morals. Right and wrong
The monsoons provide needed water to grow crops but also were threat because of the floods.
China's Civilizations and River valleys of the Yellow and Yangtze River
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China had two large rivers and two river valleys surrounded by mountains to the north and civilizations grew
in these valleys.
North China also had the Mongolia desert as a natural barrier.
Desert and mountains provided natural barriers to keep out their enemies.
China's people in order to have more farm land cut out terraces on the sides of mountains.
Terraces, irrigations and uses of insects to control their pests (insects) were some of their advancements.
City of Anyang
Many artisans
Ruled by kings
Wrote using
pictographs
ideographs
Shang
Dynasty
upper society
Aristocrats (nobles)
Believed in spirits and gods
Oracles foretold the future
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The king had to follow the "DAO" god's rule or he could be replaced which gave ordinary people some rights
to overthrow the king if things went badly.
These people developed flood control, irrigations systems, and design and built an iron plow. The iron plow
help till more land and thereforth more food meant more people could live and reproduce.
Mesopotamia River Valley
Civilization began in river valleys between two rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris. There was a desert to the
south the Syrian Desert and mountains to the north which acted as natural barriers to intruders.
They built water ways and dams to control the rivers. They were able to irrigate their crops. Floods were a
constant threat.
Economy was based on farming and trade.
Government centered on city-states led by a king, priests, and eventually an empire with one king formed.
Artisans made metal products, pottery, and cloth.
Advances were writing in clay tables called cuneiform. They developed a number system based on 60. They
developed a 12 month calendar. Also built wagons with wheels, a wooden plow, and built sailboats.
Hammurabi developed a code of laws for people to live under.