Transcript Situated between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.

River Civilizations and
Other civilizations of Southwest Asia
During the New
Stone Age,
permanent
settlements
appeared
in River Valleys
and around the
Fertile Crescent.
Ancient River Valley
Civilizations
River Valleys
provided:
•Rich soil for
crops and
•Protection from
invasion
Source: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images/riv-vall.gif
These early civilizations existed
between 3500-500 BC
The first civilization was Sumer in Mesopotamia, which means “Land between two rivers”
Situated between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
Political:
City States
First Rulers were Priests
Economic:
Agriculture, Trade with Egypt
Religious:
Polytheistic
Social:
Mesopotamia/Sumer
Ziggurats
Priests important
Slavery not based on race
Intellectual: Cuneiform or wedge-shaped
writing based on pictograms
Achievements: Invented the wheel, sail and plow
Geography:
Euphrates and Tigris Rivers flow into Persian
Gulf, Zagros Mountainsprovide protection
The second civilization to develop was Egypt along the
Nile River.
http://loellenpark.org/callens/images/stories/Ancient_Egypt_Map.jpg
Political:
Unified- One government in which
Pharaohs = Gods, hereditary rule
Egypt Nile River Valley
Economic:
Agriculture, Trade with Mesopotamia & Kush
Gold is important!
Religious:
Polytheistic – A wonderful life after death
Mummification, pyramids
Social:
Priests at top
Slavery not based on race
Intellectual:
Hieroglyphics – picture based writing
Achievements:
Papyrus, math, engineering, the Pyramids
and a 365 day calendar
The Nile – the longest river in the world. Deserts
Geography: provide protection
The Third River Civilization was the Indus River Valley
civilization in India
Political:
Indus River Valley
strong centralized gov’t
Economic: Traded with Sumer
Religious:
Social:
Hinduism
Few social class differences
Intellectual: Writing has never been
Deciphered so little is known
Achievements: Indoor Plumbing…remember the toilets?
Geography:
Indus River, Hindu Kush Mountains, Himalayas
provided protection, Indian subcontinent
The Fourth River Valley Civilization was The Huang He River
civilization in China
Source: http://core.ecu.edu/hist/tuckerjo/chinciv.jpg
Political:
Mandate of Heaven, Dynasties
Beginning with Shang Dynasty
Economic:
Religious:
Social:
Agriculture- no
trade outside of
China
Ancestor Worship – Oracle
bones used to communicate
with ancestors
Divided between Nobles and Peasants
Family very important
Intellectual:
Achievements:
Geography:
China – Huang He River Civ
Writing based on pictures
Chariot, Silk, Bronze weapons
Development of Iron
Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts provided protection
Huang He River was “Yellow” because windblown
Loess was yellow