Transcript early river civ`s 3500b.c.- 450 bc

What does it mean to be
civilized?
Are Humans confused????
EARLY RIVER CIV’S
3500B.C.- 450 B.C.
Chapters 2&3
THE 5 TRAITS THAT DEFINE A
CIVILIZATION
• Growth of cities- by 3000b.c. Sumerians built a dozen
fairly functional cities (Uruk, Lagash, and Umma-most
pop.)
• Specialized workers- Artisans, Scribes, Priests,
Potters, Metalworkers, and Weavers were most
prominent
• Writing- Cuneiform (Q-NAY-I-FORM) originally used by
priests to keep track of merchandise that was later
adopted amidst the region.
• Advanced Technology- The Wheel, Plow, & Sailboat all
propelled Sumerian civilization. (oldest wheel carbon
dated at 5500 years) Metal working- copper and bronze
used for tools and weaponry.
• Complex Institutions- Government and religion (1st to
set up formal Government with officials and laws
THE FERTILE CRESCENT
• Best farming land in S.W.
Asia
• Fed by-Tigris and
Euphrates rivers.
• Created great flood plain
Mesopotamia
• “Land between two
rivers” (Greek origin)
• Sumerians were
those who actually
lived in the region.
• Not 1st settlement but
1st where 5 traits
together….
WHAT COULD BE SOME POSSIBLE PROBLEMS IN THIS REGION?
Quick review
• The two major rivers
that fed Mesopotamia
were….
• The name
“Mesopotamia” is
Greek in origin,
meaning…
• Tigris & Euphrates
• Land between two
rivers…
Class Structure/Downfall
• Kings and Priests=
highest
• Wealthy merchants
• Workshop and field
hands
• Slaves=lowest
• Many cities having
inner battles
• Lack of unification of
major cities created a
weakened region
• Outsiders use
Sumer’s inner battles
against them and
attacked most cities
leaving them in ruins!
Religion of the region
• Poly-theistic (belief in many gods)
– Sumerians viewed gods as “life like” and
imitating human life.
“Peculiar” monotheism
• Monotheism= belief in one god
• Zoroastrianism- one of first monotheistic belief systems
(Persia)
• Jews (Hebrews) “Yahweh” was their god of protection
– drought drove migrations to Egypt for Nile
• Egyptians originally temperate of the newcomers but
began resenting them (RELIGION) and later
enslavement.
• Moses led Jews out of Egypt around 1300b.c.
– 10 Commandments on Mt Sinai is code of Moral Conduct for
the Faith.
Quick review
• Was it more common
for people of this time
period to believe in
one or many gods?
• Many Gods
– POLYTHEISM
Phoenicians
• Neighbors of the Sumerians
– Known as “Carriers of the Culture”…
• Byblos, Sidon and *Tyre were in great
competition for the trading of the region
– * The Alpha city….
• Cedar- used/traded for shipbuilding
• Snails were crushed for their purple dye…Murex
snails= Tyrian Purple 10,000 snails to dye a
robe
Writing
• Phoenicians needed
simple way to keep
records
• Cuneiform symbols
reached 600….to
many
• Phoenicians
simplified into 22
working symbols
• ?connection?
• Greeks & Romans (+ 4)
symbols creating
modern day alphabet…
– ABCDEF……Z
– Also known as “Phonetic
Alphabet”
• Simplified writing made
understanding easier
for masses
Quick review
• Phoenicians were
known as…
– “Carriers of the
culture”
• Our modern day
alphabet is known as
the _____________
alphabet derived from
the Phoenicians…
– Phonetic Alphabet
Iron Age
• 2800-1200b.c.- Bronze widely used
• ~1200b.c. Hittites (Anatolia)
– iron into its purest form for weaponry (smelting).
• Iron harder than Bronze/more
common/Cheaper
• This use of iron paved the way for “Age of
Empires”
Transitional
• Monday we will begin on the other river
valley civilizations….
• What are the 5 traits to define a
civilization?
• The Fertile Crescent can be named by
other names. _________ & _________
• Since todays focus was writing and
communication, take an opportunity to
write your name in the Glyphs of Egypt.