Chapter 2: The Ancient World

Mesopotamia

• Geographic Location– The area lies between the Tigris & Euphrates

Rivers in modern day Iraq.

Mesopotamia

• Advances– Bronze Metallurgy– Cuneiform (wedge

shaped writing)• Pictograph: picture

representation• Ideograms: symbol

representation for abstract thought.

Mesopotamia

• Sumer (Mesopotamian City-State)– Religion• Polytheistic (many gods)• Anthropomorphic: Human

form with human personalities.• Ziggurats-Sumerian Temples

Mesopotamia

• Sumer (Mesopotamian City-State)– Religion• Enuma elish

– Creation myth– Marduk vs. Tiamat

Mesopotamia

• Sumer (Mesopotamian City-State)– The Epic of Gilgamesh• The story of a god/king.• Explains how the universe works

(God-Human interaction).• The Flood

Mesopotamia

• Babylon (Mesopotamian City-State)– King Hammurabi• Creates the Code of

Hammurabi.• Establishes a codified

law.• “Eye for an eye, tooth for

a tooth.”

Mesopotamia

• Neo-Babylon (Mesopotamian City-State)– King Nebuchadnezzar• Hanging Gardens• Tower of Babel• Gates of Ishtar

Mesopotamia

• Neo-Babylon (Mesopotamian City-State)– Glazed Brick (painted & fired)

Gates of Ishtar

Egypt

• Geography– Life in Egypt was

based entirely on the Nile River.

– The deserts initially act as a protective barrier preventing invasion.

Egypt

• Hieroglyphics– They are pictographs.– They were

indecipherable until the translation of the Rosetta Stone by Jean Champollion.

Egypt

• Religion– The Egyptians were polytheistic.– They believed in a soul-like concept known as the

ka.

Egypt

• Religion– Mummification• Stressed the

importance of the afterlife.• Especially the upper-

class.

Egypt

• Religion– The Religion of Aten• Under Amenhotep IV, he

created a monotheistic religion based on the creator god, Aten, the sun god.• After his death, the religion fell

into ruin and the Egyptians went back to polytheism.

Egypt

• Architecture– Mastabas: flat-

topped one-story rectangular buildings with slanted walls.

Egypt

• Architecture– The Great Pyramids at Giza

Egypt

• Architecture– The Great Sphinx

Egypt

• Gender Equality– Women of the same class

had a nearly equal status with men.

– Royalty• Queen Nefertiti• Queen Hatshepsut

Queen Nefertiti

Indus River Valley

• Harappan– This is the name

commonly given to the civilization that developed around the cities of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.

– Both of these major cities fall along the Indus River.

Indus River Valley

• Harappan– Both cities showed a

high degree of civil engineering.

– Both also had centralized drainage (sewage) systems.

Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan.

Indus River Valley

• Harappan– They were eventually invaded by the Aryan (Indo-

Europeans) who with the Harappan created:• Sanskrit• Hinduism

Hinduism

• Major Concepts– Dharma: duty or

cosmic order.– Artha: worldly

success.

Dharma Wheel

Hinduism

• Major Concepts– Kama: physical and

spiritual love.– Moksha: breaking from

the cycle of life and reemergence with the World Soul.

Hinduism

• Major Concepts– Samsara: reincarnation

of the soul.– Karma: moral cause

and effect between lives.

Hinduism

• Major Concepts– Caste System• Brahmins (Priests)• Kshatriyas (Warriors)• Vaishyas (merchants &

professionals)• Shudras (laborers)• Untouchables (outcasts)

Hinduism

• Gods– Brahman (The World Soul)• Brahma the Creator• Vishnu the Preserver• Shiva the Destroyer

Hinduism

• Religious Texts– The Vedas: a set of

hymns.– The Upanishads: a

collection of philosophical poems that defined Hindu philosophy. Ohm, the symbol of Hinduism.

Hinduism

• Religious Texts– The Ramayana: • It is a Hindu epic that blends history, myths, legends

and moral tales with religion and social teachings.• It serves as a guide on politics, society, and family.

Hinduism

• Religious Texts– The Mahabharata: It is an

Indian epic about two warring families.• The Bhagavad Gita (the 6th

book) is a spiritual teaching about duty.• Krishna consults with Arjuna,

an Indian prince, who is troubled about having to kill his relatives.

Buddhism

• It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama.– He was prophesized to be a

great conqueror or a world redeemer.

– He was raised a Hindu.– After a number of trials, he

meditated under the Bodhi Tree and attained enlightenment.

Buddhism

• Concepts– The Four Noble Truths• End desire.• End suffering.• Achieving Nirvana (oneness

with the universe and the breaking of samsara).

– It could be achieved by following the Eightfold Path.

Hinduism vs. Buddhism

• Similarities– Both believe in samsara

(reincarnation).– Both believe that

suffering will end when the final goal is achieved.

Hinduism vs. Buddhism

• Differences– Hindus believe in the castes system, Buddhists

have no caste.– Hindus have multiple gods, Buddhists have none.

Hinduism vs. Buddhism

• Differences– In Hinduism, only Brahmins can achieve moksha

after a minimum of seven life times.– Buddhists believe that Nirvana is unique to the

individual and can be achieved in one lifetime.

Ancient China

• Geography– China is a system of

mountainous valleys.• Yellow River (Huang

He) contained the earliest Chinese settlements.• Yangtze (Chang

Jiang) were settled later.

Ancient China

• Dynasties– Xia (pronounced Shi-

yuh)• Led by a mythical

engineer king.• No actual evidence

except what has been left by the Shang.

Ancient China

• Dynasties– Shang• First documented

dynasty.• Known for the carving

of jade and bronze work.

Ancient China

• Dynasties– Zhou (pronounced Joe)• Developed the

Mandate of Heaven.• The mandate created

the concept of the Son of Heaven, which becomes the foundation of the Chinese political system.

Ancient China

• Confucianism– Confucius• His real name is Kong Fuzi.• His written works are

collectively known as the Analects.

Ancient China

• Confucianism– Confucius• He grew up during

the period of the Warring States, a time of chaos and confusion.

Ancient China

• Confucianism– Dogma• His literature focuses on

three key aspects.– Self-control– Propriety– Filial Piety (respect for

elders)

The symbol of Confucianism.

Ancient China

• Confucianism– Dogma• He believed if everyone knew their proper position in

society it would lead to harmony.• None of his literature deals with any type of spiritual

afterlife.

Ancient China

• Confucianism– Dogma• His philosophy will become the cornerstone of Chinese

public relations.• It is considered the “face you wear in public.”

Chinese Philosophies/Religions

• Taoism/Daoism– Laozi/Lao Tzu• The origin of the founder

is unknown though a multitude of stories exist.

Chinese Philosophies/Religions

• Taoism/Daoism– Dogma• Tao/Dao literally means “the

way.”• The main concern of a Daoist

is balance in all things.

Dao

Chinese Philosophies/Religions

• Taoism/Daoism– Dogma• It is best represented by

the Yin & Yang symbol.• It is regarded as the

“inner” or private religion practiced by the Chinese.

Mesoamerica

• Olmecs– This was the earliest

advanced tribe of the Americas (ca. 1300 B.C.E.)

– They were known for the carving of gigantic heads.

Mesoamerica

• Mayans (250 B.C.E.-900 C.E.)– Their empire centered around the Yucatan

peninsula.– They had an incredible amount of knowledge

about mathematics and astronomy.

Mesoamerica

• Mayans– Popol Vuh

• The creation myth of the Mayan’s (it may have extended even early to the Olmecs).

• This was the belief that man was created from maize and water.

• The gods also shed their blood to make the world work.

Mesoamerica

• Aztecs– They are descendants of the Toltecs and are part

of a larger tribe called the Mexica.– Their capital was Tenochtitlan, modern day Mexico

City.

Mesoamerica

• Aztecs– They are most commonly known for their human

sacrifices and the abundance of gold they mined.– This society were conquered by the Spanish led by

Hernan Cortes.

Andean Indians

• The Chavin Cult (pre-Moche Indians)– These were some of the

earliest advanced Native Americans living in the area of Peru.

– They too promoted the Popoh Vul like their cousins to the North.

Andean Indians

• The Inca (1300-1537 C.E.)– Culturally they are very similar

to the Aztecs.– They possessed advanced

building techniques.• Pyramids• Roads • Terraced Fields

Andean Indians

• The Inca (1300-1537 C.E.)– Machu Picchu• This is one of their cities built high in the Andes.• It is believed to be a retreat for the nobility.

Andean Indians

• The Inca (1300-1537 C.E.)– Culture• The nobles used mummies of

their ancestors to communicate with their gods.• Music

– They used instruments like the panpipe.

– It normally accompanied religious dance.

North America

• The culture of North American Indians was largely influenced by their environment.

North America

• The most impressive remaining construction of the North American tribes was the Great Serpent Mound created by the Mississippian tribe.