five minute writing assignment why did the first civilizations emerge near rivers and river valleys?...
TRANSCRIPT
Five Minute Writing Assignment
• Why did the first civilizations emerge near rivers and river valleys?
• 1. Offered rich soils for agriculture• 2. Tended to be located in places that
could offer protection from nomadic invaders
Five Minute Writing Assignment
• List three forms of technology found in River Valley civilizations and how they changed life for their citizens.
• Wheel – moving heavy objects• Plow- prepare soil for better plant growth• Irrigation system- system to provide constant
water source.• System of writing- record keeping,
communication
Discussion Question:
• What is the difference between the Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages?
Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.
Unit 2 : Early Civilizations
The Fertile Crescent
• Arc of land between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea in Southwest Asia
One land…Two Rivers• Mesopotamia means =
“land between the rivers”–Tigris River and
Euphrates River• Both rivers flooded once
a year and left thick bed of silt.–Silt: rich, new soil
farmers could plant and harvest enormous quantities of wheat and barley
PoliticalPower of the Priests• Sumer’s earliest
governments were controlled by temple priests–Farmers believed they
needed blessings for success of their crops
–Priests were the middle man for the Gods
–Priests demanded portion of farmer crops as tax
Political
• Later followed
Hereditary rulers: ?
when the power is
passed down to
family members
Sargon
Economy/Commerce• Did early civilizations use a barter economy or a monetary economy?
Barter
• Increasing agricultural surplus (better tools, plows, irrigation)
• Increasing trade along rivers – traded with Egypt
• Specialization of labor
Religion• Polytheistic: Belief in
Many Gods (3,000!!!)• Gods could be angered at
any moment and to keep them happy (?) Sumerians:–Built impressive
ziggurats or temples to sacrifice food, wine and animals
MORE ZIGGURATS!!!
Sumerian Society
Kings and Priests
Wealthy merchants
Ordinary Sumerian people
Slaves
Rights of Women• Could hold property• Join lower ranks of
priesthood• There were few women
scribes. Why?• Could women go to
school?–Scholars think that girls
were not allowed to attend schools
Language/LiteratureEpic of Gilgamesh• Myths and legends
recorded in this long poem
• Story of a legendary Mesopotamian king.
• One of the earliest works of literature in the world
“Gilgamesh, whither are you wandering?
Life, which you look for, you will never find.
For when the gods created man, they let
Death be his share, and withheld life
In their own hands”
AchievementsScience and Technology• Invented the wheel, the
sail, the plow• First to use bronze.• Developed system of
writing• Built irrigation systems,
buildings, surveyed flooded fields.