early civilizations. categories and places geography, religion, economy, government, social...

Early Civilizations

Categories and places

Geography, Religion, Economy, Government, Social Structure, and notable achievements

Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, India, China

Geography Mesopotamia-Tigris & Euphrates= irrigation but

irregular flood pattern found in modern day Iraq Egypt- Nile- predictable flood pattern, Travel

Desert=protection India- Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra Rivers

Hindu-Kush and Himalayas to N. Deccan Plateau arid and dry

China- Huang He (yellow) and Yangzi Rivers Isolate W. Himalayas and deserts

Religion Mesopotamia- Polytheistic- Inanna= Mother

Earth Ziggurat=temple to the Gods

Persians (Zoroaster) Ahura Mazda- monotheistic Hebrews-Yahweh-monotheistic

Egypt- Henotheistic- belief in one God w/o denying existence of others Polytheistic…Amon Re = Sun God Osiris=God of underworld

Soul= Ka Pyramids=tombs

Religion India-Polytheistic worshipped animals

(early) Vedas- collection of prayers and other religious teachings Arayans- polytheistic

China-Polytheistic Shang di (mother goddess) Yin= Earth, darkness, and female forces Yang= Heaven, light, and male forces

Government Mesopotamia- City-states religious war rulers…seen as

servants to God Code of Hammurabi 300 laws (1790bc & Babylonian empire)

Egypt-Pharaoh with vizier-chief minister India- Priest/Kings as leaders Two main cities Mohenjo-

Daro and Harappa carefully planned Grid patterns China-Kings/Shang Zhou/ Mandate of Heaven—divine

right to rule Feudalism– system of government which lords govern their own lands but owe $ and service to support their ruler

Economy Mesopotamia-Trade- brought in riches

barter system and agrarian society Egypt-Trade and farming India-Farmers- wheat, barley, fruit, cotton,

traders China-trade and farming development of

money

Social Structure Mesopotamia- Top– Leading officials and

high priests Middle– merchants, artisans, lesser priests Low– peasant farmers and slaves

Egypt- Top– Pharaoh High Middle– High Priests and lower Priests Middle– Nobles, merchants, artisans, scribes Low– peasants and slaves

Social Structure

India-Castes– social groups in which you are born into and can not change

Top: Priests High Middle- warriors Middle—Farmers, herders, merchants, and artisans Low---peasants and slaves

China-Top= king Middle= warriors, merchants, and artisans Low=peasants

Achievements Mesopotamia= cuneiform, wheeled

vehicles, irrigation, land cultivation, alphabet (Phoenicians), coins, iron working

Egypt- papyrus, hieroglyphics, 12 month cal., pyramids, mummification, paintings and sculptures

India– city planning and plumbing China- calligraphy, bronze, silk making