River Valley Civilizations

Around what time did Mesopotamia exist?

10000 BCE-1000 BCE

What was Mesopotamia known as?

The fertile crescent

What did the Middle East provide more of?

Major domesticated animals

What are the two rivers surrounding Mesopotamia?

Tigris & Euphrates

What were some civilizations in Mesopotamia?

Sumer (4100-1700 BCE): first human civilization, common culture & language, city-states
Babylon (1894-1600 BCE): conquered Sumer, empire
Assyria (2600-600 BCE): empire

What were some contributions of Mesopotamia?

Oldest widely accepted system of writing (cuneiform), uniform code of laws, epic poetry, the wheel

What were pyramids?

Some of the first large structures in the world, served as temples and trading centers

What were ziggurrats?

Religious temples to a particular deity, meant to bridge the gap between humans and gods (also admin & econ centers, displays of leaders power)

What was traded in Mesopotamia?

Exported textiles in exchange for metal, stone, and luxury goods

Who did the Mesopotamians trade with?

Syria, India, and the Arabian Peninsula

What was the code of Hammurabi?

Written law codes, ex. eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth

Who was society comprised of?

Elites (priests/warriors), freemen (artisans/merchants/farmers), slaves (laws treat each differently)

Who was Hammurabi?

Ruler of Babylon, earliest attempt of establishing modern society, did not conquer people (instead taxed), first known legal system

What were some Indo-European contributions?

Black sea & Caucus mountains: spread cultural practices (effect on western development)
Languages: basis for almost all future European languages, written language
Horsemanship & warfare, four wheeled horse carts

What were some contributions of the River Valleys?

Fundamentals of civilization, farming technology (plows, irrigation), metal working, currency, long distance trade, division of labor