Early River Valley Civilizations

New Stone Age

Period when civilizations appeared in river valleys

River valleys

Provided advantages and resources for agriculture

Mesopotamia

Land located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Religion in Mesopotamia

Integral part of life with each city-state having a deity and a temple

Sumer

Earliest known civilization in southern Mesopotamia

Hammurabi

Babylonian ruler who created a code of laws

Hammurabi's Legacy

Ruled for a long time and brought advancements to Mesopotamia

Mesopotamian Contributions

Invented the first written language and a 12-month calendar

Hebrews

Settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley

Phoenicians

Settled along the Mediterranean Sea and made contributions to civilization

Egypt

Centered on the Nile River and known for its rich agricultural land

Nubia

Kingdom on the upper end of the Nile River in Africa

Pharaohs, Tombs, and Mummies

Pharaohs served as rulers, were buried in tombs, and mummified

Contributions of the Egyptians

Developed a system of writing, a 365-day calendar, and architecture

China

Culture began in the Yellow River Valley and was isolated

Chinese Dynasties

Ruling families governed China under a centralized authority

China - The Silk Road

Facilitated trade between China and other civilizations

Religion in China

Confucianism and Taoism are important belief systems

Impact of Confucianism

Emphasized respect, social order, and worship

Impact of Taoism

Emphasized harmony, nature, and balance

India

Classical civilization spread throughout the Indian subcontinent

Indian City-States

Major cities in the Indus Valley with organized systems

Indo-Aryans

Influenced Indian society with their caste system and beliefs

Origins of Indian Society

Debate over Aryan migration and contributions to Indian society

India - Mauryan Empire

Emperor Ashoka ruled and made contributions to India

India - Gupta Empire

Time of classical Indian culture and contributions

Persia

Built on central Asian and Mesopotamian civilization

Zoroastrianism

Persian religion based on the belief in two opposing forces

Development of Social Patterns

Rulers, class systems, and social acceptance

Development of Political Patterns

City-states, kingdoms, empires, and written laws

Development of Economic Patterns

Use of tools, agriculture, trade, and specialization

Development of Languages and Writing

Importance of writing systems in communication and civilization