River Civilizations

Questions that need to be answered. (essential questions) Why would people move around rivers? What did they consider technology? Why do some civilizations fail? What would have happened if the Chinese

didn’t invent things? What made religion spread? Why did people shape their lives around

religion?

geography the study of the earth and its inhabitants physical geography had a major impact on

the world’s early settlements

prehistory time period before writing important developments that led to the

forming of small villages: agriculture domestication of animals

civilization a complex culture with

five characteristics: advanced cities advanced technology complex institutions

government organized religion education

record keeping specialized workers

Mesopotamia land near the Tigris

and Euphrates Rivers (mostly modern-day Iraq)

includes the land of Sumer site of the world’s

1st civilization invented writing

(cuneiform)

empire a political unit in which a number of

different peoples or nations are controlled by a single nation

Hammurabi (c. 1810 - c. 1750 BC) king of Babylon

(Mesopotamian city)

developed one of the world’s first law codes

Eye for an eye

Phoenicia (1500-500 BC) located along the

Mediterranean coast (modern-day Lebanon)

expert sailors developed a large

trading network developed the

alphabet

Egypt civilization that

developed along the Nile River in North Africa

Used symbols to write- Hieroglyphics

ruler was a god-king called a pharaoh

some early pharaohs were buried in giant pyramids

Egyptian civilization lasted about 3000 years

Indus River Valley (India) India’s 1st civilization developed along the

Indus and Ganges Rivers Has grown to over 1 billion people

China China’s 1st

civilization developed along the Huang (Yellow) River

Chinese government became dominated by dynasties

Has grown to over 1 billion people

dynasty a series of rulers from a single family

Qin Dynasty unified Chinese culture

currency roads measurement language

The people weren't treated well overtaxed

Han Dynasty China’s longest

dynasty created a highly

structured society

Han Dynasty Also gave us:

Iron technology The Plow

Wheelbarrow Seismograph

Compass ships rudder

Hot air balloon Embroidery and the…

Silk Road

ancient interconnected trade routes across and around Asia

trade along the Silk Road was a major factor in the development of most of the great ancient civilizations of Asia, Africa, and Europe

Cultural diffusion-sharing between cultures

World Religions

Monotheism belief in one god

Most religions today believe this way

Polytheismbelief in many gods

Hinduism

India’s major religion no known founder main beliefs:

polytheism- many gods caste system - hereditary social

system karma - action and reaction reincarnation - literally "to be

made flesh again"Vedas Hinduism’s oldest holy texts

Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha Indian born in warrior caste attained enlightenment & given the title of

Buddha founder of Buddhism religion that broke away from Hinduism main beliefs:

polytheism- many gods reincarnation- come back as something else

living the Four Noble Truths - how to obtain

happiness and enlightenment Eightfold Path - instrument of discovery

Middle Way - practice of non-extremism nirvana - state of perfect peace

Sutras holy texts in Buddhism

Confucius (Confucianism)

Chinese philosopher ethical system based on the

teachings of Confucius main beliefs:

social and civic responsibility Five Relationships

Analects text that contains the words

and acts of Confucius

Judaism religion of the Jews founded by Abraham main beliefs:

monotheism (world’s 1st) Jews are God’s chosen people

Ten Commandments a list of religious and moral

guidelines foundation of Judaism, Christianity,

and IslamAbraham Middle Eastern prophet founder of JudaismJerusalem Judaism’s, Christianity, and Islam’s

holy cityTorah Judaism’s holy book written by Moses

Christianity Jesus- founder of Christianity executed by the Jewish leadership for

creating the split between Christianity and Judaism

religion that broke away from Judaism main beliefs:

Ten Commandments monotheism Jesus is the son of God resurrection of the dead

Bible Christianity’s holy book made up of 2 parts:

Old Testament (Jewish text) New Testament (lives and teachings of

Jesus and his followers)Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Jerusalem

Paul Jew who converted to Christianity Roman citizen brought Christianity to Europe through

missionary travels ( missionary)

Muhammad (Islam) Arab warrior and prophet

founder of Islam religion that began in

modern-day Saudi Arabia followers of Islam are called

Muslims main beliefs:

monotheism- one god Muhammad is God’s greatest

and last prophet believe that Jesus was a

prophet, not as the son of God)

Five PillarsQur’an Islam’s holy book contains the teachings of

MuhammadMecca Muhammad’s birthplace Islam’s holiest city Ka’bah- temple of Abraham

Big Ideas The environment caused the early

civilizations to settle around rivers. The Chinese were inventive and were

responsible for major technological advancements that influenced civilizations other than their own.

Each world religion had specific foundations and affected different areas of the world.