THE BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION

Four River Valleys

From Hunter/gatherers to Agriculture

Nomads Hunter/Gatherers First crops Neolithic Revolution

Rising temperatures Longer growing seasons Small grain crops led to higher populations,

which meant the need for more food Slash and burn farming

Development of Villages

Domestication of Animals Jarmo Villages develop

Agriculture in the 4 River Valley Civilizations by 5000 B.C.

Developed independently Catal Huyuk

Discovered by archeologists in 1958 South Central Turkey One of the oldest villages

Rise of Civilization

Villages grow into Cities Economic Changes Social Changes

How Civilization develops Advanced cities Specialized workers Complex institutions Record keeping

Cuneiform Advanced technology

Bronze Age

First Civilization

Sumer City of Ur Agricultural Economy City Organization Trade

Barter System Religion

Temple Ziggurat

Tigris Euphrates River Valley (Mesopotamia or Fertile Crescent)

Geography and Environment Technology

Irrigation Arithmetic and geometry Architectural innovations Cuneiform

Sumerian City-States Political Organization- Theocracy Cultural Diffusion

Culture and Religion Society

First Empires

Sargon of Akkad creates the first EMPIRE Babylon

King Hammurabi Hammurabi’s Code Read and analyze the document

Nile River Valley

Geography of Egypt Nile flows northward over 4100 miles- longest river

in the world The Gift of the Nile

Yearly flooding brings rich soil Wheat and barley fields River worshipped as a god

Environmental Challenges Flooding here was more predictable than in

Mesopotamia, but were still destructive Deserts on either side forced people to live in a

narrow plot of land But natural barriers protected the area and spared it

constant warfare

Upper and Lower Egypt

River travel was possible until one hit a cataract, or churning rapids

The area up to the first cataract is Called Upper Egypt because of its higher elevation Boats easily flowed with the current to Lower Egypt

From the first cataract to the Med. Sea is Lower Egypt Delta Region Boats had sails to go against the current to get to

Upper Egypt. River travel provided unity

Egypt unites

5000 B.C.- Farming villages 3200 B.C.- Egypt as 2 separate

kingdoms Narmer unites the two kingdoms around

3000 B.C. Capital- Memphis Pharaohs rule as gods- theocracy Pyramids

Giza

Egyptian Culture

Religion Re- sun god Osiris- god of the dead Isis- ideal mother and wife Over 2000 gods total afterlife

Mummification Book of the Dead

Egyptian Life

Social Structure Could gain higher status through

marriage or success in their jobs Highest positions were for those who

could read and write Hieroglyphics Science and Technology

Calendar 365 day solar year Medicine