Unit 2 – First Civilizations

Unit OverviewStudents will examine the rise of First Civilizations and defining components such as increased agriculture, the concept of state, centralized rule, advances in technology, art and organized religion.

Key Concepts/Objectives – Students should comprehend and provide examples of the following: Foundational civilizations arose in a variety of geographical and environmental settings where

agriculture flourished such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Norte Chico, Mohenjo-Daro, Shang and Olmec.

The first states emerged within core civilizations. Strong states were often led by a divine ruler More favorably located states expanded - Mesopotamia, Babylon and the Nile Valley. Culture (laws, language, literature, religion, monumental art).played a key role in unifying

states. Political and religious elites promoted arts and artisanship (Illustrative example of art and

artisanship required such as sculpture, painting, wall decorations, weaving, etc.) Systems of record keeping arose in all early civilizations and were eventually diffused. States developed legal codes, e.g. Code of Hammurabi, that benefited the rule of

governments. Emergence of influential religions - Vedic religion, Hebrew monotheism and Zoroastrianism Trade expanded from local to regional and trans-regional, with civilizations exchanging goods,

ideas and technology. (Required examples - Egypt and Nubia, Mesopotamia and Indus Valley.) Pastoralists were among the developers and disseminators of new weapons and

transportation later adopted by agrarian societies. Social and gender hierarchies intensified as states expanded and cities multiplied.

First Civilizations1. Sumer (Mesopotamia) 3500 BCE2. Nile River (Egypt and Nubia) 3000 BCE3. Oxus, or Amu Darya River – 2200 BCE4. Mohenjo-Daro Indus Valley5. China (Xia, Shang, Zhou) – 2070 BCE6. Andes (Norte Chico) 3000 – 1800 BCE7. Olmec Civilization – 1200 BCE

Activity: Working in small groups, perform micro-research (see organizational chart) on one of the early civilizations listed above. Upon doing so, present:Geographic descriptionApproximate time spanType of governmentMeans of organization or governmentExamples of monumental architectureOther artistic or scientific achievementReligious or philosophic beliefsSocial structure

Characteristics of First Civilizations• Rooted in Agricultural Revolution• Increased population density• Presence of important cities (Ex:

Uruk, Mohenjo Daro, Harappa, & Teotihuacán)

Other attributes of first civilizations cited by text. (Familiarize yourself with the following vocab. & concepts)• Centralized rule• Stratification & hierarchies of power• Rise of elite; grandeur and opulence

in life & death• Monumental architecture• Slavery, coercion, subordination• Impersonality of cities• Increased productive capacity• Competition• Organization, writing and accounting• Specialization - peasants & military• Patriarchy

MESOPOTAMIA

Sumerian CuneiformSumerian Ziggurat of Eanna

Mesopotamia – The Sumerians

Mesopotamian civilizations grew around the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, an area once known as the Fertile Crescent, and presently as Iraq.

The first of the great civilizations to arise in this area were the Sumerians (3200 BCE – 1900 BCE) who were ruled by strong monarchs.

Lacking in natural resources such as stone and timber, they relied upon mud brick architecture. Ziggurats – example of monumental architecture.

Impressive innovations - mathematical concepts of 6 and 360 degrees, hours divided into 60 minutes.

Cuneiform developed as a system of writing.

Epic of Gilgamesh – oral legend attributed to Sumerians and recorded by successor empires - sheds light on religious outlook.

Later Mesopotamian Civilizations included Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians.

Activity relating to Doc. 2.1 (p. 92-95) – In Search of Eternal Life (Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh)

Description of Assignment:Students will develop a skit based upon the Epic of Gilgamesh, a story attributed to early Sumerian civilization.

Steps•Start by dividing roles, so students know what to look for in the reading as they prepare for their parts.•Read the excerpt from “The Epic of Gilgamesh” Doc. 2.1 (p. 92-95), and upon doing so, identify and discuss major themes from the reading as well as what it reveals about Sumerian religion. •Brainstorm ideas for a simple skit that encompasses the major ideas of the story, as well as the key figures.•Practice the skit once or twice. Focus on understanding rather than memorizing individual lines.•Present your skit.

Key RolesCo -directorsNarratorGilgamesh – ruler of UrukEnkidu – part beast, part human, initially sent to subdue GilgameshEnlil – chief godSiduri – tavern owner (wise goddess)Utnapishtum – only mortal granted immortalityShamash – Glorious sun godIshtar – Goddess of LoveAdad – God of the stormAnu – Lord of High Firmament

OtherCommoners

PlacesPalace of Irkalla – afterlife, a dreary placeTemple of Blessed Eanna

Successor States to Sumer: Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites and Assyrians

Strong successor states followed Sumer including the following:

Akkadians, whose king - Sargon forged an empire in 2300 BCE.

Babylonians, whose king Hammurabi (r. ca. 1795-1750 CE) formally codified preexisting laws “inspired by the chief god Marduk” into what became known as “Hammurabi’s code”.

Hittites, arrived in Mesopotamia from Asia Minor circa 1400 BCE. They lent knowledge of iron making to tools and weapons in Mesopotamia and went on to rule until around 1200 BCE, whereby they migrated and spread iron making skills other parts of Asia, Africa and Europe.

Assyrians, rose to power around 1350 BCE, and expanded across Mesopotamia by 1100 BCE. They also forged iron weapons, and were a threat for some 500 years. Chief god was Assur. They placed a premium on order. They had well planned cities and magnificent temples. Assyrian rule included strict domestic rules such as veiling and seclusion of women within the palace and in public. King Assurbanipal founded one of the world’s first libraries at Nineveh.

Babylonian Revival, took place after Assyrian king Assurbanipal died. In 622 BCE, Babylon’s 2nd king of the revived empire, Nebuchadnezzar, conquered the Assyrians. Nebuchadnezzar surrounded Babylon with a defensive moat and brick wall, 85 ft. thick. The main gate was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar, who was represented by lions. There were also dragons representing the god Marduk, and bulls representing the god Hadad. Additionally, Nebuchadnezzar may have built the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though not found yet.

Hittite charioteer hunting, Louvre Museum, circa 9th century BCE

Description of Assignment:Students will analyze and draw inferences from Hammurabi’s Code (Doc. 2.2, p. 95-97)

StepsThe class will break into four groups – each group being responsible for one of the following sub-topics:

• On Crime, Punishment and Justice• On the Economy• On Class and Slavery• On Men and Women

Students within each group will take on different social roles – nobles, merchants, peasant farmers, women and slaves - and then read their section. Students will share reactions to some of the laws (from perspective of their roles) with group. One person per group will record different reactions to specific laws.That person will share reactions (and refer to specific passages) to the laws with the class at large.The class will conclude by drawing general inferences to each group’s reactions.

EGYPT

Key RiversWater is a precious resource in the Middle East. The arid region boasts only a few major river systems including:

The Nile River, which originates in central Africa (Lake Victoria) as the White Nile and is joined by the Blue Nile flowing out of Ethiopia (Lake Tana).

The Euphrates and Tigris, that make up the region once called Mesopotamia. Each of these rivers start in Turkey, traverse Syria, and flow out of Iraq into the Persian Gulf.

The Jordan River, which flows out of Lebanon and divides Israel from both Syria and Jordan.

Ancient EgyptUpper and Lower Egypt united around 3100 BC by Pharaoh Menes; est. capital of Memphis.

“Period-ization” (categorization of historical time periods) of Ancient Egyptian history

Old Kingdom 2650 – 2134 BCE; characterized by pyramid building

Middle Kingdom 2040 – 1633 BCE; characterized by expansion to Kush in south, but then loss of power to Hyksos

New Kingdom 1558 – 1085 BCE – expansion into present Syria and Euphrates

Government – bureaucracy headed by semi-divine pharaoh, advised by viziers

Script – hieroglyphics

Monumental architecture – Pyramids, necropolises

Class structure – nobility, merchants, peasants, slaves

Religion - belief in afterlife, preservation of body.

Portrait of Raherka and Mersankh

Photos - Abraham

The Pyramids at GizaThe pyramids at Giza were built during the Old Kingdom. The largest, the Pyramid of Khufu - 756 ft (w) x 481 ft (h) - was finished around 2560 BC. It consists of some 2.3 million blocks of stone, each weighing about 2 .5 tons, peasants quarried the stone, sent it on barges along the Nile, and pulled it onto sleds, whereby it was constructed with the use of ramps.

Khafre’s pyramid with Sphinx at foreground was built circa 2520 BC. and Menkaure’s pyramid circa 2504 BC.

http://www.unmuseum.org/kpyramid.htm

The Might of the New Kingdom Era

Egypt’s New Kingdom was characterized by strong rulers and expansion.

It’s first female ruler – Hatshepsut (r. 1472-1458 BCE), promoted trade with the eastern Mediterranean. She was actually a co-regent, or ruler with her stepson Thutmose III (r. 1479 BCE – 1425 BCE), who extended New Kingdompower to its height circa 1450 BCE into present day Syria and the Euphrates River.

Another powerful ruler was Ramses II (r. 1279 BCE – 1213 BCE). He regained control of Syria and waged battles against the Hittites, which ended in “the first peace treaty”. He also exacted gold from Nubia which Egypt ruled at this time.

Egypt’s power faded after 1100 BCE. Both the Assyrians and Persians conquered the Nile River valley, and in 332 BCE, the last Egyptian dynasty fell to Greek rule, replaced by Roman rule in 30 BCE.

Enrichment: See the PBS special on Egypt’s New Kingdom - http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/newkingdom/ramesses.html

Life size statue of Hatshepsut – Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tutankamen’s Funerary Mask (L) and Sarcophagus (R), Museum of Cairo. Egyptian’s believed that if judged properly by Osiris, the body would be of use in the afterlife. Thus, extensive efforts were made to preserve the body, and accompany burial with personal artifacts.

Egyptian Views on the Afterlife

Traditionally, Egyptians worshipped local gods. By the Middle Kingdom, the god Amon, was associated with the Old Kingdom sun god – Re. A “new god” Amon-Re became prominent.

Egyptians paid more attention to the god Osiris. By legend, Osiris had once ruled Egypt, but was slayed by his brother Set. The slain body of Osiris was restored by his wife Isis, and Osiris went on to become the god of the dead and “judge of souls” entering the underworld. Osiris was also regarded as “God of the Nile”, and Isis was revered as the benefactor to Egyptian women of skills such as farming, weaving and childrearing.

Egyptians also believed in eternal life. Yet, each soul would first be ferried across a lake of fire to the Hall of Osiris. Then, each soul would be weighed against the “feather of truth”. Sinners would be fed to the crocodile shaped “Eater of the Dead”, others would enjoy eternal life in the “Happy Field of Food”.

Excerpt from the Book of the Dead from the Papyrus of Ani. Ani’s heart is being weighed against Maat, feather of truth. Anubis, the jackal headed guardian of the feather looks on.

Photo - Abraham

Ramses the Great Temple, Abu Simbel

This temple was completed circa 1257 BCE on the west bank of the Nile in the land of Nubia. The temple was dedicated to the gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte. All four figures are believed to be those of Ramses and stand around 67 feet high. On Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 the sun’s rays fully light the interior chamber.

Amazing Fact: From 1964-66 the entire temple complex was cut apart and elevated 200 feet to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

Isis and Tutankhamun

Isis Temple

Isis Temple

Abraham

Luxor with Mosque in Background

Karnak Temple at Luxor

Activity: Students will analyze sources pertaining to Egyptian views on the afterlife.

StepsRead the following and discuss:

Doc. 2.3 “A Pyramid Text” (p. 98 – top of page)Doc. 2.4 “Book of the Dead” (p. 98 – bottom of page)Visual scene (slide) from the Book of the Dead

Upon reading, students will draw inferences about Egyptian views of the afterlife.

Activity: Students will analyze and discuss sources pertaining to Egyptian society.

StepsRead the following and discuss:

Portrait of Paneb (p. 84-85) Doc. 2.5 “Be a Scribe” (p. 100 – 101)

Upon reading, discuss: Taken together, how do these documents deepen your understanding of Egyptian society?

Raherka and MersankhReunion de Muses

LIFE ALONG THE NILE TODAY

Nile Feluccas – Traditional Sailing vessels. Pictured - old and new feluccas

Abraham

Abraham

For centuries, Egypt was known as the “gift of the Nile”.

Egyptian Fellahin or farmers

Photos - Abraham

Life Along the Nile

Nubian – Southern Egypt

Views of Cairo

Photos Abraham

Abraham

Khan al-Khalili Market or Souq, Cairo

Abraham

Khan al-Khalili Market, Cairo

Luxor, Egypt

Cairene

AbrahamAswan, Egypt

Veiled Women in Cairo

Making Flat Bread

INDUS RIVER CIVILIZATION

Indus River Civilizations

India’s earliest civilizations rose along the Indus river. The “sub-continent” was impacted by monsoons from the southwest in the summer, and monsoons from the northeast in the winter.

Key cities were Mohenjo-Daro and Harrappa.

Indus River architecture was characterized by standardization of weights, measures and the use of mud bricks.

Deforestation and reliance upon sea water (high salinity) contributed to environmental degradation.

The caste system was a unique form of social stratification.

Temple Ruins, Mohenjo-Daro

The Vedic Age

Around 1500 BCE, nomadic peoples known as Aryans from the Caucasus area settled in the Indus Valley. They forced earlier inhabitants south.

The Aryans told sacred stories and chants, later recorded into The Vedas, after they developed the language of Sanskrit. They also revered, or worshipped cattle.

Another legacy of the Aryans was the stratification (separation) of people into social classes, or castes.Priests (Brahmins)Warriors (Kshatriyas)Merchants (Vaisyas)Peasants, farmers (Sudras) Untouchables, a sub-caste

Stone Ruins - Mohenjodaro (above).

Woman sweeping the street. What caste does she belong to?

Activity: Read p. 103-107 “Considering the Evidence”

Upon doing so, explain what the artistic pieces reveal about what existed and what was lacking in Indus civilization.

“Dancing Girl”, National Museum, New Delhi. Circa 2500 BCE, out of bronze using “lost-wax” method

Unicorn Seal, Mohenjo-Daro

OXUS OR AMU DARYA

Oxus and Amu Darya Civilizations (2200 BCE – 1700 BCE)

In what is now northern Afghanistan and southern Turkmenistan – the Oxus, or Amu Darya civilization began. Economically it relied on both irrigation and stock raising, as well as trade with pastoral nomads. It encompassed oasis cities.

Distinctive qualities were its architecture, complex burial techniques, ceramics and seals, though it lacked a system of writing.

Through trade, it was linked with China, the Indus River Valley and Persia, and became an area of economic and cultural exchange.

Socially, nobles and men ranked high.

Recommended Video: The Asia Society: Homeland Afghanistan<embed src='http://afghanistan.asiasociety.org/jwplayer/Player_5.0.swf' height='388' width='640' bgcolor='0xffffff' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' flashvars="&backcolor=0xffffff&dock=false&file=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.asiasociety.org%2Feducation%2Fafghanistan%2Fera1%2F2000_2.mp4&frontcolor=0xffffff&image=http%3A%2F%2Fcms.afghanistan.asiasociety.org%2Fsites%2Fcms.afghanistan.asiasociety.org%2Ffiles%2Fstill-

CHINA

Beginnings of the Human Story in China

China’s vast mountain and deserts in the west resulted in a concentration of the population in the eastern parts country – especially in the Huang He (Yellow) and Yangzi River valleys.

The presence of hominids in China can be traced back as early as 1.5 million years ago, “Peking Man” or homo erectus, while homo-sapiens is believed to have appeared in China some 40,000 t0 50,000 years ago.

By 5,000 BCE farming (wheat, millet) and domestication of dogs, pigs in n. China. Rice cultivation and domestication of water buffalo in Yangzi river valley by 3,000 BC.

Pan Gu

Nu Wa and Fu Xi.

Mythological Beginnings

Chinese civilization lacks both a universal creation story, and the concept of a creator god responsible for all life. Chinese mythology draws upon many accounts, dated from the 4th cent.– 2nd cent. CE

Themes most prevalent include:• Existence of primeval elements (vapor), and the later separation into yin and yang

• Separation of earth from sky and a finite world picture – heaven above; earth below

• Earthly life stemming from a semi-divine being - Pan Gu, who himself was born from a cosmic egg

• Human life being shaped from either the semi-god Nu Wa (female) or along with her consort Fu Xi, (“the first man and woman”)

Yin and Yang

Culture Bearers

Chinese folklore credits many “culture bearers”, turned semi-divine. Among them:

Jade Emperor who presides over heaven and the four poles.

Huang Di –Yellow Lord”, first of pre-dynastic rulers, (2697 -2597 BCE)

Fu Xi – first man, ox tamer, discover of writing (i.e. multi-functional)

Yu the Great – tamed the rivers, taught flood and irrigation controlSui- Jen – fire driller

Qu Ling – the river god

Shen Nung – farmer god

Fu Xi – The Ox Tamer

Huang Di – Yellow Emperor

Jade Emperor, Ming Dynasty, unidentified artist, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

Yangshao funerary jar, burnished earthenwareGansu Province 2nd–3rd mill. Century. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation

Yangshao pottery

Neolithic “late Stone Age”

3200 – 2500 BCE -Yangshao culture (present Shaanxi, Guanxu provinces). Known for geometric designs and images of animals.

In the east, (Liaoning province), Hongshan culture (3200 BCE) - fine jade as did the Liangzu culture (Jiangzu province).

At Hemedu (south of Shanghai), neolithic peoples built homes on stilts and wove baskets.

Jade ax - Shandong

Dynastic Rule and the Mandate of Heaven

For centuries, China was ruled by a ruling family with an emperor, or “Son of Heaven” at its head. The dynasty held onto power so long as it possessed the “Mandate of Heaven”, a sort of divine rule granted in turn for ruling in the interests of the people.

Xia 2100 BCE–1600 BCEShang 1600 BCE–1046 BCEW. Zhou 1046 BCE-771 BCEE. Zhou 771 BCE – 256 BCEWarring States 475– 221 BCEQin 221 BCE–206 BCEHan 206 BCE – 220 CEThree Kingdoms 220-265 CESui 581 CE–618 CETang 680 CE – 918 CESong 960 CE–1279 CEYuan (Mongol) 1279 CE–1368 CEMing 1368 CE -1644 CEQing (Manchu) 1644 CE -1912 CE

Shang 1600 – 1046 BCE

The Shang era is noted for:•Origins of writing system•Use of oracle bones•Bronze technology/weaponry•Practice of ancestral worship

Oracle Bones (National Library of China)

A map of Shang dynasty China

Shang vessel – U. of Washington

Chinese Writing

Dates back to the Shang era. (2nd mill. BCE).

Based on pictographs - characters representing objects, and ideographs combinations of pictographs used to represent ideas.

Question: What challenges might a logographic system like written Chinese pose compared to a phonetic system, in which letters represent sounds?

Lady Hao’s Tomb(Online Visual Sourcebook of China

Shang vessel, Anyang

Vessel from Lady Han’s tomb

Shang Tombs and ArtifactsShang tombs and artifacts reveal a good deal about Shang culture. The possessions in the tomb of Lady Hao, likely a wife of King Wu Ding (ca. 1200 BC), contained the most intact collection of objects of all the Shang Tombs.

Pillars of Chinese Civilization

• Agriculture• System of Writing • Confucianism • System of

Government (emperor, dynasty and bureaucracy)

Strokes and Stroke Order

Individual strokes are learned before complete characters

Note: both stroke order and direction are important

(Chineseoutpost.com)Character - Forever

Ancestral Veneration

The emphasis on veneration, or respect of one’s ancestors pre-dates the teachings of Confucius in Chinese society. Why might ancestral worship have played such a large role?

Qing emperor DaisanArthur Sackler Gallery12th century Qing Ming Festival Zhang Zeduan

The Warring States Period

The latter part of the Zhou period was known as The Warring States Period (474 BCE – 221 BCE).

Some 70 states competed for the Mandate of Heaven. The most powerful proved to be the Chu, Qi and Qin. The Qin would eventually conquer their rivals and unite China.

L. Bronze weapon and R. Crossbow with mechanical trigger.

Norte Chico

The civilization of Norte Chico arose on the coast of central Peru from 3000 BCE to 1800 CE.

This arid region lied in the Supe River valley. Its capital was Caral, which boasted monumental architecture in the form of earthen mounds used for ceremonial purposes as well as residential compounds.

Economically, it depended upon a fishing industry and trade with inland peoples for squash, beans, guava and cotton , with its only import being maize from Mesoamerica (Strayer).

Lacking in pottery and a system a writing, it relied quipus, knotted chords for counting. Yet it “lit a cultural fire in the Andes”, and paved the way for greater civilizations such as the Incas. Above: Amphitheater at Caral (www.realhistory.com) and

knotted quipu (archeologyabout.com)

OLMEC

Olmec Civilization

Mesoamerica: Olmec Civilization

Original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Pyramids of Giza, EgyptBuilt: About 2,600 B.C.Massive tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, the pyramids are the only ancient wonders still standing today.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon, IraqBuilt: Date unknownLegend has it that this garden paradise was planted on an artificial mountain, but many experts say it never really existed.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, TurkeyBuilt: Sixth century B.C.This towering temple was built to honor Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt.Statue of Zeus, GreeceBuilt: Fifth century B.C.This 40-foot (12-meter) statue depicted the king of the Greek gods.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, TurkeyBuild: Fourth century B.C.This elaborate tomb was built for King Mausolus.

Colossus of Rhodes, Rhodes (an island in the Mediterranean Sea)Built: Fourth century B.C.A 110-foot (33.5-meter) statue honored the Greek sun god Helios.

Lighthouse of Alexandria, EgyptBuilt: Third century B.C.The world's first lighthouse used mirrors to reflect sunlight for miles out to sea.