August 30th 2012

Mesopotamia:

they wrote their myths on clay tablets, their form of writing was invented in 3200 B.C.
first to invent the wheel, also first to base the numbers on 10 and 60 in decimals, minutes, and hours.
monthly festivals based on:

-the phases of the moon

-the phase of the annual agricultural cycle

-Equinoxes and solstices

-The local mythos and its divine Patrons

-The success of the reigning Monarch

-Commemoration of specific historical events (founding, military victories, temple holidays, etc.)

Hunting was very popular, especially among Assyrian kings
Mesopotamian religion was the first religion to be recorded
They believed that the world was a flat disc.
Also believed that water covered the entire earth.
They believed that the universe was born from the enormous sea.
They bury their people with important items.
Most people were buried in family graves underneath their houses
The gods decide each year how the next year is going to go. They also build social groups and provided them with what they needed to survive.

Nile River:

Yellow River:

Located in China, about 3000 miles long
Named after the loess that blows across Northern China
Empties into the Bohai Sea of the Pacific Ocean
Before dams were around, the river was prone to floods and many people died from them.
10% of China's land is suitable for farming because of the Yellow River
Didn't trade much based on their geography in China
Had to grow their own crops and livestock
Women are unable to own property
Prayed to gods for help when they needed something
Leader of Yellow River Civilazation - Shang King
Family was very important in Chinese Culture, father was the head of the family
Marriages were arranged by fathers and rituals were performed by men
Had no written language for a long period of time
Shang- a walled city along the Yellow River

Emperors and Kingdoms:

Indus River- No known kingdoms heard of today
China- Xia Dynasty was first known dynasty of Chinese area along the Yellow River, known for their black pottery
Shang Dynasty - created the most objects out of bronze, they liked human sacrafice
Western Zhou- Used father son kingdom passing unlike the Shang who used brother younger brother.
Eastern Zhou- Western Zhou people moved to the East. This is when they began to build their walls.
Mesopotamia- in between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Babylon Nation and Dynasty- ruled the Mesopotamia Valley
Babylonian Empire- Hammurabi was the king, empire didn't last long because Hammurabi died.
Neo Babylonian Empire- Capital was Babylon, was taken over in 539 BC by the Roman Empire.
Babylon-55 miles south of Bagdad, Babylon means gate of God
Egyptian Kingdoms- Pharoahs were buried in pyramids, after building phyramids they realized that they were easier to spot and rob than a hidden tomb
The Middle Kingdom- Pharoahs were buried in hidden tombs. Some of these still have not been found today.
The New Kingdom- Egypts expansion period, Pharoahs were buried in the Valley of Kings
Many people lived off the main rivers in the world

Indus River Valley

Southwest Asia 3300 BC to 1900 BC
Present day Pakistan India Afghanistan and China
Natural borders of the Himalayas and Arabian Sea sheltered area from attacks and disease.
The river provided good soil for crops and means for transportation and trade.
River was used to fish for food, water to drink, transportation and trade.
Religion was similar to Hinduism, seals of animals and swastikas
They worshiped animals and unknown Gods
They wrote on pots, seals and small tablets
Wore clothes made of cotton and wool, as well as colorful robes and jewelry
Skilled in pottery weaving and metalworking
At wheat bread with rice or barley
They had weapons but no shields of armor
Played with wooden toys
Cities were set up in perfect grid patterns like NYC
Had the 1st urban sanitation system
Homes were 1 or 2 stories high made of caked brick
Excavated in 1920

The Decline of the Early River Valley Civilizations

The fall of the Mesopotamian Empires- They were known as the Akkadian Empire, fell in 1950 BC they were attacked by the Amorites and it is unknown why they couldn't defend themselves well enough.
The Babylonian Empire- When their leader, Nebuchadnezzar died, he had many successors that didn't last very long and Babylonian Empire collapsed to the Romans.
Ancient Egypt Empire- Along the Nile River, most powerful during the Ramesside Period. They were invaded by foreign powers.
Yellow River Valley Civilizations- The Xia Dynasty culture subsided due to famine and being overrun by the Shang Dynasty. The Zhou clan then became the Zhou Dynasty. Later on they destroyed themselves with a civil war.
Indus Valley Civilization- floods destroyed the irrigation system and the buildings. Constant flooding caused the people to stop taking care of their civilization and crops. Constant neglect caused the civilization to fall and the Aryans invaded and took over.

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