Mesopotamia-
- the birthplace of the Pythagorean theorem and the first gov't
- Means the land between two rivers
- between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
- rivers were used for trade and commerce, irrigation, crops, minerals, and grazing animals
- Rivers also caused flooding which would destroy farms and cities.
- the Tigris was very fast and violent and would change course without notice
Culture
- they believed in many gods
- wrote on clay tablets,
- buried people with items
- 1st religion to be recorded
- believed the world was flat,
- believed water covered the entire earth
- monthly festivals several reasons
Geography
- located in the Fertile crescent
- centered between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
- Present day- Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia
- Warm climate, water, fertile soil
- Lack of resources
- few trees, little rain, had to trade for certain necessities
Cities and States
- first cites began around 4000 BC-3500 BC
- Babylon-Amorites named it their capital
- known for its color and luxury
- Ashur-
- Modern day Iraq
- used as religious capital
- Nippur-
- modern day south eastern Iraq
- used a religious capital
- Nineveh
- oldest Assyrian city
- one of the most powerful cities in the middle east
Nile River Valley
Geography
- the Nile river is 4,160 miles long
- located in africa, flows through Egypt, and many other countries
- means River Valley in Greek
Importance
- Provides resources for almost all aspects of life
- known as the Chief of Transport
- people set up trading routes for, leopard skins, eggs, cattle, feathers
People
- Egyptians
- lived in 3 classes of society
- lived along both sides of the river
- had dark skin, dark hair, men wore skirts and robes, women wore skirts and dresses
- women wore make up and painted their fingernails
Religion
- Based on nature
- Sun God-Re or RA
- God of the Nile- Hapi
- Sun God-Re or RA
- believed in life after death, preserved people as mummies
40 million people live in the Nile Delta region today
- The Nile is still used for transportation and trade to this day
Cities and States
3 civilizations
- Nubia-land of the bow
- Kemet
- Kush
- Each had their own rituals and gods
Yellow River
- also called Huang He
- flows from central to eastern China
Geography
- Named after the yellow clay, loess
- approx. 3000 miles long, empties into the Bohai Sea on the East coast of China
Importance
- before dams, the river was very prone to flooding
- people died form drowning and from famine
- areas around the Yellow River and Yangzte are great food producing areas
- only 10% of land is suitable for farming
- people had to be self sufficient because the land is not suitable for trading, etc.
Culture
- "the Cradle of Chinese Civilization"
- Believed in supernatural power
- women unable to own property
- Leader: Shang King
- Aristocratic warlords- military leaders
- family was very important
- father was head of family, arranged marriages and chose sons' jobs
- father was head of family, arranged marriages and chose sons' jobs
- Didn't have a written language for a long period of time
Cities and States
- Xia, Shang, Tang dynasties
- Yin was the capital of the Shang dynasty
- most cities by the river were walled to protect from attacks
Emperors and Kingdoms
- no kingdoms along the Indus river
- Xia Dynasty was the first known dynasty along the yellow river, known for black pottery, there is no written history
- Shang Dynasty- most well known, used many human sacrifices, some human sacrifices were thrown in to a pit still alive
- Western Zhou- used father son kingdom passing unlike Shang who went by brothers
- Eastern Zhou- same as western zhou but was relocated after being attacked
Mesopotamia River Valley
- Babylon Nation and Dynasty-small and powerless nation until the first dynasty got them going in the right direction
- Babylonian Empire-Hammarabi created it, didn't last long because Hammarabi died
- Neo Babylonian Empire- established in 612 BC, Babylon was capital, the Empire was taken over by Romans
- Babylon means 'Gate of Gods"
Egyptians Kingdoms
- Old Kingdom-2700 BCE-2200 BCE,
- Middle Kingdom- 2100 BCE-1800 BCE, during Egypts Golden Age
- New Kingdom-1500 BCE-1000 BCE, during Egypt's expanding period
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