Chapter 2: Ancient River Valley Civilizations

• Mesopotamia

• Ancient Egypt

• Indus River Valley

• Ancient China

MesopotamiaGeography

Mesopotamia was located in the Fertile Crescent, between the Tigris and Euphrates River. It was a flat, swampy area with fertile soil. The natural resources were limited, and flooding was unpredictable.

Political DevelopmentsThe civilization of Mesopotamia was split into city-states which functioned as independent countries. At first, priests ruled. Ziggurats were used as city halls. Eventually, Hammurabi’s code was developed. It was a uniform code for all of Mesopotamia. The punishments for various crimes were based on gender and social ranking. The code used retaliation to punish crimes.

Key PeopleSargon of Akkad- Defeated the city states of

Sumer. United both Northern and Southern Mesopotamia, and created the world’s first empire.

Hammurabi- Babylonian Empire reached its peak during his rule. He was known for his law code.

Economic DevelopmentsTo survive, the people built irrigation ditches,

and traded with people of the mountains and desert.

Social DevelopmentsMesopotamia was the beginning of social classes. Priests and kings were at the

top of the social pyramid, followed by wealthy merchants, fieldworkers, and finally, slaves. Women were able to hold property, and join the lower ranks of priesthood. Few knew how to read and write.

ReligionThe people of Mesopotamia were polytheistic. They believed that gods

controlled different forces of nature. Their gods had human qualities, but were immortal, and all-powerful. To please the gods, sacrifices were made, and ziggurats were built. They also believed in an afterlife, but it was a dismal place, and known as a land of no return.

TechnologyThe people of the Fertile Crescent developed the:

Wheel Sail Plow Use of Bronze First system of writing, cuneiform Measure of time 360˚ in a circle

Ancient EgyptGeographyEgypt was fairly isolated because of the desert which surrounded it. The Nile

River flooded regularly, and made a narrow strip of land around the Nile fertile. The Nile greatly impacted people’s lives.

TechnologyEgyptians developed written numbers. They also created early geometry, the

modern day calendar, and the basis for medicine.

Political DevelopmentsThere were for a long time two separate kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt. A

single pharoah ruled who was believed to be a god. This is known as a theocracy.

Key PeopleMenes- A king of Upper Egypt, who united all of Egypt. He built his capital,

Memphis, where Upper and Lower Egypt met.

Economic DevelopmentsThe Ancient Egyptians had contact with the people of Mesopotamia.

Trading Caravans traveled between the two regions. Ships also traveled to Nubia and Kush in the South in search of gold, ivory, and granite.

Religion The Egyptians believed in polytheism. They also believed in an afterlife where a

person would be judged for the deeds they performed in their life. A dead person’s body was preserved by way of mummification. Pyramids were built for pharaohs to serve as tombs which were supplied with clothing, food, jewelry, and anything else the person might need in the afterlife.

Social DevelopmentsThe social pyramid in Egypt went in the following order: the pharaoh

and royal family, wealthy landowners, priests, government officials, merchants, artisans, peasant farmers, unskilled laborers, and slaves. There was some social mobility. People could rise in ranking through marriage. Women could own and trade property. They could also propose magic or seek divorce.

The Indus River ValleyGeographyBehind the Himalayan Mountains

there is a large, flat, and fertile plain created by the Indus and Ganges River. Seasonal winds—monsoons control India’s climate. Crops were dependant on wet and dry seasons brought by monsoons.

ReligionThe people of Mohenjo-Daro

believed in an early form of Hinduism.

TechnologyThe people of Mohenjo-Daro had

planned cities which were built on a grid system. Early engineers created complex plumbing and sewage systems.

River Dynasties in China

GeographyChina’s two main rivers were the Huang Ho and the Yangtze. When the Huang He

flooded yellow silt overflowed its banks which was actually fertile soil called loess. Natural barriers isolated China, so the people living there had to supply their own goods.

Political DevelopmentThe Mandate of Heaven was used to justify a ruler’s rights to command China. When

natural disasters occurred it was thought that spirits were displeased with the king’s rule, and the dynasty would be overthrown and replaced with another. The cycle of dynasties was repeated until it was overthrown in the early 1900’s.

Social DevelopmentThe family was central to Chinese society. Elder men in the family controlled

property and made important decisions. Social classes were sharply divided between nobles and peasants. Women had no rights. A girl was married between the ages of 13 and 16.

Economic DevelopmentAs large cities grew, roads and canals were built to supply them. This

stimulated trade and agriculture. Coin money was introduced and this further improved trade.

ReligionFamily was closely linked to religion. The Chinese believed that the spirits of

family ancestors had the power to bring good fortune or disaster to living family. Sacrifices were made in honor of these spirits. They believed in a main god—Shang Di, and many lesser gods. They consulted the gods through the use of oracle bones.

TechnologyIron was used to create stronger agricultural tools and weapons.