Early Civilizations

Categories and places

Geography, Religion, Economy, Government, Social Structure, and notable achievements

Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, India, China

Geography Mesopotamia-Tigris & Euphrates= irrigation but

irregular flood pattern found in modern day Iraq Egypt- Nile- predictable flood pattern, Travel

Desert=protection India- Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra Rivers

Hindu-Kush and Himalayas to N. Deccan Plateau arid and dry

China- Huang He (yellow) and Yangzi Rivers Isolate W. Himalayas and deserts

Religion Mesopotamia- Polytheistic- Inanna= Mother

Earth Ziggurat=temple to the Gods

Persians (Zoroaster) Ahura Mazda- monotheistic Hebrews-Yahweh-monotheistic

Egypt- Henotheistic- belief in one God w/o denying existence of others Polytheistic…Amon Re = Sun God Osiris=God of underworld

Soul= Ka Pyramids=tombs

Religion India-Polytheistic worshipped animals

(early) Vedas- collection of prayers and other religious teachings Arayans- polytheistic

China-Polytheistic Shang di (mother goddess) Yin= Earth, darkness, and female forces Yang= Heaven, light, and male forces

Government Mesopotamia- City-states religious war rulers…seen as

servants to God Code of Hammurabi 300 laws (1790bc & Babylonian empire)

Egypt-Pharaoh with vizier-chief minister India- Priest/Kings as leaders Two main cities Mohenjo-

Daro and Harappa carefully planned Grid patterns China-Kings/Shang Zhou/ Mandate of Heaven—divine

right to rule Feudalism– system of government which lords govern their own lands but owe $ and service to support their ruler

Economy Mesopotamia-Trade- brought in riches

barter system and agrarian society Egypt-Trade and farming India-Farmers- wheat, barley, fruit, cotton,

traders China-trade and farming development of

money

Social Structure Mesopotamia- Top– Leading officials and

high priests Middle– merchants, artisans, lesser priests Low– peasant farmers and slaves

Egypt- Top– Pharaoh High Middle– High Priests and lower Priests Middle– Nobles, merchants, artisans, scribes Low– peasants and slaves

Social Structure

India-Castes– social groups in which you are born into and can not change

Top: Priests High Middle- warriors Middle—Farmers, herders, merchants, and artisans Low---peasants and slaves

China-Top= king Middle= warriors, merchants, and artisans Low=peasants

Achievements Mesopotamia= cuneiform, wheeled

vehicles, irrigation, land cultivation, alphabet (Phoenicians), coins, iron working

Egypt- papyrus, hieroglyphics, 12 month cal., pyramids, mummification, paintings and sculptures

India– city planning and plumbing China- calligraphy, bronze, silk making