Global 9

Chapter 2 Themes

Interaction with Environment

River Valley Civilizations – early civilizations (e.g., Sumerians in Tigris-Euphrates Valley (Fertile Crescent) of Mesopotamia) developed in river valleys; these geographic areas provided benefits such as fertile soil resulting from receding flood waters; unpredictable flooding and a lack of natural barriers presented challenges; Sumerians designed irrigation systems and built city walls with mud bricks to solve these problems

[Text, pp. 27-28]

Power and Authority

Monarchies – projects such as irrigation systems required planning. leadership, and laws – the beginnings of organized gov’t; in some societies, priests controlled first gov’ts; in time, gov’t shifted to military leaders and kings (e.g., pharaohs of ancient Egypt) [Text, pp. 29, 35]

Power and Authority

Feudalism – system in which kings grant land to nobles in exchange for military service to the king and protection to the people living on the noble’s estate; arose in China during the Zhou Dynasty [Text p. 50]

Religious/Ethical Systems

Polytheism – early river valley civilizations were polytheistic (believed in many gods); Egyptians believed pharaohs were gods and practiced mummification and built pyramids (tombs) to prepare for afterlife [Text pp. 36-37]

Mandate of Heaven – Chinese belief that rulers received their right to rule from the gods; explained the cycle of dynasties [Text p. 50]

Empire Building

Babylonians – c. 2000 BC, group who took over Sumerian city-states; most famous king was Hammurabi, who developed the first written code of laws; laws helped to control empire; laws based on principle of “an eye for an eye” [Text pp. 31-32]

Cultural Interaction

Egypt – Mesopotamia – by 3200 BC, Egyptians came in contact with Mesopotamians through trade; also shared ideas (e.g., writing system) [Text p. 35]

Science and Technology

River Valley Civilizations – writing systems (e.g., Cuneiform by Sumerians); architecture (e.g., ziggurat temples (Sumerians); pyramids (Egyptians); plumbing and sewage systems (Indus Valley); silk-making (Chinese) [Text pp. 20, 21, 36, 44, 49]