Emergence of River Valley Civilizations

4 River Valley Civilizations• Fertile Crescent – Mesopotamia

– Tigris– Euphrates

• Egyptian Civilization– Nile River Valley (upper and lower Nile)

• Indus River– Harrapan– Mohen-jo Daro

• Hwang He – Yellow River later civilizations focused on both Yangtze

and Yellow River– First dynasty is Xia then Shang

Nile River Valley

• Because of its geography Egypt developed to become a peaceful civilization with a higher standard of living. People as individuals were treated with more respect here than in other civilizations of the time.

• The Nile River Valley is Surrounded on Four Sides by Natural Barriers– Red Sea to the East – Desert to the West– Mediterranean to the North– Mountains to the South

“Gifts of the Nile”• Predictable flooding• Mild flooding therefore able to use river for

irrigation• Prevailing winds made trade possible both north

and south on the river• Rich deposits of clay, granite, sandstone &

limestone used for building• Silt deposits rich for farming• papyrus used for mats, rope, sandals, baskets,

paper

Major Pharaohs of Egypt• Menes-

– United upper and lower Egypt in 3100 BC• Ramses II –

– Defeated the Hittites and returned Egypt to Egyptian rule.• Nefertiti -

– influential wife of Amenhotep, mother-in-law to Tutkanamon.• Amenhotep (later called Akhenaton)-

– moved the capital and changed worship from polytheism to monotheism. The main god became Amon Ra and only the royal family could worship him.

• Tutkanhamon-– young Pharaoh found with his tomb intact.

• Hatshepsut – – female Pharaoh who stabilized Egypt, built many new structures which

provided work for many. • Cleopatra –

– last Pharaoh of Egypt

Rosetta Stone

• We didn’t know as much about Egypt until the mid-1800s after the Rosetta Stone was allowed us to decipher the hieroglyphics of Egypt

• Napoleon’s officer discovered the Rosetta Stone (late 1700s)

• Deciphered by Champanion in early 1800s

Fertile Crescent

• Deserts and mountains surround the Fertile Crescent to the north but because grass grew on these mountains it attracted wandering tribes who often attacked those living in the River Valley.

• City-states protected and isolated each group

Natural Boundaries Unfavorable• Both rivers overflow in an unpredictable

manner– The time of year could not be predicted.– The magnitude of turbulence of the flooding could not

be predicted.• The area is called a "crossroad" because

everyone who traveled or traded between Europe, Africa, and Asia traveled through this region, sometimes taking what they wanted

Mesopotamian Trade

“The Cuneiform World”

Gave rise to multiple empires within the general region that controlled different territory but had similar culture

Assyria and its rivals

The First Empire Builder Invasion and

conquest were prominent features of the ancient Middle East. About 2300 BC, Sargon, the ruler of neighboring Akkad, invaded and conquered the city-states of Sumer. He built the first empire known to history.

Akkad (in green)

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Cuneiform Writing

Hammurabi’s CodeBabylonian• Stele or

Stela Hammurabi

• 282• Cuneiform

Assyrian (1st Empire)911 BCE – 612 BCE

Middle Kingdom• Himalayas, Kunlun Shan, Tian Shan• Gobi desert• Pacific Ocean to east• rivers

– Hwang Hu (Yellow), – Chang Jiang (Yangtze), – Xi Jiang (West)

• yellow silt &favorable climate make good farming

Ancient Dynasties Mandate of Heaven

• Xia (first) 2100 BCE – 1800 BCE

• Shang1500BCE- 1100BCEMandate of Heaven

• Zhou (longest)1100BCE – 256BCEConfucianism during Axial Age (ca. 500 BCE)

• Qin (Chin)– China gets its name from

this dynasty

Mandate of Heaven• Zhou Dynasty• Family of rulers that have the approval of the

ancestors• Dynastic Cycle has added element much like a

divine monarch creates a theocracy yet as earthly events appear and have a negative impact then it is assumed that the emperor has lost the approval of the ancestors and they have created the environment

Are you Sleeping?• Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han• Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han• Sui, Tang, Song• Sui, Tang, Song• Yuan, Ming, Manchu• Yuan, Ming, Manchu• Mao Zedong• Mao Zedong

Confucianism and Scholarly-Gentry• Creates balance• Yin and Yang• Filial piety is the final

link in the chain of continuity of the civilization

Indus River Valley• Harappan• Mohenjo-Daro• subcontinent of Asia:

water on east and west, mountain ranges on north– Hindu Kush and

Himalayas• southwest monsoon

brings heavy rain and flooding

• enriched soil, but sometimes great erosion

Ancient Geographic Divisions in South Asia

Cities of the Indus

Mohenjo-Daro“Mound of the Dead”

Indus River Valley• Destruction• well-planned,

citadels, grid of streets

• clay brick houses, plumbing with sewer system

• bronze and copper tools, gold and silver jewels, clay pots, spun and woven cloth

Development of Region

• Early Food Producing Era (ca. 7000-5500 BC)

• Regionalization Era, (5500-2600 BC) – Regional cultural development– Subdivided into various eras – Emergence of an Early Indus state ca. 2800

BCE and urbanization ca. 2600 BCE

Drains & Sewer Systems

Successors to the regionVedic Era - Hinduism

• Aryans• Rajas• Indo-Europeans• Caste System - called

Varna which translates to color in the ancient language)

• Jati – sub-castes

Aryan Invasion Theory• Sometime between

2500 and 1800 BCE– Aryans began moving

into India– Apparently NOT the

cause of the fall of Indus Civilization

– Farmers without written language

– Used Khyber Pass

Political and Social Systems• Tribe led by chief and

tribal council• Tribes formed small

states• Each state ruled by king

and council of warriors

• Aryans looked down on conquered people

• Laws against marriage of Aryans with original valley dwellers

• Men permitted more than one wife

• Sons expected to be warriors and perform ritual at fathers funeral

Economic System

• Mostly farmers• Barley major crop• Most owned their land• Handicrafts in villages• System of barter for goods• Cattle later used as money

Historical Geography• Environmental determinism – the manner in which humans and

the environment interact.– Man and his culture are shaped by their environment and

while technology allows them to adapt, their underlying characteristics have already been shaped by their environment

• Systems within a civilization are influenced by the environment• Humans change and adapt their environment with technology

– Technology are methods that are used by man or man’s attempt “to overcome his environment”

• Possibilism is a different theory that holds that there is an interdependence between humans and their physical environment and that while the environment sets certain constraints, culture is shaped by man

Olmec- 3500-2500 BCE- site La Venta• Two environments & Agricultural methods

– Slash and burn agriculture- forested uplands – Irrigation riverine agriculture- riverine lowlands- u-shaped stone drain

lines. – 2 or more crops per year – Maize, beans, squash

• Lowland riverine populous became the elite • Chiefdom societies- with centers populated at circa 1000 each-

rulers, elite, craftspersons • Writing system but un-deciphered though indications of

counting system- Maya used same counting system so this aspect is translatable.

• Items of trade– Highlands- obsidian, jade and Magnetite, cacao (drink for nobility) – Lowlands- mollusk, turtle shell, sharks teeth, and pottery

• 4 major redistribution/ceremonial centers- – San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapates, and Laguna de los Cerros

• Classic Maya- 2000- 800 BCE- sites Copan & Palenque

Classic cultures of the Americas

Yin and Yang• The light color area which indicates

more sunlight is called Yang (Sun). • The dark color area has less sunlight

(more moonlight) and is called Yin (Moon).

• Yang is like man. Yin is like woman. Yang wouldn't grow without Yin. Yin couldn't give birth without Yang. – Yin is born (begins) at Summer Solstice

and Yang is born (begins) at Winter Solstice.

– Therefore one little circle Yin is marked on the Summer Solstice position. Another little circle Yang is marked on the Winter Solstice position.

– These two little circles look like two fish eyes.

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/yinyang.htm

The Spread of Bantu