River Valley River Valley CivilizationsCivilizations

SOL Terms for Review

Mesopotamia or Sumer (The Southern Part of Mesopotamia)

*First Civilization in the world which means land between two rivers.

Ziggurat•Pyramid shaped monument

•Sumerian religious temple

Cuneiform•Sumerian form of writing

•“Wedge shaped”

Hammurabi

•Babylonian Emperor who came up with the first written law code in the world.

Nile•The longest river in the world. This is where the Egyptian Civilization began.

Hieroglyphics•Egyptian system of writing which used pictures for ideas and sounds.

Indus River•First Indian Civilizations developed along this river.

Gupta Empire•Golden age of India•Contributed

–Mathematics–New textiles–literature

Hinduism•Polytheistic Religion which started in India that incorporates the caste system.

Sacred Text•For Hinduism, Vedas and Upanishads are what?

Buddhism•Founded by Siddhartha Gautama

•Basic beliefs include 4 Noble Truths and the 8 Fold Path

Asoka•This Indian Emperor spread Buddhism from India to China and all parts of Asia

China•Early people settled along the Huang He River

•Developed into Dynasties which ruled the land

Mandate of Heaven•Idea that the right to rule came from the gods

Great Wall•China’s first Emperor, Shi Huandgi built this to protect his people

Silk Roads•Facilitated trade between China and the Mediterranean Sea

Contributions of China

•Civil Service•Paper•Silk•Porcelain

Confucianism•Chinese philosophy which includes–Respect for elders–Code of politeness–Emphasis on Education–Humans are good, not bad

Taoism•Chinese philosophy which includes–Humility–Simple living and inner peace

–Harmony with nature

Yin and Yang•Represents opposites

Phoenicians•Created the first alphabet

Persians•Showed tolerance to conquered people and created the royal road system.

Bureaucracy•Persians developed this as a way to carry out the day to day running of government

Zoroastrianism•Religion of the Persians

Which civilization began along the Nile River, had pyramids, and a pharaoh?

• A. Egypt

• B. Mesopotamia

• C. China

• D. India

Which civilization began along the Nile River, had pyramids, and a pharaoh?

• A. Egypt = Correct Answer!!!!

• B. Mesopotamia

• C. China

• D. India

Which civilization did Confucianism and Taoism begin in?

• A. Egypt

• B. Persia

• C. China

• D. India

Which civilization did Confucianism and Taoism begin in?

• A. Egypt

• B. Persia

• C. China = Correct Answer!!!!

• D. India