The Four Ancient Civilizations

And Their Ten Features

10 Features

The term ‘Swastika’ derives from the ancient language of Sanskrit. It is a symbol of good luck for Hindus, Rebirth for Buddhists, and is found on architecture, coins, and pottery across many cultures around the world.

The German Nazis rotated the symbol and used it as a symbol of their organization. They used the Swastika because they felt it would represent their Aryan lineage.

Indus Valley

Indus Valley

Cities

• Harappa• Mohenjo-Daro

Government

• Well-Organized Government

• Possibly led by powerful priest-kings

Gateway at Harappa

Indus ValleyReligion

• Polytheistic• Mother Goddess

(Source of creation)• Honored animals,

including the bull

Job Specialization

• Farmers provided food for the civilization

• Priests• Potters• Merchants• Traders• Experts in

Mathematics

Traders

Indus ValleySocial Classes• While much of the

civilization is shrouded in mystery, experts suspect there was a typical hierarchical order. The Indus Valley hosted cultural diversity, and many languages and traditions.

Arts and Architecture

• Clay bricks to build houses

• Well-Planned Cities• Great Bath of

Mohenjo-Daro

Great Bath-Mohenjo Daro

Indus Valley

Public Works

• Modern Plumbing• Sewers underneath

the streets• Baths• Grid-Patterned Cities

Writing

• Indus Valley Script

Indus Valley Script

Indus Valley

Geography• The Indus , Ganges, and

Brahmaputra Rivers• South Asia• Subcontinent• By the Indian Ocean • Well-Watered Northern

Plains• Dry Triangular Deccan

– plateau

• Coastal Plains• Snow-Covered Mountains

– Himalayas– Hindu Kush

• Monsoons

Legacy• Largest area controlled

by any civilization until the Persians came along.

• Great architecture• Well-Planned Cities• 1st to cultivate cotton and

weave it into cloth• Much of the Civilization is

still shrouded in mystery

10 Features

Mesopotamia

Cities• Ur• Kish• Erech• Babylon• Sumer

Government• City-States• Ruled by one ruler or

king• Priests had some

power• Scribes kept records

and collected taxes

The City-State of Ur

Mesopotamia

Religion

• Polytheistic• Worshipped in sacred

temples called Ziggurats

Job Specialization

• Merchants• Scribes• Farmers• Priests• Kings• Warriors

Carving in Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia

Social Classes

• Social Hierarchy– Royal Family– Officials and Priests– Merchants & Artisans– Farmers/Peasants– Servants/Slaves

Arts and Architecture• Ziggurats• Palaces

Ziggurat

Mesopotamia

Public Works

• Steles—Hammurabi’s Code of Laws

• Defensive Walls• Temples• Palaces• Roads• Irrigation Systems

Writing

• Cuneiform– Transformed as the

civilization advanced

Proto-CuneiformSubject: Beer Rations

MesopotamiaGeography

• Fertile Crescent• Tigris River• Euphrates River• Dark, rich soil

Legacy• Hammurabi’s Code of

Laws– 1st Set of Laws

• The First Wheel• 1st Empire• First form of writing

Hammurabi’s Code of Laws Stele, made of DioriteMaintained in Louvre, Paris

Egypt10 Features

Egypt

Cities

• Giza• Sais• Heliopolis

Government

• Pharaoh—God-like• Priests

Yul Brynneras

Pharaoh Rameses II-The Ten Commandments (1956)

EgyptReligion

• Polytheistic• Believed in the

afterlife• Believed the pharaoh

was directly related to the gods– God-like

Job Specialization• Government officials• Crafters• Traders• Merchants• Farmers• Workers• Overseers• Warriors• Priests

Amon Ra-God Of Ancient Egypt

EgyptSocial Classes• Hierarchy

– Ruling Family– High Priests– Nobles– Merchants– Scribes– Artisans– Farmers– Workers– Slaves

Arts and Architecture• Great Sphinx• Pyramids• Tombs• Hieroglyphics• Sculptures• Pottery• Coffins• Make-Up

Tomb Painting -Valley of the Kings

EgyptPublic Works• Pyramids• Temples• Roads• Tombs• Structures to control

the flooding Nile River• Irrigation Systems

Writing• Hieroglyphics

The Great Pyramids-Giza Plateau

Hieroglyphics

Egypt

Geography

• Hot and Dry• Dessert• Fertile Area

Around the Nile River• North Africa

Legacy

• Pyramids• Mummification• Art• Treasure• Academics

Tutankhamun's visceral coffin

Anubis Finishing Mummification-Tomb of Amennakht

Bronze Cat Statuette-Ancient Egypt

China10 Features

China

Cities• Anyang• Luoyang• Zhengzhou

Government• Empire• Emperor• Shang Kings

Shang Tang

China

Religion• Polytheistic • Shangdi• Mother Goddess

Job Specialization

• Peasants/Workers• Farmers• Artisans• Merchants• Officials• Warriors• Silk Makers

Shangdi

ChinaSocial Classes

• Hierarchy– Royal Family– Noble Warriors– Artisans and Merchants– Peasants

Arts and Architecture

• Calligraphy• Palaces• Sculptures• Paintings• Temples• Oracle Bones• Bronze Work• Iron Work

Chinese Calligraphy

ChinaPublic Works• Palaces• Temples• Irrigation• The Great Wall of

China• Dams

Writing• Calligraphy

The Great Wall of China (Winter)

The Great Wall of China (Summer)

ChinaGeography

• High Mountain Ranges– Tien Shan– Himalayas

• Deserts• Jungles• Pacific Ocean• Yellow Sea• Huang He River• Wei River• Yangzi River

Legacy• Silk Thread and

Clothing• First Books

– Zhou Period

• Silk Road• The Great Wall of

ChinaAncient Chinese Landscape PaintingHandscroll; Ink & pale color on silk

Shang King