River Valley Civilizations

Civilization: A form of culture characterized by cities, specialized workers, complex institutions,

record keeping, and advanced technology

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

Lesson 1.1-Lesson 1.3:◦ Sumerian Civilization - Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

(Mesopotamia)◦ Egyptian Civilization - Nile River

Lesson 1.4◦ Harappan Civilization - Indus River◦ Ancient China - Huang He (Yellow) River

The 4 Civilizations

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

City-States in MesopotamiaI. Geography of Mesopotamia

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

A. Because of this region’s shape and the richness of it’s soil, it is called the Fertile Crescent. Sumerians were first to settle in this region, attracted by

the rich soil.

B. Three Disadvantages / Environmental Challenges1. Unpredictable flooding / dry summer months2. No natural barriers for protection - small villages lying in open plain were defenseless3. Limited natural resources - stone, wood, metal

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

The Fertile Crescent

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

C. Solutions 1. Irrigation ditches2. Built city walls with mud bricks3. Traded with people around them for the products they lacked, which led to…..

I. Geography of Mesopotamia cont…

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

Can you give examples of cultural diffusion in your society today?

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Cultural diffusion!!! Def: the spread of elements of one culture to another people, generally through trade.

Take the spread of writing. Similarities between the pictograms of Egyptian hieroglyphics, Sumerian cuneiform, and the Indus script are striking.

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

II. The City-State Structure of GovernmentA. Each city had its own government / rulers, warriors, it’s own patron god, and functioned like an

independent countryB. City States included everything within the city walls and also the surrounding farm landC. Examples:Ur, Uruk, Kish, LageshD. At center of each city was the walled temple with

a ziggurat – a massive, tiered, pyramid-shaped structure.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Definetype of

government

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

Definetype of

government

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

E. Military commanders eventually became ruler / monarch - then began passing rule to their own heirs, creating a new structure of government called a Dynasty – a series of rulers descending from a single family line.

II. The City-State Structure of Government

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

III. SUMERIAN CULTUREA. RELIGION1. Belief in many gods - polytheism

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

B. SOCIETY1. Three social classes

a. Priests and royalty (kings)b. Wealthy merchantsc. Ordinary workers

[Slaves] –were not free citizens and thus not included in class system

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

C. SUMERIAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Sumerians invent wheel, sail, and plow; first to use bronze• Develop arches, columns, ramps and Pyramids

for building• Have complex system of writing—cuneiform• Make advances in arithmetic and geometry and study astronomy, chemistry, medicine

III. SUMERIAN CULTURE cont….

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

NEXT

IV The First Empire BuildersA. Time of War •From 3000 to 2000 B.C. city-states at constant warSargon of Akkad• Around 2350 B.C., Sargon from Akkad defeats city-states of Sumer• Creates first empire—independent states under control of one leader• His dynasty lasts about 200 years

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code

A. Amorites, nomadic warriors, take control of

region around 2000 B.C.• Make Babylon, on Euphrates River, the capital• Babylonian Empire at peak during Hammurabi’s rule (1792-1750 B.C.)

V. The Babylonian Empire

Hammurabi’s Code Clip Only show until 1:55

SSWH1 (a) Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code