THE ANCIENT WORLD
How you do something - and
sometimes, whether you succeed
- is often determined by how you
start. The human story also has a
beginning: the ancient world.
In this unit, you will learn about
that world: how human beings
developed the first tools and agri culture, giving rise to the earliest
civilizations. These ancient peoples made startling discoveries in
science and mathematics, invented
new technologies from wheels to
writing, and gave birth to ideas
that still influence us today.
One of humankind's greatest achievemellfs - the Great Wall
of China - stretches for over 5,000 miles.
Chapter 5. The Rise of River Valley Civilizations. In this chapter, you will learn
about the development of farming during the Neolithic Revolution, and about the
ancient river valley civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. You will
also learn about the ancient Hebrews and their religious beliefs.
Chapter 6. The "Classical Era" in the West. In this chapter, you will learn about
the classical civilizations of Persia, Greece, and Rome. These civilizations ruled over
the Mediterranean world and much of Europe for more than a thousand years, and
gave birth to great works of philosophy, art, science, music and literature.
Chapter 7. The "Classical Era" in the East. In this chapter, you will focus on the
civilizations that thrived in the East. You will examine China's Zhou, Qin, and Han
Dynasties, and India's Maurya and Gupta Empires. These civilizations flourished
in the East during this same time period as Greece and Rome. They established
Hinduism, the caste system in India, and created a unified empire in Chi na.
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THE RISE OF
RIVER VALLEY
CIVILIZATIONS
• History 1 (A) Identify major causes and describe the major effects of the ...
development of agriculture and the development of the river valley civilizations.
• History 2 The student understands how early civilizations developed from
8000 B.C. to 500 B.C.
• History 2(A) Summarize the impact of the development of farming (Neolithic
Revolution) on the creation of river valley civilizations.
• History 2(8) Identify the characteristics of civilization.
• Geography 16(8) Analyze the influence of human and physical geographic factors on
major events in world history, including the development of river valley civilizations ....
• Economics 17 The student understands the impact of the Neolithic Revolutions on humanity.
• Economics 17(A) Identify important changes in human Life caused by the Neolithic
Revolution ....
• Economics 17(8) Summarize the role of economics in driving political changes as related to
the Neolithic Revolution.
• Government 19(A) Identify the characteristics of monarchies and theocracies as forms of
government in early civilizations.
• Government 19(8) Identify the characteristics of ... theocracy.
• Government 20(8) Identify the impact of political and Legal ideas contained in the Hammurabi
Code, [and] the Jewish Ten Commandments ....
• Culture 23 (A) Describe the historical origins, central ideas, and spread of major religious and
philosophical traditions, including Judaism ... and the development of monotheism.
• Culture 24(A) Describe the changing roles of women, children, and families during major eras
of world history.
•Science, Technology, and Society 27(A) Identify the origin and diffusion of major ideas in
mathematics, science, and technology that occurred in river valley civilizations ....
In this chapter, you will learn about the rise of the first civilizations still influence us today.
ancient cultures that
0- What was the Neolithic Revolution i ' ·.
0- What factors led to the rise of the first civilizations?
0- What were the accomplishments of the early river valley civilizations?
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SOCIAL STUDIES TERMINOLOGY IN THIS CHAPTER
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Culture
Neolithic Revolutiott
Civilizatiott
Mesopota11tia
Nile River
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Pharaoh
Hieroglyphics
Cutteiforttt
lttdus River
Huattg He
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fheocracy
Mottarchy
Mottotheisttt
f ett Cottttttattdtttettts
Code of Hatttttturabi
- IMPORTANT IDEAS A. The earliest humans survived by hunting and gathering their food. They used
tools of wood, bone, and stone. They also learned to make fire.
B. About 10,000 years ago, people in the Middle East developed the first agriculture and domesticated animals during the Neolithic Revolution.
C. A civilization is a form of human culture in which some people live in cities,
have complex social institutions, use some form of writing, and are skilled at
using science and technology.
D. The first civilizations arose in fertile river valleys, where favorable geographic
conditions allowed farmers to grow a surplus of food.
E. The Sumerians in Mesopotamia invented the wheel, sailboat and cuneiform
writing. The Egyptians developed an advanced civilization along the banks of
the Nile. They built large stone pyramids for the afterlife of their ruler - the
pharaoh - and developed a form of writing known as hieroglyphics.
F.
Other early civilizations developed along the Indus River on the Indian subcontinent and along the Huang He (Yellow River) in China.
G. The earliest civilizations were theocracies and monarchies. In a theocracy, religious leaders govern; in a monarchy, a hereditary ruler heads the government.
H. Judaism, the religion of the ancient Hebrews (Jews), was the first religion to
worship only one God.
EARLY HUMAN SOCIETY
Anthropologists study the origins, customs, and beliefs of humankind. Most anthropologists now believe the Great Rift Valley in East Africa was the birthplace of humankind.
Many scientists believe that human beings as we know them today - homo sapiens
- first appeared sometime between 400,000 and 200,000 years ago, during the last
Ice Age.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE
Human beings had several important advantages over other animals: superior intellect, the
use of hands to make tools, and the ability to communicate through speech.
Because human beings had these ways of communicating, remembering and making
things, they were able to pass on what they learned and their way of doing things from one
generation to the next. In this way, the first human cultures developed.
Culture refers to a people's way of life. Culture includes such things as a people's language, types of clothing, homes, family organization, system of government, and methods of obtaining food. Culture also includes a people's crafts, arts,
music, and religious beliefs.
THE HUNTER-GATHERERS
People in the earliest human societies were hunter-gatherers. They did not know how to
grow their own food. Instead, they relied on hunting, fishing and gathering wild plants for
food. They learned to make fires, to make spears with pieces of bone or stone, and to make
canoes and boats out of logs. Because these people made tools of stone, historians refer to
these early societies as Stone Age cultures. Over thousands of years, Stone Age peoples
also learned to make clay pottery and to domesticate (tame) dogs.
Early humans spent most of their time hunting for food . They migrated to areas where
food - nuts, berries, fruits, grains and especially herds of wild animals - could be found.
During the Ice Age, people migrated out of Africa to other parts of the world. Eventually,
people even migrated to the Americas and Australia. Wherever people went, they showed
great ingenuity in adapting to local conditions.
THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION
About I 0,000 years ago, one of the great turning points in history occurred. People began
to change from hunters and gatherers to producers of food. Two important developments
brought about this change: people learned
how to grow food and how to herd animals.
Anthropologists believe this change first
occurred in parts of the Middle East, where
wild wheat and barley were plentiful. People
noticed they could spread the seeds of these
Early tools used during the Neolithic Revolution.
grains to plant and grow their own crops. They also learned how to herd farm animals such
as goats, sheep and cattle. These advances are now referred to as the Neolithic Revolution.
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Wherever agriculture was introduced, people no
longer had to wander in search of food. Instead, they
could build permanent homes and villages and establish a fixed way of life. Populations grew. Although the
emergence of agricultural societies is believed to have
first occurred in Southwest Asia, it also took place independently at later times in Southeast Asia, Africa and
the Americas.
The Emergence of Social Classes. The Neolithic
Revolution brought both benefits and problems. People could grow more food than they had been able to
gather or hunt, but they were also more vulnerable to
attack by other peoples. Thus changes in economics how these people met their needs for food and shelter
- led to social and political changes. The introduction
of agriculture and settlements led to the emergence of
two new social classes: warriors and priests. Defense The planting of seeds brought about many
major changes .
of the village became a major concern, resulting in the
emergence of a warrior class. A priesthood emerged to conduct religious rituals in order to
promote a good harvest and to protect the village from danger.
THE RISE OF RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
As agricultural societies developed and grew, their way of life further changed. Around
3,500 B.C., the first civilizations arose.
A civilization is a form of human culture in which some people live in cities,
have complex social institutions, use some form of writing, and are skilled at
using science and technology.
The first civilizations developed in four separate river valleys. Each of these river valleys offered a mild climate and a water highway to other places. Water from the rivers also
could be used for drinking and for cooking food. Each of these valleys was also a flood
plain where an overflowing river deposited fertile soil. This rich soil led to abundant harvests and food surpluses.
MESOPOTAMIA (3500 B.C.-1700 B.c.)
Sometime between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, the first river valley civilization developed
in Mesopotamia, the region located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (in presentday Iraq). Mesopotamia was a Greek term meaning the "land between two rivers."
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CHAPTER 5: The Rise of River Valley Civilizations
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Agriculture. Although Mesopotamia
was hot and dry, people learned how to
irrigate the land by diverting water from
the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Irrigation allowed fanning settlements to
flourish and food supplies to increase.
Fewer people were able to produce more
food, leading to a surplus. Other people
could begin to specialize in activities
other than fanning. Some became potters, weavers or metal workers. Others
became warriors and priests.
Government. The people of Mesopotamia built several cities. At first,
each city-state, such as Uruk, Ur, and
Babylon, had its own ruler and local
gods. Later, several of these city-states
were united together under a single
ruler.
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Religion. The Mesopotamians were polytheistic, believing in as many as 2,000 different gods. Some historians contend that Mesopotamian religions were the world's oldest
faiths. Mesopotamian rulers were often priests. A society governed by religious leaders is
known as a theocracy.
Building. The Mesopotamians
were the world's first city-builders. They lacked stone or timber
to build their cities. Instead, they
made their buildings from mud
bricks and crushed reeds. They
built walled cities, temples with
arches, and stepped-pyramids
known as ziggurats. Each ziggurat was made of a series of square
levels, with each level slightly
smaller than the one below it.
Cultural and Scientific Contributions. Some of the most
important inventions in history
A Mesopotamian ziggurat.
took place in ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians (the people of Sumer) invented the wheel and the sailboat. They were
able to figure how to reroute some of the water to irrigate fields farther away. They also
developed tools and weapons of copper and bronze. Bronze is made by melting tin and
copper together: it is stronger than copper alone.
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The Sumerians devised a calendar, dividing the year into 12 months.
Later, the Babylonians developed a number system based on 60, providing the basis for our seconds and minutes today. They also invented
the world 's earliest known writing system, cuneiform, a form of
symbol writing on clay tablets. Cuneiform writing used threedimensional marks by a stylus into clay before it hardened. Only
the elite could read and write in cuneiform. Generally, priests and
scribes were the ones who had this knowledge.
Legal System. The Babylonians developed the earliest written
law code - the Code of Hammurabi. It covered most occurrences
in daily life. Its aim was to ensure justice and protect the weak .
A cuneiform writing tablet.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ACTIN~ AS
AN AMATEUR HISTORIAN
Hammurabi's Code treated nobles and commoners differently.
Some of the Code's provisions punished criminals quite harshly:
195:
196:
197:
198:
If a son strikes his father, his hands shall be [cut] off.
If a [noble] man puts out the eye of another [noble]man, his eye shall be put out.
If he breaks another [noble]man's bone, his bone shall be broken.
If he puts out the eye of a [commoner], he shall pay one [silver] mina.
How did the penalty a nobleman faced for putting out the eye of a nobleman or a commoner differ?
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Women in Mesopotamia. Most girls stayed at home with their mothers, where they
learned cooking and housekeeping. Women were responsible for raising the children and
crushing the grain. There were enormous variations in the rights enjoyed by women in different social classes. Wealthier women were able to go to the marketplace to buy goods,
could complete legal matters in their husband 's absence, and could even own property.
These women could engage in business for themselves, and obtain divorces. A few women,
such as relatives of the ruler, enjoyed even higher status in Mesopotamian society.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ACTIN~ AS AN
AMATEUR HISTORIAN
Create your own scrapbook on the contributions of ancient civilizations. For Mesopotamia, include cuneiform writing, the wheel,
the sailboat, irrigation, bronze tools and weapons, mud bricks, and
the Code of Hammurabi. For each scrapbook item, find a photograph or make your own picture. Describe the contribution below
the image and explain its importance to modem-day civilization .
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EGYPT (3 200 B.C.-500 B.c.)
Egypt is located in Northeast Africa. The world's longest river, the Nile, runs through it.
Each year, the Nile floods the lands along its banks, depositing fertile soil. With bright sunshine, a long growing season, rich soil, and an ample supply of fresh water, Egyptian farmers were able to grow large amounts of food. Farmers along the Nile were able to support a
large number of craftsmen, warriors, priests, and nobles. Ease of communication along the
river encouraged the development of a highly centralized government.
Government and Society. The most powerful person in ancient Egypt
was the pharaoh (king). The pharaoh governed Egypt as an absolute ruler.
The pharaoh owned all the land, commanded the army, made laws, controlled irrigation and grain supplies, and defended Egypt from foreigners.
Egyptians considered the pharaoh to be a god. Egypt was a monarchy, a
system of government in which political power is inherited. Each pharaoh
inherited absolute power from his father.
Next in the social order below the pharaoh came the priests and nobles.
Then came Egypt's warriors, scribes, merchants and craftsmen. At the bottom of society were peasants and slaves. They spent their time farming,
herding cattle, and working on building projects for the pharaohs.
Religion. The ancient Egyptians believed the body should be preserved
Pharaoh
after death to participate in the afterlife. When pharaohs died, their bodSesosrois 111,
ies were embalmed and buried in a special room under a large triangular
(c. 1860 B.c.)
stone tomb known as a pyramid. Here they were surrounded with gold, jewels, and other
precious objects for use in the afterlife, which Egyptians imagined as similar to life before
death. Archaeologists have used these artifacts to learn a great deal about ancient Egypt.
I EGYPTIAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
I
Medicine. Egyptians developed knowledge of the human body through embalming (preserving). They performed surgical operations, such as setting fractures.
Hieroglyphics. Ancient Egyptians developed one of the earliest forms of writing, based on picture symbols. Hieroglyphics
appeared on temples, pyramids and on scrolls of reed paper,
known as papyrus.
Building and Art. Egyptian architects and engineers built
magnificent pyramids, palaces, and temples of stone. They
decorated their buildings with paintings and sculptures.
Hieroglyphic writing from a tomb.
Geometry and Astronomy. Egyptians developed geometry to build projects such as pyramids. By observing
the stars, they developed a calendar based on 365 days.
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APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
Identify one way in which Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies were similar.
* Identify one way in which Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies differed.
INDIA
More than 5,000 years ago, the Indus
River Valley became another of the first
centers of human civilization. In this
region, as in Egypt and Mesopotamia, a
river deposited rich soil over the neighboring plain during its annual flood.
INDUS CIVILIZATION, circa 1500 B.C.
Agriculture and Building. Farmers
grew barley, wheat, dates and melons.
Food surpluses allowed people to build
large cities like Harrappa and MohenjoDaro. Each of these cities had more than
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30,000 people. More than 1,000 cities
and settlements belonging to the Indus
IND I A
Arabian
River Valley civilization have already
Sea
been excavated. The artifacts found in
these settlements suggest a technologically advanced urban culture. Dockyards, granruies,
warehouses, brick platforms and protective walls were present in many of their cities. They
were also among the first "urban planners," with almost all their houses connected to public sewers and a water supply. These people, known as the Harrappans, were also the first
people known to make cotton cloth.
Trade and Collapse. Trade was an important part of the Harrappan economy. Many
small clay seals, probably used for trading purposes, have been discovered by archaeologists. They have also found kilns for making pottery and evidence of the use of metals.
The Harappans developed their own form of writing, although scholars are still unable
to decipher it. No one knows exactly why this civilization collapsed, but its end occurred
suddenly.
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APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
What were some of the achievements of the Harappan civilization in the Indus River
Valley?----- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CHINA
About 500 years after the settlement
of the Indus River Valley, China's
first civilization emerged in the fertile
plains along the Huang He (Yellow
River).
Agriculture. As in the Nile and
Indus River Valleys, the fertility of the
soil along the Huang He was increased
by the river 's periodic floods. Around
4,500 B.C., people along the Huang He
began growing millet (a type ofgrain).
Later, they learned to farm soybeans
and raise chickens, dogs, and pigs.
D Extent of Shang Empire
circa 1100 s.c.
Government. Around 1700 B.C. a
ruling family, or dynasty, known as
the Shang, took power. They built the
first Chinese cities and established their capital at Anyang,
near the Huang He. The Shang ruled with the help of powerful nobles. Shang kings were military leaders. They were also
high priests who offered sacrifices to their royal ancestors.
Cultural Contributions. The people living in the Huang
He Valley were skilled at many crafts. Their ability in bronze
work can be seen in many objects surviving from this period,
including superior weapons and ceremonial vessels. They also
were the first to make silk textiles from silkworm cocoons.
Finally, they developed a system of writing with pictographs,
known as characters. Each character represented one word.
Their pictorial characteristics, often with only minor modifications, are still used in written Chinese today. Even those
speaking different dialects use the same characteristics.
53
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APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
Complete the chart below.
Civilization
Location
Agriculture
Government
Contributions
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Indus River
Valley
China
THE ANCIENT HEBREWS
The ancient Hebrews, or Israelites, lived south
of Phoenicia in the area occupied by present-day
Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan. Because of their
location, the Hebrews were deeply influenced by
the civilizations of both Mesopotamia and Egypt.
According to tradition, the forefather of the
Hebrews, Abraham, grew up in Mesopotamia in
the city of Ur. Later, Abraham moved to Israel.
Unlike other ancient peoples, the Hebrews
did not believe in many gods. Instead, they
believed in one universal God, who was both
just and all-powerful. This new religion was
called Judaism. Jews did not believe that God
had human characteristics or the head or body
of an animal, like the gods and goddesses of
Mesopotamia and Egypt.
PHOENICIAN AND HEBREW KINGDOMS,
circa 920 B.C.
~· &
s
SYRIA
Byblos
MEDITERRANEAN SEA Sidon
Tyre
!::- •
..,'!
PALESTINE
HEBREW KINGDOMS
t
Q
Kingdom of Judah
•
Kingdom of Israel
e
PhoeniC1c1
Q
Ph1hs11nes
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CHAPTER 5: The Rise of River Valley Civilizations
55
Jews saw their God as an invisible but powerful force or spirit that created the world
and that demanded proper moral conduct. Monotheism, the belief in one God, became the
basis for several later religions, including both Christianity and Islam.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The early history of the Hebrews and their relationship with God is told in the first books
of the Bible, known as the Old Testament. According to the Bible, the ancient Hebrews
migrated to Egypt to escape food shortages from drought. They remained in Egypt for
hundreds of years, where they became enslaved. Their leader, Moses, later took them out
of Egypt and freed them from slavery. According to the Bible, Moses also presented the
Hebrews with the Ten Commandments, which came directly from God. These commandments forbade stealing, murder, adultery, and other forms of immoral behavior. They also
commanded the Hebrews to worship one God and to keep the Sabbath (a day of rest).
When the Hebrews returned to Israel from Egypt, around 1,000 B.C., they found it was
occupied by new peoples. This led to a series of wars, ending with the Jewish re-conquest
oflsrael. The Hebrews then established their capital at Jerusalem, where they built a temple
to worship God.
APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
Examine each of the following commandments and explain how it was important in
creating a moral society.
*
"Honor your father and your mother." - - - -- - -- - - - - - - -
*
"Thou shall not k i l l . " - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*
"Thou shall not s t e a l . " - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - -
*
"Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." _ _ _ _ _ _ __
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Complete the graphic organizer below. For each ancient civilization, identify its location. Then describe some of its characteristics, such as its form of government or religious
beliefs. Finally, list some of its accomplishments or cultural contributions.
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Location: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Location: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Characteristics: _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Characteristics: _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Achievements: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Achievements: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
THE FIRST
CIVILIZATIONS
India
China
Hebrews
Location: _ _ __ _
Location: _ __ __
Location: _ _ _ __
Characteristics: _ __
Characteristics: _ __
Characteristics: _ __
Achievements: _ __
Achievements: _ __
Achievements: _ __
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CHAPTER 5: The Rise of River Valley Civilizations
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CHAPfER SfUOY CAROS
------------------------------9------------------------------,
*
*
Culture/ Civilization
Culture. A people's way of life - their
foods, clothing, customs and beliefs. Culture
is a form of learned behavior that is passed
from one generation to the next.
Civilization. Advanced form of society in
which some people live in cities, have complex institutions, use some form of writing,
and are skilled in science and technology
Neolithic Revolution
The Neolithic Revolution occurred in the Middle
East 10,000 years ago. People saw they could
obtain food by planting seeds.
Food Surpluses. People began to change
from hunters and gatherers to producers of
food.
Domestication of Animals. People learned
to domesticate animals such as goats, sheep,
and cattle.
Settlements. People no longer had to wander in search of food and could now establish settlements with permanent homes.
*
*
*
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
~
·------------------------------·------------------------------·
River Valley Civilizations
Judaism
The first civilizations developed along rivers
with fertile soil from periodic floods . Here, farmers were able to grow a surplus of food, allowing
the rise of civilization.
Mesopotamia. The region between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers; invented the sailboat,
irrigation, the wheel, calendar, and bronze.
Egypt. Developed along the Nile River in
North Africa; Egyptian society was ruled by
a powerful pharaoh; built pyramids.
India. The Indus River deposited rich soil
over the neighboring plain.
China. China's first civilization emerged in
the fertile plains along the Huang He.
Judaism was the religion of the ancient Hebrews.
It began in the ancient lands now known as
Israel. Moses led Jews out of Egyptian slavery.
Judaism is the first religion to teach
monotheism - the belief in one God.
Old Testament. History of Jewish people is
told in the first books of the Bible, known as
the Old Testament.
Ten Commandments. Established a moral
code of conduct: emphasizes living justly;
belief in one God; honoring one's parents,
not killing or stealing.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
------------------------------4
CHECKIN& YOUR UNOERSfANOIN&
Directions: Circle the letter that best answers
the question.
1
An archaeologist discovered a preserved
mummy, hieroglyphics written on stone
walls, and an embalmed pharaoh. In which
location on the map was this site most likely
found?
A Site A
( Hist t(A) )
B Site B
C Site C
D Site D
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First, f_XAMIN E the question. Th is question tests your abilit y to
identify an ancient river valley civilization from artifacts and t hen
locate that civilization on a map. You should .!S.ECALL what you know.
The ancient Egyptians had mummies and used hieroglyphics in their
writing. You should also recall that ancient Egypt was located in
northeast part of Africa, along the banks of the Nile River. If you APPLY
what you know to these choices, you should realize that three locat ions
on the map identify other ancient civilizations, but not that of ancient
Egypt. The best answer is Choice A, since that location in Northern
Africa is where the ancient Egyptian civilization was located.
Now try answering some additional questions on your own.
2
According to the map on the previous page, what did each of the ancient civilizations
indicated by letters on the map have in common?
F They were ruled by a pharaoh.
( Hist t6(B) )
G They first began along river valleys.
H They farmed wheat and barley.
J They buried their rulers in large pyramids.
3
The Neolithic Revolution occurred when people discovered how to A grow food and domesticate animals
B trade with others in the same river valley
C fight wars using metal weapons
D make stone temples for religious ceremonies
4
5
Archaeological discoveries suggest that F the Sumerians in Mesopotamia invented the sailboat
G farming societies developed before hunting and gathering societies
H all the continents were settled at the same time
J the wheel was first used in ancient China
( Econ t7(A) )
( STS 27 (A)
)
Four events dealing with some early events in world history are listed below.
A. In the Ice Age, people migrate to parts of North America
B. The start of the Neolithic Revolution
C. Homo Sapiens make their first appearance in history
D. Groups of people make tools out of stone
Which is the correct chronological order of these events?
A
B
C
D
A-7B-7C-7D
A-7B-7D-7C
D-7C-7A-7B
C-7D-7A-7B
( Hist l(A) )
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _________ Date _ _ _ _ _ _ __
UNLAWFUL TO PHOTOCOPY
6
CHAPTER 5: The Rise of River Valley Civilizations
59
The river valleys of the Tigris-Euphrates, the Nile, and the Indus were centers of civilization because they F had rich deposits of iron ore and coal
(Geog 16(8))
G were isolated from other cultural influences
H had fertile soil, fresh water, and warm climates
J were easy to defend from invasion
Use the passage and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following question.
"If a seignior (noble) has knocked out the tooth of a seignior of his own rank, he shall
knock out his tooth. But if he has knocked out a commoner's tooth, he shall pay onethird mina of silver."
- Code of Hammurabi
7
Which principle of Babylonian society does this excerpt from the Code of Hammurabi
illustrate?
A All men were equal under the law.
( Govt 20(8))
B Fines were preferable to corporal punishment.
C Divisions existed between social classes.
D Violence was always punished with violence.
8
Which is a major characteristic of Judaism?
A belief in a single just and all-powerful God
B praying five times a day
C following the Eightfold Path
D worshipping many gods
9
( Cult 23(A) )
What was one similarity between the ancient civilizations of Egypt and China?
F They both had a democratic government.
c--H-ist_2_(_
B)'""""')
G They both believed in one God.
H They both had written forms of communication.
J They both carried on trade with the Americas.
10 Which development led to the other three?
A complex civilizations
B surplus of food
C division of labor
D domestication of plants and animals
( Hist 2(A) )
11 The Code of Hammurabi was a major contribution to the development of civilization
because it F treated citizens and slaves equally
( Govt 20(8) )
G ended all physical punishment
H established written laws
J rejected the principle of filial piety