Early Civilizations
Unit 1
(3500 B.C. – 1600 B.C.)
Neolithic Revolution

1.
2.
Hunter-Gatherer
societies dominate
most of pre-history.
Change from
nomadic life to
farming.
Domesticated
animals.
Building Blocks of Civilization
1.
2.
3.
4.
Water
Language
Writing
Technology
Characteristics of Civilizations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Organized governments
Religion
Jobs
Social Classes
Art and Architecture
Public Works
Writing
Characteristics of Civilizations
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Way of keeping records.
Groups of people based on power, money, or
fighting ability.
Roads, sewers, libraries, etc.
Belief system
Designed to provide order.
Buildings and cultural designs.
Specialized artisans
First Civilizations

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Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Nile River Valley (Egypt)
Indus River Valley (India)
Huang He/Yellow River (China)
Mesopotamia: Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia: Fertile Crescent



Tigris River
Euphrates River
What new technology allowed these
rivers to become the first area in the
world where civilizations could grow?

Irrigation
Mesopotamia: Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia: Writing


The writing style used by the people
inhabiting the area of Mesopotamia was
called Cuneiform.
Cuneiform is the oldest known form of
writing and consists of wedge markings
forming a pictogram.
Mesopotamia: Cuneiform
Mesopotamia: City States and Empires

City States of Sumer

Kingdom of Akkad

Babylonian Empire
City States: Sumer



In between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
settled a people known as Sumerians. (3500 –
2300 B.C.)
The Sumerians formed City-States
City States consist of a central city and the
land around it. The city was there for trade
and government purposes while the land was
irrigated for food production.
City State: Example
Sumerian City States: Technology

The Sumerians came
up with many of the
basic inventions and
technological
advancements that we
still put into use today.

Inventions include:







Wagon wheel
Arch
Potter’s wheel
Sundial
12 month calendar
Number system
Developed bronze tools
Kingdom of Akkad


Sumerians were
conquered by their
northern neighbors
called Akkadians.
(2300 B.C.)
The Akkadians were
led by Sargon I
Kingdom of Akkad
Babylonian Empire


Around 1800 B.C. arose another great
empire with it’s capital located in the
city of Babylon. Thus the name
Babylonian Empire.
This first Babylonian empire is most
known for one of its leaders named
Hammurabi. Hammurabi is the first
known ruler to create a law code and
have it written down.
Code of Hammurabi
Egypt




Nile River Valley
Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms
Pyramids and Mummies
Hieroglyphics
Egypt: Nile River Valley
Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms

Old Kingdom (2700 B.C. – 2200 B.C.)
 Narmer of Upper Egypt conquers Lower
Egypt uniting those who lived in the Nile
River Valley with those who lived on the
Nile Delta.
 Narmer created the first Egyptian dynasty
and established a Theocracy to rule over
his kingdom.
 Capital located in Memphis
Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms
Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms

Middle Kindom (2050 B.C. – 1700 B.C.)
 After 150 years of civil war and civil
strife a new dynasty takes the throne.
 New capital in the city of Thebes.
 Ended by the Invasion of foreigners
called Hyksos.
Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms
Egypt: Old, Middle, New Kingdoms

New Kingdom (1600 B.C. – 945 B.C.)
 Egyptians overcome and displaced their
Hyksos rulers in 1600 B.C. and established
a new dynasty.
 Egyptian rulers called themselves
Pharaohs
Egypt: New Kingdom



Akhenaton causes religious turmoil by
switching from Polytheistic beliefs to
Monotheistic beliefs.
Polytheism
Monotheism
Egypt: New Kingdom



Ramses II (The Great) attempts to expand the
empire but is thwarted by the Hittites.
The Hittites were a people from Asia Minor
(Turkey) who had conquered an empire for
themselves.
The Egyptians and Hittites fought over the
area of Syria, neither became victors.
Egypt: Pyramids
Egypt: Pyramids
Egypt: Mummies
Mummies
Mummies
Egypt: Hieroglyphs


Writing system used by
the Egyptians that
involved using symbols
to communicate a
message.
Glyphs could represent
objects, ideas, and
sounds.
Egypt: Hieroglyphs
Egypt: Hieroglyphs

With the discovery
of the Rosetta stone
archeologists could
finally interpret
Egyptian
hieroglyphs.
Harappa Civilization
Harappa Civilization



The Harappan Civilization was based along
the Indus river valley of present day India and
Pakistan.
The Harappan economy was based on
Monsoons.
They developed a writing system of
pictograms similar to both Sumerian
Cuneiform and Egyptian Hieroglyphs.
Harappa Civilization
Harappa Civilization: Monsoons
Harappa Civilization: Monsoons
Harappa Civilization: Writing
Harappa Civilization

The Harappan dominance of the Indus river valley
lasted from 2500 B.C. to 1500 B.C. They are thought
to have perished at the hands of invaders called
Aryans.
Harappa Civilization


The idea of social classes based on birth was
introduced by the Aryans.
The system is known as the Caste System and
is still in effect today. There are five different
castes.
China
China: Early Dynasties

Xia Dynasty (2200 – 1760 B.C.)



Collection of many early tribes who banded
together for protection and trade stability.
Based along the Yellow River.
Shang Dynasty


First Dynasty where the central government had
absolute control.
Mandate of Heaven. Idea that whoever is in
power was put there by heaven.
China: Xia Dynasty
China: Early Dynasties
China: Early Dynasties
China: Mandate of Heaven
China: Oracle Bones
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Unit One Project: Create Your Own
Civilization
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Name your civilization.
Pick a spot in the world to start your civilization and draw it out. Explain
why you chose to place your civilization there.
Show where at least 3 cities will go.
What language will you use? You may use an existing one or make one
up. Example: Harrisonish.
What will your writing style be like? Will it be like English, Spanish,
and German? Or will it be made up of symbols? Explain why you chose
what you did.
How will social classes be determined?
What Jobs will you have?
What will your government be like and how will you enforce order?