NAME: ________________________________________________________________________________
Due: ______________________
Ancient Civilizations
Chapter Two Study Guide
Ms. Cave
During the New
Stone Age
(Neolithic Era)
permanent
settlements
appeared in river
valleys and
around the
Fertile Crescent.
River Valleys
provided rich soil
for crops, as well
as protection
from invasion.
Why did ancient
civilizations
develop in river
valleys?
Where were the
earliest
civilizations
located?
When did these
civilizations
exist?
River Valley civilizations (about 3500 -500 BCE)
*Egyptian-Nile River Valley and Delta (Africa)
*Mesopotamian civilization-Tigris & Euphrates River Valleys
(SW Asia)
*Indian civilization-Indus River Valley (South Asia)
*Chinese civilization-Huang He Valley (East Asia)
These river valleys offered rich soils for agriculture & some
protection from invasion.
Other civilizations (about 2000 to 500 BCE)
*Hebrews settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the
Jordan River Valley (part of Fertile Crescent in SW Asia)
*Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of
Fertile Crescent in SW Asia)
*Kush was located on the upper (Southern) Nile River (Africa)
Use maps, globes,
artifacts, and
pictures to analyze
the physical and
cultural landscapes
of the world and
interpret the past.
Identify major
geographic
features important
to the study of
world history.
Section 1: pp. 26-34
City-States in Mesopotamia
1. Vocabulary: Understand the following terms. Be sure you can answer, “Why is it important?”
City-state
Cultural Diffusion
Dynasty
Empire
Fertile Crescent
Hammurabi’s Code
Mesopotamia
Polytheism
II. Chart: As you read about the Sumerians, fill in the chart below & explain how they solved their problems.
City-States in Mesopotamia
The Problems
The Solutions
1. With flooding of the rivers
unpredictable, how could
farmers water their fields
during the dry summer months?
2. With no natural barriers,
how could villagers protect
themselves?
3. With limited natural
resources, how did Sumerians
get the materials for tools and
buildings?
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4. How should the Sumerian
city-states be ruled?
5. What could be done to please
the gods and earn their
protection in life?
II. Answer:
1. How did Sumerians view their gods? Why do you think they viewed their gods in this way?
2. What areas of life did Hammurabi’s Code cover? Why is the development of a written code of laws important to
a society?
3. How did interaction with the environment lead to advances in civilization?
Section 2: pp. 35-41
Pyramids on the Nile
I. Vocabulary: Understand the following terms. Be sure you can answer, “Why is it important?”
delta
hieroglyphic
mummification
Narmer
papyrus
pharaoh
pyramid
theocracy
Rosetta Stone
Egyptian Book of the Dead
II. Chart: As you read about Ancient Egyptian civilization, fill out the chart below to answer the questions.
Government
1. Why is Narmer a
legendary hero in ancient
Egyptian history?
2. How did the role of
Egyptian pharaohs differ
from the role of
Mesopotamian rulers?
3. Why did the Egyptians
build great pyramids for
their kings?
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Culture
4. How did Egyptian
religious beliefs compare
with those of the
Mesopotamians?
5. What social classes
made up Egyptian
society?
6. What were significant
achievements of the
ancient Egyptians in
science and technology?
III. Answer:
1. How did being surrounded by deserts benefit ancient Egypt?
2. What impact did Egyptian religious beliefs have on the lives of Egyptians?
Section 3: pp. 44-49
Planned Cities on the Indus
I. Vocabulary: Understand the following terms. Be sure you can answer, “Why is it important?”
Harappan
Monsoon
Civilization
II. Chart: As you read this section, list the key characteristics of the first Indian civilization in the web
diagram below.
Ancient Indian Civilization
Geography
Settlements/Buildings
Religious Beliefs
Economic Life
III. Answer:
1. How did the monsoons affect the climate and the people of the Indus Valley?
2. How were the planned cities of the Indus Valley different from other early cities?
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Section 4: pp. 50-55
River Dynasties in China
I. Vocabulary: Understand the following terms. Be sure you can answer, “Why is it important?”
Dynastic cycle
Feudalism
Oracle Bones
Loess
Mandate of Heaven
II. Chart: As you read this section, fill out the chart below by describing key features of ancient China
under the Shang Dynasty.
1. Geographic Features
2. Environmental Challenges
3. Settlements
4. Social Classes
5. Role of Family
6. Religious Beliefs
7. Writing System
8. Technological Advances
9. Artistry
II. Answer:
1. What family obligation did a Chinese person have?
2. How is the Dynastic Cycle connected to the Mandate of Heaven?
3. How did the Shang Social classes differ from those in Egyptian society?
4. What was the great advantage of the Chinese written language?
Thesis: Look on p. 56 in your textbook. There is a chart showing the Early River Civilizations. Write a thesis
statement comparing TWO civilizations in two of the following areas; Environment, Power and Authority, and
Science and Technology. Use the format below as a guide.
Although ________________________________ and ____________________________ were similar/different because… (give an
example from the choices offered), they were more similar/different because… give examples from the choices
offered.
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