Early River Valley
Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
CHAPTER
2
Chapter Overview
Time Line
MAP
SECTION
1 City-States in Mesopotamia
SECTION
2 Pyramids on the Nile
SECTION
3 Planned Cities on the Indus
SECTION
4 River Dynasties in China
Visual Summary
QUIT
CHAPTER
2
Early River Valley
Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
Chapter Overview
The river valley civilizations develop from
small farming villages. The civilizations
create laws, centralized governments, writing
systems, and advanced technologies. The
process of trade spreads new ideas to and
from these civilizations.
HOME
CHAPTER
2
Early River Valley
Civilizations, 3500 B.C.–450 B.C.
HOME
Time Line
3000 B.C. City-states form in
Sumer, Mesopotamia.
1792 B.C. Hammurabi
develops code of laws for
Babylonian Empire.
1027 B.C. Zhou
dynasty forms in
China.
3500 B.C.
450 B.C.
2660 B.C. Egypt’s Old
Kingdom develops.
1550 B.C. Indus
Valley civilization
declines.
1
HOME
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Key Idea
Working together to overcome environmental
challenges leads to the development of centralized
government and cities in Mesopotamia. The
Sumerian civilization influences later civilizations.
Overview
Assessment
1
HOME
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Fertile Crescent
• silt
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• irrigation
The earliest
civilization in Asia
arose in Mesopotamia
and organized into
city-states.
The development of this
civilization reflects a
pattern that has occurred
repeatedly throughout
history.
• city-state
• dynasty
• cultural diffusion
• polytheism
• empire
• Hammurabi
Assessment
1
HOME
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Section
1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
List three environmental challenges the Sumerians
faced and their solutions to these challenges.
Challenges
Solution
unpredictable flooding
irrigation
defenselessness
walled cities
limited resources
trade
continued . . .
1
HOME
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Section
1
Assessment
2. What advantages did living in cities offer the people of
ancient Mesopotamia? Do modern cities offer any of the
same advantages? THINK ABOUT
• characteristics of Sumer’s city-states
• characteristics of Sumer’s economy and society
• development of organized government
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
Opportunity for wealth; diversity of work available;
government that promotes laws, manages economy, and
provides assistance; better housing; city walls and armies
for protection; proximity to temple; more social contact.
Cities today offer many of these advantages.
continued . . .
1
HOME
City-States in
Mesopotamia
MAP
Section
1
Assessment
3. Do you think that living in a river valley with little
rainfall helped or hurt the development of civilization
in Mesopotamia? Explain your response.
ANSWER
Possible
Response:
It helped, because the Sumerians had to develop the
technology and organization to get water to the
fields. This led to the development of organized
government.
End of Section 1
2
HOME
Pyramids on the Nile
Key Idea
Egyptian civilization develops along the Nile River. Upper
and lower Egypt are united into a kingdom and ruled by
pharaohs, who are believed to be gods. Egyptian customs
for preparing and burying the bodies of the dead include
mummification and burying pharaohs in pyramids.
Overview
Assessment
2
HOME
Pyramids on the Nile
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• cataract
• delta
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• Menes
Along the Nile River,
civilization emerged in
Egypt and became
united into a kingdom
ruled by pharaohs.
Many of the monuments built
by the Egyptians stand as a
testament to their ancient
civilization.
• pharaoh
• theocracy
• pyramid
• mummification
• hieroglyphics
• papyrus
Assessment
2
HOME
Pyramids on the Nile
Section
2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
Give four examples of Egyptian achievements.
Mummification
Pyramids
Hieroglyphics
Egyptian Achievements
Advances in
medicine
Calendar
Written
numbers
continued . . .
2
HOME
Pyramids on the Nile
Section
2
Assessment
2. Three natural features determined the boundaries of
ancient Egyptian civilization: the Nile River, the First
Cataract, and the surrounding desert. In your judgment,
which of these features was most important to Egypt’s
history?
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• The Nile River—it provided fertile soil, a
predictable growing season, and easy transportation
within Egypt.
• The First Cataract—it presented an obstacle to trade
and communication with peoples on the upper Nile.
• The deserts—they limited outside contact but also
prevented invasions.
End of Section 2
3
HOME
Planned Cities
on the Indus
Key Idea
The Indus Valley people build planned cities with
sophisticated sewage and plumbing systems.
Archaeological evidence suggests the Indus
civilization is stable and prosperous. Indus Valley
culture ends mysteriously.
Overview
Assessment
3
HOME
Planned Cities
on the Indus
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• subcontinent
• monsoon
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The first Indian
civilization built wellplanned cities on the
banks of the Indus River.
The culture of India today
has its roots in the
civilization of the early
Indus cities.
Assessment
3
HOME
Planned Cities
on the Indus
Section
3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
List the environmental conditions faced by the people
of the Indus Valley. For each one, explain whether the
condition was a benefit or a drawback.
Environmental Condition
monsoons
floods
Benefit or Drawback
(-) too little rain
(-) too much rain
(+) spread deposits of rich soil over wide area
(-) unpredictable
high mountains
(+) natural barrier helped protect against invasion
large desert
(+) natural barrier helped protect against invasion
continued . . .
3
HOME
Planned Cities
on the Indus
Section
3
Assessment
2. What evidence has led historians to the following
beliefs about Indus civilization?
(a) The cities were run by a strong central government.
(b) Indus people carried on trade with Sumer.
(c) Society was generally peaceful and stable.
ANSWER
(a) Planned cities, uniform buildings, sanitation systems
(b) Indus seals found in Mesopotamia
(c) Uniform housing, children’s toys, few weapons
End of Section 3
4
HOME
River Dynasties
in China
Key Idea
Ancient Chinese civilization is ruled by powerful family
dynasties. Just rulers are believed to have divine
approval. In Chinese culture, family is central to society
and religion. Improvements are made in technology and
trade. Feudalism is established.
Overview
Assessment
4
HOME
River Dynasties
in China
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• loess
• oracle bone
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• Mandate of Heaven
The early rulers
introduced ideas about
government and society
that shaped Chinese
civilization.
The culture that took root
during ancient times still
affects Chinese ways of
life today.
• dynastic cycle
Assessment
• feudalism
4
HOME
River Dynasties
in China
Section
4
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List
the major developments in the early Chinese dynasties.
Event One
Xia is the first
Chinese
dynasty.
Event Three
Shang
develop
writing.
Event Two
Shang
develop first
cities.
Event Five
Zhou are first
to control by
feudalism.
Event Four
Zhou claim
Mandate of
Heaven.
continued . . .
4
HOME
River Dynasties
in China
Section
4
Assessment
2. The group was often more important than the individual
in Chinese culture. In your judgment, what are the benefits
and drawbacks of this belief? THINK ABOUT
• family roles
• the characteristics of a ruler
• role of spirit gods
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• Benefits—family cares for elderly, less government
money spent on social programs, respect for deceased
family members/gods
• Drawbacks—less time for individuals to pursue interests,
difficult to break away when family or ruler is unjust continued . . .
4
HOME
River Dynasties
in China
Section
4
Assessment
3. Do you think that the Zhou Dynasty’s downfall
resulted because of their method of control? Why or why
not? THINK ABOUT
• feudalism
• the large division of rich and poor
• the vast controlled lands
• the noble-king relationship
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• Yes—great distance between ruler and ruled, lords were greedy,
chaotic warfare
• No—the Zhou ruled successfully for 300 years. Their downfall
wasn’t because of feudalism but because invaders killed the
backbone of the dynasty, the Zhou monarchy.
End of Section 4