Chart of ancient
River Valley Civilizations
Use Chapter 2 to fill out the information for
each civilization on the back of your map.
Let’s check your work….
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Major Water Source
Tigris River
Euphrates River
*Flooding unpredictable*
Mesopotamia
Specialized Workers
Priests
Metalworkers
Scribes
Soldiers
Teachers
Farmers
Merchants
Weavers
Builders
Govt. officials
Mesopotamia
Complex Institutions
Formal govt. with officials and laws
• City-states
• Dynasties
Organized religion (polytheistic)
• Ziggurats
• Priests
Education system to train scribes
Mesopotamia
Advanced Cities
Ur
Babylon
Mesopotamia
Advanced Technology
Wheel
Sail
Plow
Irrigation
Architecture: arches, ramps, ziggurats
Mesopotamia
Record Keeping
Cuneiform written on clay tablets
Egypt
Egypt
Major Water Source
Nile River
*Predictable flooding*
Egypt
Specialized Workers
Priests
Scribes
Teachers
Merchants
Builders
Metalworkers
Soldiers
Farmers
Weavers
Govt. officials
Egypt
Complex Institutions
Theocracy with officials
and laws
– Pharaohs
– Dynasties
Organized religion
(polytheistic)
Egypt
Advanced Cities
Memphis
Thebes
Egypt
Advanced Technology
Medicines
Pyramids
Mummification
Astronomy
Calendar (365 days)
Geometry
Egypt
Record Keeping
Hieroglyphics
Indus Valley
Indus Valley
Major Water Source
Indus River
*Unpredictable Flooding*
Indus Valley
Specialized Workers
Priests
Metalworkers
Scribes
Soldiers
Teachers
Farmers
Merchants
Weavers
Builders
Govt. officials
Indus Valley
Complex
Institutions
• Strong centralized
government
• Planned cities: grid
system
• Organized religion:
early form of Hinduism
Indus Valley
Advanced Cities
Mohenjo-Daro
Harrappa
Indus Valley
Advanced Technology
Plumbing and sewage systems
Oven-baked bricks
Sophisticated city-planning
Indus Valley
Record Keeping
Not yet deciphered
China
China
Major Water Source
Huang He (Yellow) River
Yangtze River
*Unpredictable flooding*
China
Specialized Workers
Priests
Metalworkers
Scribes
Soldiers
Teachers
Farmers
Merchants
Weavers
Builders
Govt. officials
China
Complex Institutions
Organized
government:
Dynasties, feudalism
Organized Religion:
use of oracle bones
China
Advanced Cities
Anyang
Luoyang
China
Advanced Technology
Walled cities
Bronzework
Silk
Iron
Coined money
China
Record Keeping
• Pictographic: a symbol
represents an idea or word
• Written language is
different than spoken
language