Early Civilizations Chapter 2

1. Early CivilizationsChapter 2 The Civilizations of the River Valleys

2. The Nile Valley Early inhabitants called their land kemet, or “black land”. The soil was dark from the river overflow. People still marvel at the remains of modern Egypt

3. Objective Understand why Egypt was called the “gift of the Nile”

4. Terms to Define Monarchy Dynasty Theocracy Bureaucracy Pharaoh Empire Polytheism Hieroglyphics

5. People to Meet Narmer Hatshepsut Thutmose III Akhenaton Ramses II

6. Places to Locate Nile River Valley Memphis Thebes

7. A river Valley and Its People Egypt receives little rainfall, but the Nile overflows, flooding the land with rich top soil--silt Nile is world’s longest river: 4,160 miles Niles flows north and empties into Mediterranean Sea

8. The Gifts of the River Besides silt as a top soil, the Nile provided people as early as 5000 B.C. with fish, ducks, geese, etc The papyrus growing along the river produced rope, matting, sandals, and paper-like writing material

9. Uniting Egypt Villages united into kingdom or monarchies Monarchies led to larger monarchies Ultimately, there were two kingdoms Upper Egypt: North Lower Egypt: South

10. Uniting Egypt Narmer, known as Menses, united the two kingdoms in 3000 B.C. United kingdoms created a dynasty From 3000 B.C. to 332 B.C., there were 30 dynasties Three periods of dynasties Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom

11. Old Kingdom 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C. Egyptian Monarchy Regarded as a god Both religious and political leader Theocracy Delegated many official duties to a bureaucracy, group of government officials Monarch controlled taxes and trade

12. Old Kingdom The Pyramids To honor their god-kings and provide lasting resting place The Step Pyramid: first large, all stone building in the world—overlooks Memphis Three pyramids of Giza: testament to engineering skills The Great Pyramid stands 481 feet tall

13. Old Kingdom Egyptians believed the king continued to guide the kingdom after death Body was embalmed Body wrapped in linen and placed in coffin King’s clothing, weapons, furniture, and jewelry were placed inside for enjoyment after death

14. Middle Kingdom The Middle Kingdom: 2050 B.C. to 1800 B.C. Kings in Memphis lost power New united dynasty formed in the South at Thebes Became stronger, capturing Nubia (part of current Sudan) Canal constructed between Nile and Red Sea, improving trade

15. The Middle Kingdom During 1700s, local leaders challenged the dynasties authority Also, the Hyksos (HIHK*sahs), from west Asia, conquered the Egyptians Had bronze weapons Ruled for 110 years

16. The New Kingdom Ahmose (ah*MOH*sa), Egyptian prince, drove the Hyksos out of Egypt Learned to use bronze weapons Fought using Hyksos tactics

17. The New Kingdom Ahmose founded the term pharaoh, “great house of the king” Ahmose devoted himself to construction projects Later pharaohs conquered more territory

18. The New Kingdom Around 1480 B.C., Queen Hatshesut (hat*SHEHP*soot) Ruled with her husband then herself Stepson too young to rule She was crowned pharaoh Wore false beard, traditional for pharaohs Thutmose III (thoot*MOH*suh) her son, conquered and empire for Egypt

19. Pharaohs Rule an Empire Pushed the empire into now Syria and Iraq Benefitted by the diffusion of different cultures

20. Akhenaton Founds a Religion • Akhenaton (AHK*NAH*tuhn) (“spirit of Aton”) assumed power in 1370 (formerly, Amenhotep (AH*muhn*HOH) • Wife was Nefertiti • Broke with tradition and worshipped only on god, Aton, the sun god • Claimed to be Aton’s equal • Moved the capital from Thebes • People didn’t like the changes

21. Akhenaton Founds a Religion After his death, priests restore old religion of many gods Tutankhamen—successor—moved capital to Thebes Army overthrew dynasty and created new one.

22. Recovery and Decline • Ramses II reigned for 67 years and brought wealth and prosperity to Egypt • Has 62 sons • Erected large statues to himself and vast underground tomb • Ramses III: costly war with Syria • Egypt declined, split into two kingdoms and controlled by Libyans and Kushites

23. Life in Ancient Egypt • Royalties, nobles, and priests formed top of social order • Wealthy lived along the Nile in opulence • Middle class • Artisans, scribes, merchants, and tax collectors • Mostly in cities • Majority of Egyptians were poor farmers

24. Life in Ancient Egypt In the cities, husband, wife and children were family Outside city, they added grandparents and other relatives who helped farm Children taught great respect for parents—son was to maintain father’s tomb Old Kingdom literature protrayed women as husband’s property

25. Life in Ancient Egypt Women were respected as child bearers Children respected mothers for bearing them and nourishing them More rights came to women later: testify on court, divorce, could attain prominence, etc.

26. Worshipping Many Deities • Polytheism, the worship of many gods • Often represented as part animal, part human • Priests fostered the worship of specific gods • Ra, the sun god • Amon, depicted as a man holding a scepter (sometimes had the head of a cobra) • Joined the two: Amon-Ra

27. Worshipping Many Gods • Osiris: life, death and rebirth of all living things • His wife was Isis, both ruled over life and death • Egyptians devoted much time to the next world • By the time of the New Kingdom, both rich and poor could achieve eternal life

28. Writing with Pictures • Hieroglyphics was their earliest writing system • Carved pictures and symbols on pieces of slate • Stood for objects, ideas, and sounds • Few people could read or write

29. Writing with Pictures • Heiroglyphs fell from use and scientists didn’t know meanings • French soldiers in 1799 found the Rosetta Stone, slab of stone near town of Rosetta • Both Greek and Egyptian lettering • Greek and Egyptian text matched • Many more religious works discovered • Egyptians also wrote secular works

30. Achievements in Science Pyramids, temples, and other monuments prove architecture and artistic achievement Developed number system for area and volume Geometry principles for measuring flooded areas

31. Achievements in Science • Worked out accurate 365-day calendar • Developed medical procedures from embalming • Treating fractures, wounds, disease • Wrote on papyrus scrolls

32. The Fertile Crescent Chapter 2, Section 2

33. Setting the Scene • Terms to define: city-state, cuneiform • People to Meet: the Sumerians, Sargon I, the Akkadians, Hammurabi • Places to Locate: Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

34. Overview • Around 5000 B.C., groups of people from different regions began to migrate • People moved to Fertile Crescent, land between Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf • Parts of modern nations of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq • Some ended up in Mesopotamia, eastern part of Fertile Crescent

35. Overview • Mesopotamia—between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • Mesopotamia—”land between the rivers”

36. The Twin Rivers • Tigris and Euphrates Rivers similar to Nile; overflow with silt • Unlike the Nile, overflows were not predictable • But by 4000 B.C., the rivers were producing abundance of crops

37. The Sumerian Civilization • The Sumerians arrive in Sumer, lower part of Tigris –Euphrates in 3500 B.C. • From central Asia or Asia Minor • Created world’s first cities

38. The Sumerian City-States • By 3000 B.C., the Sumerians had formed 12 city-states • City-states were cities with surrounding lands • Sumerians built a ziggurat (temple) for each city-state

39. Sumerian Government • Each city-state governed separately • First, civilians governed, then military • City-states merged, then kings evolved • Kingships became hereditary • Temple of Ur (right)

40. Sumerian Government • Sumerian king served as both military leader and high priest • Monarchies and theocracies

41. Roles of Men and Women • Men had authority over wives and children • Could sell them into slavery if he needed to get out of debt

42. Writing on Clay Tablets • Commerce and trade dominated Sumerians • Archaeologists think writing system is oldest in the world—cuneiform (kyoo*NEE*uh*FAWRM)

43. Writing on Clay Tablets • Cuneiform • Wedge shaped markings made by pressing sharpened reed against clay • Became more “script” over the years • Basis for alphabet systems of writing • Scribes using cuneiform rose high in society • Gilgamesh epic thought to be oldest story in the world

44. Sumer’s Many Deities • Polytheistic • Presided over specific natural forces—rain, moon, air • Each city-state claimed its own god • Thought gods cared little for humans and needed to be appeased • Afterlife was dark under world and no chance for happy afterlife

45. Sumerian Inventions • Wagon wheel • Arch, for sturdier buildings • Potters wheel to shape clay • Sundial to keep time • Numbering system based on 60 • Twelve-month calendar • First to make bronze out of tin and copper • “history begins in Sumer”—one historian

46. First Mesopotamian Empires • Mesopotamia conquered and reconquered • Sargon of the Akkadians was first • One of nomadic groups • From Arabian Peninsula • Conquered all city-states and united Mesopotamia • Empire disintegrated after his and grandson’s death

47. First Mesopotamian Empires • Kingdom of Ebla in northern Syria • Clay tablets left behind describe prosperous kingdom lasting past 2000 B.C.

48. Kingdoms of Mesopotamia • Hammurabi’s Babylonian Empire • Amorites overran Sumerian centers • Produced strong ruler—Hammurabi • Babylon became major trade center • Produced grain and cloth

49. Kingdoms of Mesopotamia • Hammurabi’s Law • Perhaps his greatest achievement • Consisted of 282 sections • Clear actions against violations • Harsh approach • “an eye for an eye” • Crimes became the concern of the entire community—individual revenge not needed

50. First Mesopotamian Empires • After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon declined • Chaldeans in 600 B.C. brought Babylon back