What is the difference between a community and a civilization? Jason Allred Ivy Asbridge Skyler Asbridge Shantel Bock Hope Boswell Taylor Cowan Austin Dopp Savanna Greehalgh Nicolaus Hargett Taylee Hathaway Bowen Hasseus Jordon Howard Talon Jennings Makaila Kendall Taylor Ludlow Kyler Nielson Savannah Peterson Nephi Raynor Cynthia Robinson Sabrina Sage Kyler White Kayden Whiting Cody Williams Tanner Wilkinson Welcome to World Civilizations!!!
A Civilization is: an advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts, science, and writing. Complex political and social structures are also present.
Conditions of a civilized society -- Cities Government Religion Social Structure Writing Artistic Activity
Many civilizations developed across the globe. We will learn about civilizations in four regions -- Middle East (Fertile Crescent) Egypt India China
Mapping Activity --
Why were rivers important to early civilizations? Read paragraph on mapping sheet.
Epic of Gilgamesh
Sumerian Civilization Located in Fertile Crescent -- Between Tigris and Euphrates River Mesopotamia Known as the 'Cradle of Civilization' -- Oldest civilization First to develop writing -- Cunieform
Sumerian Religion 1. Believed that gods ran the world, but not all gods/goddesses were equal. 2. Sumerians had gods for music, law, sex, victory, leather-working, basket weaving. 3. Gods were anthropomorphic, meaning they could be invisible, irritable, vindictive, and irresponsible. The motives of the gods were not always clear. 4. Sumerians created myths to understand the universe.
Ziggurats Temples were originally built on platforms. During the third millennium B.C., these were made higher and bigger. Eventually it was decided to build even higher temples on platforms which were stepped. These stepped towers we call ziggurats. By 2000 B.C. mud-brick ziggurats were being constructed in many Sumerian cities. Later, ziggurats were constructed in Babylonian and Assyrian cities. No one knows why the ziggurats were built. Historians believe they were connected to Sumerian religion, however.
Sumerian Society Classes Nobles, later Kings Free Clients of the nobility (Free men and women who depended on the nobility. They had land but did not own it.) Commoners (Free citizens. They had a voice in political affairs. They could own land. Slaves (Foreigners, criminals, prisoners of war. Some engaged in trade and could make enough money to buy their freedom.
A day in the life of a Sumerian student
Sumerians were conquered by the Semites in 2331 BC. Semite chief -- Sargon First world conqueror Capitol -- Akkad So what?
The Semites spread Sumerian culture.
Babylonians conquered Semites Results United the people of Mesopotamia politically and culturally.
Babylonians were astronomers. Developed a mathmatic system based on 60 rather than 10. First civilization to use zero as a place holder. Trade -- Few natural resources in Mesopotamia Grains, oils, and textiles were traded for metals, timber, wine and stones
Hammurabi's Code Amelu -- Highest class Government officials, priests, military officers Mushkinu -- Middle class Tradesmen, professionals, workers Wardu -- Slaves Prisoners of war, citizens forced into slavery, (slaves could own property, conduct business and purchase their freedom)
Assyrian Empire Invaded Fertile Crescent around 1200 BCE. Feared and hated. Nomads. Empire included all of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Dependent on highly disciplined army. Iron weaponry, excellent calvary, iron-tipped battering rams. No mercy shown to any. "I cut off their heads and like heaps of grain, I piled them up." "I skinned alive all the chief men. Their young men and maidens I burned with fire. Prisoners tortured and beheaded. Women and children were enslaved. Cities were reduced to rubble.
Harsh and effective government. Empire was divided into provinces, each ruled by a governor. King had absolute power. King Sennacherib
Built roads to speed movement of the army. Deported people to various parts of the empire to prevent uprisings. Consequence???? Exchange of ideas and culture among peoples of the Fertile Crescent.
Greatest contribution of the Assyrians? King Assurbanipal built a great library in the Assyrian capital of Ninevah. Stored over 22,000 clay tablets written in cunieform of the Sumerians and Babylonians.
Beginning of Assyrian Decline King Sennacherib ordered his army to capture Jerusalem but on the eve of the capture, a mysterious plague killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. This was the first city the Assyrians failed to conquer.
Persians Conquered Fertile Crescent and Asia Minor around 550 BCE. Cyrus was king.
As king, Cyrus was very tolerant of conquered peoples. They were able to retain some self-government, religion, and customs.
Darius was king after Cyrus. Copied Assyrian style of government -- Empire divided into 20 provinces or SATRAPIES (say-truh-peez) Each satrapy was ruled by a governor or satrap. Inspectors were sent to each province to be "the Eyes and Ears of the King" Improved Assyrian road system. Great Royal Road Messengers could cover 1600 miles in 10 days Consequence -- efficient government, trade, more unified empire. Persians fell to the Greeks in 331 BCE
Persian Religion Founded by Zoroaster (AKA Zarathustra) around 600 BCE. Belief that the world is a battle ground for good and evil. Individuals made choice to follow Ahura Mazda, the god of goodness, wisdom and truth or Ahriman, the evil spirit. According to Zoroaster a final battle would be fought during which Ahura Mazda would win.
Beliefs of Zoroastrians emphasized moral or ethical conduct. Their ideas influenced other peoples in the Fertile Crescent. Similarities between Christian and Jewish religions and Zoroastrianism?
Indian Geography Large Peninsula surrounded on three sides by water. Himalayan Mountains on the north. Consequence--- Barriers to travel Indian Civilization allowed to develop independently Northern Plain -- three rivers, Indus, Ganges,and Brahmaputra = ideal for farming Deccan Plateau -- very little reliable water Coastal Plain -- ideal for trade
Indus Civilization developed about the same time as Sumerain and Egyptian Civilizations Chief cities -- Harappa and Mohenjo Dara -- Bigger than Sumerian cities Written language but it has not be translated as of yet. Planned cities -- wide, straight streets; square city blocks Knowledge of geometry because cities had been surveyed. Requirement for planned cities?????
Strong Central Government
Harappan Civilization ended about 1500 BCE with Aryan invaders. Indian populations spread to other parts of India Consequence -- no lasting Harappan impact.
Aryan Civilization Nomadic Horsemen originally from the region between the Black and Caspian Seas Traveled in tribes Headed by Rajah, or elected chief who served as a leader in times of war. Tribes ruled by councils made up of elders and free men.
Aryan Religion Vedas -- religious book composed between 1500 and 1000 BCE. Contained all religious beliefs hymns, prayers, magic spells used by the priests. Memorized and passed down Polytheistic Society -- worshipped gods of sun, sky, thunder, fire Indra -- Warrior god led all other gods Performed sacrifices No concern with afterlife
Vedas influenced the Upanishads oral teachings composed between 800 and 600 BCE Belief in reincarnation Foundation of Hinduism
Literature -- Epic poems Mahabharata -- Mixture of fact and fiction, glorifies heroes Ramayana -- Duties and ideals of Aryan warriors Writing -- Sanskrit (developed around 700 BCE) Used mostly by priests to record sacred texts Oral traditions passed down
Village Life Each village headed by wealthy farmer. All villages headed by rajah Most farmed or herded cattle Cattle used for food early on -- later sacred Aryan word for war meant "the desire for more cattle" Value of land and tools expressed in heads of cattle. Extended family all under one roof with oldest man in charge. Early on women had high status and fought alongside men in battle, composed hymns in the Vedas As civilization developed the status of women declined
Social Classes Kshatriyas -- warriors Brahmans -- priests (eventually replaced kshatriyas as ruling class) Vaisyas -- land owners, merchants, herders Sudras -- servants or others tied to the land **Social classes were very rigid because Aryans wanted to maintain separate racial social identity** Where have you heard this before??? Social classes were later rigidly divided into castes based on birth -- eventually 3,000 subcastes. Untouchables were those outside the caste system.