The Rise of Civilizations
Feb 24, 2016
The Rise of Civilizations
What is a civilization? Civilization is: the formation of a
highly complex and organized group of people.
A key in the development of a civilization is the creation of cities.
Features of Civilization There are 4 other features that are
part of a civilization: Cities and Government Jobs and Technology Social Classes and Religion Writing and Record Keeping
Cities and Government Cities- An area where
people come together and live to: improve farming Develop artistic and
technological skills Laws and government-
rules and organization that establish order in civilization.
Jobs and Technology Cities grow and
jobs must come to help meet the demands of the people.
Technology: Tools, Machines, Architecture and other skills that enhance life.
Social Class Social Class- Groups with different
levels of importance. Priests and Rulers Farmers and Merchants Slaves
Rulers and Priests
Farmers
Slaves
Social Classes
Rulers and Priests
Farmers and Merchants
Slaves
Religion and Government Religious and government leaders
are often the same. This system of government is called
a theocracy. Claims of power to rule coming from
the gods. People believe that there are gods of
life, death, marriage, and weather. People engage in activities in hopes
of pleasing the gods.
Writing and Record Keeping As cities grow, people need ways to
keep track of information Merchants create records to keep
track of purchases and sales. Rulers record laws and taxes Writing created in order to keep
records
Pictographs Developed 5,000
years ago to help people express ideas and communicate
Symbols are added later to represent ideas and objects.
Cuneiform Cuneiform is a
wedge-shaped script developed in 3300 B.C. by the Mesopotamians
Around 500 wedges make up the Sumerian Alphabet
The Fertile Crescent Stretches from Persian Gulf to
eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea
Includes two rivers: Tigris and Euphrates
Between these 2 rivers is the land of Mesopotamia
City States City-States are independent states
that include cities and their surrounding areas (3200 B.C.)
Sumer- 3500 B.C. Ur- 2500 B.C.
City States
The Nile Valley Home to the
Egyptian Civilization (3000 B.C.)
The consistent flooding of the Nile provides fertile soil for crops.
The Narmer Palette The Narmer Palette tells the legend
of King Menes uniting both the lower and upper Kingdoms of Egypt.
The legend explains the rising of Egypt’s first dynasty
A dynasty is a family of rulers.
The Indus River Valley
The Indus River Valley is located in modern Pakistan.
Sea Port, trading centers, and farming areas
Brick homes arranged in a grid-like pattern
The Huang He Valley Home of the Chinese Civilization. Farmers began raising pigs and growing
grains Huang He Valley as 6000 B.C. People live in walled cities or towns. Culture discovers how to create Bronze in
1700 B.C. (better tools, weapons, and other goods)
A king rules the Huang He Valley and is assisted by the upper class.