8.2) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings.
River Valley Civilizations
Mesopotamia Farmingmammarabi codeMesopotamia writing |
MESOPOTAMIA
|
Egyptian writing
Pharaohs
India
Why is the land important to India civilization?
India is a subcontinent because it is part of Asia, but huge mountains make a barrier between India and the rest of Asia. These mountains are called the Himalaya mountains. India has 2 very fertile valleys and both are fed by the Himalaya mountains. When the Himalayan snow melts, if the water can be controlled, the land near these rivers can be used for farming. The eastern and western coasts of India are lush, fertile lands. Monsoons are an important part of the Indian subcontinent. The summer monsoon brings warm, wet air from the Arabian Sea, which produces drenching rains. If the rain comes and the rainy season lasts long enough, the crops will be good, but if the rains are delayed, a drought will occur and few crops will be harvested and many will die.
Why is India's river valley important?
When the Indus river flooded the nearby land, it left rich fertile soil. Farmers used this soil to grow many crops. Because people had more than enough food, they could spend their time doing other things. As people began to trade their extra food and goods, their wealth grew. This allowed them to build larger cites.
What were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro like?
Well-planned cities had as many as 35,000 people. There were main streets and smaller side streets. A wall surrounded the neighborhoods and narrow lanes separated the houses. Most houses had flat roofs, brick ovens, a courtyard in the middle, and indoor bathrooms. The cities had pipes that transported wastewater through drains under the streets. Houses also had garbage shoots connected to a bin in the street. The city government was likely well organized.
What was Harappa society like?
Because the Harappa left no written records, we don't know much about their society or government. What we do know is that most Harappans were farmers. City dwellers made coper and bronze tools. Archaeologists have also found many toys among the ruins. It is likely that the Harappans began trading with the Mesopotamians about 2300BCE. Some Harappan sailors followed the coastline and crossed the Arabian Sea, and others traveled overland.
Who were the Aryans?
The Aryans lived in central Asia where they raised and herded animals. They were part of a group called Indo-Europeans. Cattle was so important to them because they produced meat, milk, and butter. They were so important that they used cattle as money. Individual wealth was determined by the number of cattle a person had. They were horse riders and hunters. After 2,000 BCE, the Aryans began leaving their home territory. They moved in waves. They arrived in Indus valley around 1500 BCE. Their civilization spread to all of India except the southern tip.
What changes do the Aryans bring?
When the Aryans arrived in India they were no longer nomads. They became farmers and forbid using cattle as meat. Aryans invented the iron plow and canals. Aryans also brought new religion and new writing called Sanskrit.
What is the caste system?
A caste is a social group you're born into and you cannot change. Your caste determines who you can socialize with, marry, and what jobs you can have. Another name for caste is Jati. There are thousands of Jati. The caste system set rules for everyones behavior.
What is the impact of different social classes?
The thousands of Jato in Indian society were grouped together into 4 classes called Varnas. The top two Varnas were Brahmans, which were priests, and Kshatriyas, which were warriors who ran government and army. Next level down is Vaisyas, or commoners. Below Vaisyas are Sudras, which were manual laborers and servants and had no rights. Most Indians belonged to the Sudra caste. Untouchables didn't did not belong to any varna. They did jobs that are dirty. Untouchables life is difficult. Most Indians believed that being near and Untouchable was harmful, so they forced them to live apart from others.
What is the role of men and women in India?
In India, parents usually arrange marriages. Boys and girls were often married in their teens, as young as 13. Divorce was almost never allowed unless the woman couldn't have children, then the man could marry a second wife. In India mens lives were considered more important than women's. When a man from a prominent family died and got cremated, his wife is expected to jump into the flames. This practice was called suttee. If the wife did not do kill herself, it would be a great shame and everyone would avoid her.
India is a subcontinent because it is part of Asia, but huge mountains make a barrier between India and the rest of Asia. These mountains are called the Himalaya mountains. India has 2 very fertile valleys and both are fed by the Himalaya mountains. When the Himalayan snow melts, if the water can be controlled, the land near these rivers can be used for farming. The eastern and western coasts of India are lush, fertile lands. Monsoons are an important part of the Indian subcontinent. The summer monsoon brings warm, wet air from the Arabian Sea, which produces drenching rains. If the rain comes and the rainy season lasts long enough, the crops will be good, but if the rains are delayed, a drought will occur and few crops will be harvested and many will die.
Why is India's river valley important?
When the Indus river flooded the nearby land, it left rich fertile soil. Farmers used this soil to grow many crops. Because people had more than enough food, they could spend their time doing other things. As people began to trade their extra food and goods, their wealth grew. This allowed them to build larger cites.
What were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro like?
Well-planned cities had as many as 35,000 people. There were main streets and smaller side streets. A wall surrounded the neighborhoods and narrow lanes separated the houses. Most houses had flat roofs, brick ovens, a courtyard in the middle, and indoor bathrooms. The cities had pipes that transported wastewater through drains under the streets. Houses also had garbage shoots connected to a bin in the street. The city government was likely well organized.
What was Harappa society like?
Because the Harappa left no written records, we don't know much about their society or government. What we do know is that most Harappans were farmers. City dwellers made coper and bronze tools. Archaeologists have also found many toys among the ruins. It is likely that the Harappans began trading with the Mesopotamians about 2300BCE. Some Harappan sailors followed the coastline and crossed the Arabian Sea, and others traveled overland.
Who were the Aryans?
The Aryans lived in central Asia where they raised and herded animals. They were part of a group called Indo-Europeans. Cattle was so important to them because they produced meat, milk, and butter. They were so important that they used cattle as money. Individual wealth was determined by the number of cattle a person had. They were horse riders and hunters. After 2,000 BCE, the Aryans began leaving their home territory. They moved in waves. They arrived in Indus valley around 1500 BCE. Their civilization spread to all of India except the southern tip.
What changes do the Aryans bring?
When the Aryans arrived in India they were no longer nomads. They became farmers and forbid using cattle as meat. Aryans invented the iron plow and canals. Aryans also brought new religion and new writing called Sanskrit.
What is the caste system?
A caste is a social group you're born into and you cannot change. Your caste determines who you can socialize with, marry, and what jobs you can have. Another name for caste is Jati. There are thousands of Jati. The caste system set rules for everyones behavior.
What is the impact of different social classes?
The thousands of Jato in Indian society were grouped together into 4 classes called Varnas. The top two Varnas were Brahmans, which were priests, and Kshatriyas, which were warriors who ran government and army. Next level down is Vaisyas, or commoners. Below Vaisyas are Sudras, which were manual laborers and servants and had no rights. Most Indians belonged to the Sudra caste. Untouchables didn't did not belong to any varna. They did jobs that are dirty. Untouchables life is difficult. Most Indians believed that being near and Untouchable was harmful, so they forced them to live apart from others.
What is the role of men and women in India?
In India, parents usually arrange marriages. Boys and girls were often married in their teens, as young as 13. Divorce was almost never allowed unless the woman couldn't have children, then the man could marry a second wife. In India mens lives were considered more important than women's. When a man from a prominent family died and got cremated, his wife is expected to jump into the flames. This practice was called suttee. If the wife did not do kill herself, it would be a great shame and everyone would avoid her.
ancient china
Geography
Crafts and artisans
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/2/4/122421378/published/screen-shot-2018-11-26-at-4-36-45-pm.png?1543271837)
Bronze was used to make ritual vessels, pots, bells, mirrors and weapons.
Pic of a bronze vessel to the right.
& The ancient Chinese kept the production of silk secret for hundreds of years.
Pic of a bronze vessel to the right.
& The ancient Chinese kept the production of silk secret for hundreds of years.
TIME
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/2/4/122421378/published/screen-shot-2018-11-26-at-4-57-39-pm.png?1543275276)
The picture to the left is the cong from Neolithic period.
Between the beginning of the second millennium B.C. and 221 B.C. three dynasties ruled the area around the Yellow River Basin, one after another.
Between the beginning of the second millennium B.C. and 221 B.C. three dynasties ruled the area around the Yellow River Basin, one after another.
tombs & ancestors
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/2/4/122421378/published/screen-shot-2018-11-26-at-5-34-54-pm.png?1543275551)
This dagger handle was found in a tomb.
The ancient Chinese believed that life carried on after death.
The ancient Chinese believed that life carried on after death.
writing
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/2/4/122421378/screen-shot-2018-11-26-at-5-44-07-pm_orig.png)
The Chinese use logograms - where a symbol represents a meaning or a word.
Thousands of bones from the Shang dynasty have been unearthed with writing on them.
Thousands of bones from the Shang dynasty have been unearthed with writing on them.