River Valley Civilizations
8.2) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings.
Mesopotamia
1. Technology:
An invention that is used to make life easier. (Example- the wheel and the sailboat, pictured below)
An invention that is used to make life easier. (Example- the wheel and the sailboat, pictured below)
2. Division of Labor: What did people do and what was the order of importance?
People in Mesopotamia were often farmers, merchants or artisans. Because of specialization, people began to learn new skills, thus creating new opportunities for work and more jobs. In the division of labor, kings and priests were at the top, then government officals, finally with slaves at the bottom.
3. Government
Hammurabi's code was Mesopotamia's main form of "government". The code was basically a set of very strict rules set by the leader of Babylon, Hammurabi, which gave people consequences for their actions.
4. Writing
The first form of writing came from Mesopotamia, and it was called cuneiform. Cuneiform was invented by the Sumerians, and the alphabet was made up of many tiny symbols.
Egypt
1. Technology:
Egyptian technology was very advanced. The Egyptians invented the use of papyrus, one of the first forms of paper that we still use today. The Egyptians also invented the ox drawn plow, which made farming much easier and more efficient.
Egyptian technology was very advanced. The Egyptians invented the use of papyrus, one of the first forms of paper that we still use today. The Egyptians also invented the ox drawn plow, which made farming much easier and more efficient.
2. Division of Labor: What did people do and what was the order of importance?
The division of labor in Egypt was very much of class system. At the top are pharaohs and priests, then government officials and soldiers, in the middle were craftsmen and merchants, and at the very bottom were peasants and servants.
3. Government
Their government was run by Pharaohs, but Egyptians also had government officials such as Noble's, Priest's, and Vizier's.
Their government was run by Pharaohs, but Egyptians also had government officials such as Noble's, Priest's, and Vizier's.
4. Writing
The first form of writing in Egypt was hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics were a system of symbols that showed words or actions. Many people did not know how to deipher these writings, but now we are able to use this as a way to tell what happened in ancient Egypt.
The first form of writing in Egypt was hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics were a system of symbols that showed words or actions. Many people did not know how to deipher these writings, but now we are able to use this as a way to tell what happened in ancient Egypt.
India:
What is India's caste system?
What is India's caste system?
1. Why is the land important to Indian civilization?
The land was important because it had to be fertile enough to supply food for all of India. Because India is a sub-continent, it is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalaya mountains. When the snow from the Himalaya melts, it flows into the Ganges and Inuds river, hopefully creating land that is good for farming.
2. Why is India's river valley important?
Indias rive valley supplied very fertile land for farming, the rich soil was very good for crops. When the summer monsoons began the rivers water rose. The flooding crwated by the river watered the river valleys and kept them healthy, so without the flooding into the river valley's they may npt be able to have food. Trading food brought in lots of money to Indian families, and was a main form of work for some.
3. What were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro like?
These cities were relatively small, with as much as 35,000 people living in them. The streets were wide, with smaller side streets coming off of them. Their neighborhoods were protected by wallls, and houses were sepereated by narrow lanes. The houses they lived in were very advanced, the had flat roofs, and were constructed with mud bricks made in ovens. They had the luxury of wells and indoor bathrooms, even garbage chutes to dispose of waste. The city government was also very organized.
4. What was Harappan society like?
We still do not know much about the Harappa society because they did not leave much written records about society or government. Most Harappans were farmers that grew wheat,barley,rice, etc. The ruins explained that the palace and temples were both enclosed in a fortress. Harrappan citizens made tools out of copper and bronze, and also made pottery, cotton cloth, jewlery, as well as kids toys.
5. Who were the Aryans?
The Aryans were apart of a larger group called Indo-Europeans located in Central Asia. They raised and herded animals, and after a while some migrated to India and Iran. The cattle they raised were so important they were used as currency, and provided food succh as milk, butter and meat. The aryans were expert hunters and horse riders, and soon their civilization spread to the southern part of Asia.
6. What changes do the Aryans bring?
As the Aryans arrived to India, they began to farm their own food and were no longer nomads. The aryans declared that cattle were sacred and stopped using them for food. The ARyans brought many new inventions such as cancals, plows and even a new religion. They developed a new language called Sanskrit . They were then organizzed into groups and was led by a Raj.
7. What is the caste system?
A caste system was something brought over by the Aryans, it is a social group someone is born into and cannot change. It dictates your job, who you will marry, and who you can socialze with. This system set a rule of how everyone can behave.
8. What is the impact of the different social classes?
The different social classes created much judgment and racism in India. People in lower classes had to do dirty, terrible jobs and serve the upper classes. People in the upper classes looked down on lower classes, and everyone refused to be around the untouchables. The untouchables weren't allowed to touch or socialize with upper classes. The caste system fueled the racism in India and gave the ideas that some are better than others.
9. What is the role of men and women in India?
In India, parents arrange their chilld's' marriage, and boys and girls were often married in their teens. Getting a divorce was not allowed, but if the couple couldn't have kids, the husband could marry a second wife. The lives of Indian men were seen as more important than Indian women, and women were expected to die when their husbands died.
The land was important because it had to be fertile enough to supply food for all of India. Because India is a sub-continent, it is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalaya mountains. When the snow from the Himalaya melts, it flows into the Ganges and Inuds river, hopefully creating land that is good for farming.
2. Why is India's river valley important?
Indias rive valley supplied very fertile land for farming, the rich soil was very good for crops. When the summer monsoons began the rivers water rose. The flooding crwated by the river watered the river valleys and kept them healthy, so without the flooding into the river valley's they may npt be able to have food. Trading food brought in lots of money to Indian families, and was a main form of work for some.
3. What were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro like?
These cities were relatively small, with as much as 35,000 people living in them. The streets were wide, with smaller side streets coming off of them. Their neighborhoods were protected by wallls, and houses were sepereated by narrow lanes. The houses they lived in were very advanced, the had flat roofs, and were constructed with mud bricks made in ovens. They had the luxury of wells and indoor bathrooms, even garbage chutes to dispose of waste. The city government was also very organized.
4. What was Harappan society like?
We still do not know much about the Harappa society because they did not leave much written records about society or government. Most Harappans were farmers that grew wheat,barley,rice, etc. The ruins explained that the palace and temples were both enclosed in a fortress. Harrappan citizens made tools out of copper and bronze, and also made pottery, cotton cloth, jewlery, as well as kids toys.
5. Who were the Aryans?
The Aryans were apart of a larger group called Indo-Europeans located in Central Asia. They raised and herded animals, and after a while some migrated to India and Iran. The cattle they raised were so important they were used as currency, and provided food succh as milk, butter and meat. The aryans were expert hunters and horse riders, and soon their civilization spread to the southern part of Asia.
6. What changes do the Aryans bring?
As the Aryans arrived to India, they began to farm their own food and were no longer nomads. The aryans declared that cattle were sacred and stopped using them for food. The ARyans brought many new inventions such as cancals, plows and even a new religion. They developed a new language called Sanskrit . They were then organizzed into groups and was led by a Raj.
7. What is the caste system?
A caste system was something brought over by the Aryans, it is a social group someone is born into and cannot change. It dictates your job, who you will marry, and who you can socialze with. This system set a rule of how everyone can behave.
8. What is the impact of the different social classes?
The different social classes created much judgment and racism in India. People in lower classes had to do dirty, terrible jobs and serve the upper classes. People in the upper classes looked down on lower classes, and everyone refused to be around the untouchables. The untouchables weren't allowed to touch or socialize with upper classes. The caste system fueled the racism in India and gave the ideas that some are better than others.
9. What is the role of men and women in India?
In India, parents arrange their chilld's' marriage, and boys and girls were often married in their teens. Getting a divorce was not allowed, but if the couple couldn't have kids, the husband could marry a second wife. The lives of Indian men were seen as more important than Indian women, and women were expected to die when their husbands died.
Ancient China Big Ideas
Crafts and artisans:
1. Jade and bronze were the most valued materials in ancient China. Jade was believed to have magical properties.
2. The invention of the kilns made
Geography:
1. Modern China is a vast country.
2. It is the world's fourth largest country and is home to approximately 1.25 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population.
Time:
1. Modern China is a vast country.
2. 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 and Ancestors:
1. The ancient Chinese believed that life carried on after death. People believed they would continue to do the things they had done in this life in the afterlife. Tombs were arranged with the objects that people would need in the afterlife - weapons, ritual vessels and personal ornaments.
2. They believed there was a very important link between the living and the dead. Your dead ancestors lived in the spirit world with the gods. They had the ability to influence the gods to bring good or bad luck to the people on earth. The people on earth could make offerings and hold ceremonies for their ancestors, to persuade them to bring good luck.
Writing:
1. The Chinese use a very different writing system to English. English words are made up of a collection of letters that each has its own sound. The Chinese use logograms - where a symbol represents a meaning or word.
2. The basic principles behind Chinese writing have remained unchanged for thousands of years. Each character consists of a number of strokes or lines set inside an imaginary square. Thousands of bones from the Shang dynasty have been unearthed with writing on them. Many of the characters on these bones still exist (in a slightly altered state) today.
Crafts and artisans:
1. Jade and bronze were the most valued materials in ancient China. Jade was believed to have magical properties.
2. The invention of the kilns made
Geography:
1. Modern China is a vast country.
2. It is the world's fourth largest country and is home to approximately 1.25 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population.
Time:
1. Modern China is a vast country.
2. 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 and Ancestors:
1. The ancient Chinese believed that life carried on after death. People believed they would continue to do the things they had done in this life in the afterlife. Tombs were arranged with the objects that people would need in the afterlife - weapons, ritual vessels and personal ornaments.
2. They believed there was a very important link between the living and the dead. Your dead ancestors lived in the spirit world with the gods. They had the ability to influence the gods to bring good or bad luck to the people on earth. The people on earth could make offerings and hold ceremonies for their ancestors, to persuade them to bring good luck.
Writing:
1. The Chinese use a very different writing system to English. English words are made up of a collection of letters that each has its own sound. The Chinese use logograms - where a symbol represents a meaning or word.
2. The basic principles behind Chinese writing have remained unchanged for thousands of years. Each character consists of a number of strokes or lines set inside an imaginary square. Thousands of bones from the Shang dynasty have been unearthed with writing on them. Many of the characters on these bones still exist (in a slightly altered state) today.