Mesopotamia
What two rivers surrounded the Fertile Crescent?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Which river was the center of Egyptian civilization?
The Nile River
Why do historians use artifacts to learn about life in Indus Valley?
They have not been able to fully decode the writing
What did rulers use to talk to the gods or ancestors to make important political decisions?
Oracle bones
Why were rivers essential for the development of civilizations?
Rivers made soil fertile to develop agriculture
Later, trade routes
What is the name of the religious temples built in Mesopotamia?
Ziggurats
What writing system did ancient Egyptians use?
Hieroglyphics
What caused the spread of Buddhism?
trade routes
A ruler or dynasty can gain or lose power according to what?
Mandate of Heaven
What led to the growth of populations, job specialization, and the rise of cities?
More food/food surplus
What was the name of the set of written laws that had different rules for social classes?
Hammurabi's Code
How did a Pharaoh have the right to rule?
They were chosen by the gods or viewed as a god
What was one of the major cities in the Indus Valley?
Harappa or Mohenjo-Daro
What is the most important innovation or invention from ancient China that had a major impact on society.
Paper
What did the social classes determine?
jobs, education, housing, and privileges
What innovation caused settlements to work together which led to the development of Mesopotamia?
Canals/irrigation systems
What is a government ruled by religious authority called?
Theocracy
What do the seals found in Mesopotamia tell us about Indus Valley and Mesopotamia?
They traded with each other
Name one of the three philosophies that shaped Ancient Chinese government
Legalism, Daoism, Confucianism
How did rivers impact interactions between regions/civilizations?
Trade of goods and ideas
Mesopotamia had many gods who controlled nature, which they would worship for a good harvest. What is the belief in many gods called?
Polytheism
How did the Nile River impact the economy of ancient Egypt?
Trade between cities for resources
What was a unique feature of Indus Valley?
Hint: think sewage systems and housing blocks
Organized city planning
Which dynasty brought about the golden age of Ancient China?
The Han Dynasty
What is the greatest impact from the river valley civilizations?
Irrigation systems & written laws