Geography
Indus Valley is established near these two rivers:
WHY?
The Ganges and Indus Rivers
They provided a vital source of fresh water for drinking, irrigation, and agriculture, etc.
Who was the highest in the social class of Mesopotamia?
The King
What is the title of an Egyptian ruler?
Pharoah
Ancient Civilizations were established or set up near this geographical feature:
Rivers/waterways
What is the Egyptian written language?
Hieroglyphics
The Indus River Valley is protected by what two geographical features?
HOW?
Himalaya & Hindu Kush Mtns.
They act as a natural barrier against invasion
What is the purpose of a Ziggurat?
To honor the Gods and afterlife, BONUS POINT if you mention that it was also for trade.
Name two interesting facts about the Nile River.
It flows north, it connects to the Mediterranean Sea, it is the longest river in the world, it provided great nutrients to the soil
Provide 2 examples of civilization in the river valleys
EX:
Stable Food Supply: granaries, agriculture
System of Government: Code of Hammurabi, King Menes unifying upper and lower Egypt
What is a granary?
A place to store surplus corn and grain/food
What is a dynasty?
Who united the city-states into an empire and created harsh laws?
Who is Hammurabi?
What is it called when people believe in more than 1 God/Goddess?
Polytheism
What were the major religions of the Indus River Valley?
BONUS POINTS- name the set of rules for each
Hinduism - the Four Vedas
Buddhism - The Four Noble Truths
Why is trading important?
BONUS POINT - name an enduring issue that this relates to
It helps a civilization get what they can’t produce so that they can grow and become more powerful. They trade what they have a surplus of to get what they don’t have enough of.
BONUS POINT - enduring issue - scarcity
Mesopotamia is established between these two rivers:
WHY?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
This fertile land between the rivers allowed for the development of early civilizations due to the reliable water supply for agriculture provided by the rivers
Explain the mummification process and why it was performed.
The mummification process consisted of cleansing and anointing the body with oils, removing the organs, and letting it dry out in the desert with salt. They they wrapped it in cloth bandages in order to preserve it. Mummification was created to help preserve the human body while the Ka (soul) travels through Duat (underworld) to be judged by the Gods.
What were seals and what were their purpose?
Seals were small clay objects used for trading to identify where they came from.
Who was the King of Egypt who joined the Two kingdoms of Egypt to form 1 kingdom?
King Menes
What was the first written language and where did it originate?
BONUS POINT - What was the first written set of laws called?
Cuneiform, Mesopotamia
BONUS POINT - Hammurabi's Code
List the 7 characteristics of a civilization:
Which do you think is most valuable and WHY?
Stable Food Supply
System of Government
Highly developed culture
Written Language
Social Structure
Religion
Advances in Technology
What did the Egyptians believe occurred after death? Explain & be specific with names/places.
They believed that their Ka (soul) would travel through the duat (underworld) in order to be judged by Gods to determine if their heart weighed more or less than a feather to be admitted into the afterlife.
What is a Caste System?
BONUS POINTS - Name the Caste System levels -- in order
Social classes of the Indus Valley …once born into a certain level you couldn’t change or associate with others in different levels.
1. Brahmins: Priests, scholars, and the king
2. Kshatriyas: Warriors, rulers, and governors
3. Vaishyas: Artisans, merchants, farmers, and cattle herders
4. Shudras: Peasants, serfs, and laborers
5. Untouchables: unclean outcasts, lowest people, undesirable
What is irrigation?
The addition of water/moving water to land that doesn’t have enough for crops to grow