Geography and Rivers
Why did civilizations develop near rivers?
Civilizations developed near rivers for fertile soil and a reliable food source.
Define "Nomadic."
Nomadic—moving from place to place without a permanent home
Name an advancement from the Indus Valley.
Complex sewer systems
What social structure did early civilizations have?
Hierarchical social structure.
What do the pyramids of Egypt symbolize?
The pyramids symbolize the Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife
Which rivers were near Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates
What does "Paleolithic" mean?
Paleolithic—relating to the Old Stone Age.
What writing system did Mesopotamia develop?
Cuneiform
What does "hierarchical" mean?
Hierarchical means a system based on ranks or social classes.
What type of religion did Mesopotamians practice?
Polytheism (belief in many gods)
Name 3 geographic features that influenced Ancient China.
Mountains, deserts, rivers
Define "Fertile" in the context of agriculture.
Fertile—land rich in nutrients suitable for growing crops
How did agriculture contribute to civilization's growth?
Agriculture allowed permanent settlements, leading to population growth and more complex societies
How did government help early societies organize?
Governments created laws and structures for social organization.
Give an example of religion's influence on daily life.
Religious rituals and temples reflected the central role of gods in daily life
Match the river to its civilization.
Mesopotamia—Tigris & Euphrates, Egypt—Nile, Indus Valley—Indus, China—Yellow
What is "Irrigation," and why was it important?
Irrigation—a method to water crops using controlled systems; crucial for stable agriculture.
Why was the invention of writing important?
Writing enabled record-keeping, legal documentation, and communication
What does the "Mandate of Heaven" mean?
Mandate of Heaven was the belief that the ruler had divine approval
What evidence shows daily life and trade?
Artifacts like pottery, trade records, and cuneiform tablets
Create a memory hook for remembering rivers and civilizations.
MENI (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Nile, Indus) in alphabetical order.
Explain "Code of Hammurabi."
The Code of Hammurabi was a set of laws established by King Hammurabi of Babylon
Give an example of infrastructure that showed advancement.
Examples include plumbing and grid-like city layouts in the Indus Valley
Name a detail about Hammurabi's Code.
Hammurabi’s Code was a strict set of laws with severe punishments
List 3 facts about Hammurabi's Code.
Hammurabi’s Code included principles of justice, established order, and social rules