Ancient Civilizations Of The World: Sumerian Civilization PDF

**ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WORLD** **Mesopotamian Civilization in Western Asia** The word Mesopotamia is derived from the Greek word MESO -- between and POTAMOS or river, **it means between two rivers**. Mesopotamia is located in Western Asia which is currently the country of Iraq and part of...

**ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WORLD** **Mesopotamian Civilization in Western Asia** The word Mesopotamia is derived from the Greek word MESO -- between and POTAMOS or river, **it means between two rivers**. Mesopotamia is located in Western Asia which is currently the country of Iraq and part of Syria and Turkey. Two rivers flow here, Tigris and Euphrates. **How Mesopotamia Became the Cradle of Civilization** The presence of those rivers had a lot to do with why Mesopotamia developed complex societies and innovations such as writing, elaborate architecture and government bureaucracies. The regular flooding along the Tigris and the Euphrates made the land around them especially fertile and ideal for growing crops for food. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - It consists of twelve (12) | | | states. | | | | | | - They raise cattle, sheep, | | | goats, and pigs. Their | | | livelihood is farming. | | | | | | - They invented the cuneiform | | | writing method that used a | | | stylus and clay or clay | | | tombstone. | | | | | | - **Ziggurat** is the structure | | | that serves as the home and | | | temple of patrons or gods | | | that can be found in every | | | city. They believe in many | | | gods and goddesses who are | | | anthropomorphic or have human | | | characteristics and behavior. | | | | | | - The nomadic Sumerians lived | | | in the agricultural lands of | | | the river valleys. | | | | | | - The **wooden wheel used in | | | the chariot** was invented. | | | | | | - Cuneiform is one of the | | | oldest forms of writing | | | known. It means "wedge- | | | shaped," because people wrote | | | it using a reed stylus cut to | | | make a wedge-shaped mark on a | | | clay tablet. | +===================================+===================================+ | | - The Sumerian people developed | | | an advanced irrigation system | | | for farming. They used | | | ditches, canals, channels, | | | dikes, weirs, and reservoirs | | | to transport water to crops. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - This was the first empire in | | | the world founded by | | | Sargon I. He came from the | | | northern part of Mesopotamia | | | in the city-state of Akkad. | | | | | | - Akkadian in ancient | | | Mesopotamia dicovered the | | | method of casting bronzes | | | with hollow interiors and | | | only then did it become | | | possiblt to cast larger works | | | and it is called **the lost | | | wax process.** | | | | | | - There were also many **good | | | roads** built between the | | | major cities. They even | | | developed an official | | | **postal service**. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - The positional number system, | | | mathematical calculation, | | | quadratic equation, astrology | | | and architecture were | | | developed. | | | | | | - Hammurabi conquered Babylon | | | and made it the capital of | | | the Babylonian empire. | | | | | | - Code of Hammurabi is the | | | first written law in the | | | world. | | | | | | - The Babylonian kingdom | | | disintegrated when Hammurabi | | | died. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - Assyria had several | | | advantages over Babylonia. | | | Assyrians could farm without | | | the elaborate irrigation that | | | was needed in BabyloniaThey | | | sent military expeditions | | | westward to seize important | | | trade routes and collect | | | tribute. | | | | | | - Cruel rulers and strong | | | armies. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - **The new empire of | | | Babylonia** was established | | | by Nabopolassar after leading | | | a revolt against Assyria. | | | | | | - Nebuchadnezzar II, son of | | | Nabopolassar finally gathered | | | the rest of the army. The | | | peak of the empire\'s | | | greatness was reached under | | | the leadership of | | | Nebuchadnezzar II. | | | | | | - He also commissioned the | | | Hanging Gardens of Babylon | | | for his beloved mentally ill | | | wife. | | | | | | - The Babylonian empire was | | | invaded and conquered by the | | | Persians led by Cyrus of | | | Persia. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - The beginning of king Cyrus' | | | ruling started in 550 B.C | | | Under his rule the Persian | | | Empire expanded from the | | | Indus river to Anatolia. | | | | | | - Cyrus passed away in a | | | skirmish, trying to protect | | | his empire by fighting | | | invaders on his territory. | | | | | | - Left his thrown to his son, | | | Cambyses. | | | | | | - They built Royal Roads and | | | Persians became famous for | | | promoting Zoroastrianism | | | religion founded by | | | Zoroaster. | | | | | | - A Persian rug or Persian | | | carpet is a handwoven or hand | | | knotted rug, woven in Iran. | | | | | | - In this period they were | | | discoveries in making | | | potteries made of mud, small | | | pieces of various plants and | | | straws, and water. | | | | | | - Persian tiles are glazed | | | baked clays that are used to | | | decorate buildings today | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **The Indus Civilization in South Asia** In the South Asian region, the Indus civilization began centered in the valleys of the Indus River. The Indus River flows through the present-day countries of India and Pakistan. In said river the twin cities of the Indus civilization flourished; the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro shown in the following diagram. +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | - Their houses are | | | | square in shape | | | | and have wide | | | | spaces. | | | | | | | | - They also have | | | | toilets and are | | | | considered to be | | | | the first to | | | | create a sewerage | | | | system in | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ The Caste System in India It is a social hierarchy passed down through families, and it can dictate the professions a person can work in as well as aspects of their social lives, including whom they can marry. While the caste system originally was for Hindus, nearly all Indians today identify with a caste, regardless of their religion. Buddhism has a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices based on teachings of Buddha. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world; many practitioners refer to it as "the eternal way". New Empires in India +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - Chandragupta Maurya conquered | | | the Magadha kingdom. | | | | | | - This empire is most effective | | | and best autocratic rule. | | | | | | - Ashoka or Asoka (269-232 | | | B.C.E} is one of the best | | | leaders in world history. | | | | | | - During this same period the | | | name Kautilya or Chanakya | | | emerged who was a | | | philosopher, statesman and | | | adviser of Chandragupta | | | Maurya who authored the | | | Arthasastra. Arthasastra is | | | about politics, economics, | | | (Sanskrit: "The Science of | | | Material Gain"). | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - This empire is derived from | | | the name of the first Maurya | | | empire. It was founded by | | | Chandragupta I circa 319-335 | | | C.E. | | | | | | - Under the leadership of | | | Chandragupta II he controlled | | | North India and Pataliputra | | | became the capital again. | | | | | | - The Gupta empire was the most | | | prosperous and for this | | | reason it is called the | | | classical period in India. | | | | | | - It is characterized by a | | | sophisticated culture with | | | modern advances in | | | literature, art and science. | | | | | | - The field of mathematics | | | developed where the use of | | | zero and decimal point was | | | invented, astronomy, the | | | calculation of 365.358 days | | | in a year. | | | | | | - Surgery was also cultivated | | | during this period. | | | | | | - Kalidasa is also recognized | | | as the best writer and poet | | | of this period. | | | | | | - The Gupta empire weakened and | | | fell because it was conquered | | | by the White Huns (Iranians | | | or Turks) from Central Asia. | | | | | | Contributions and Works: | | | | | | LITERATURE: Vedas, Mahabharata, | | | and Ramayana | | | | | | ARCHITECTURE: Stupa | | | | | | MATHEMATICS: Pythagorean Theorem, | | | Concept of Zero, Number System | | | | | | MEDICINE: Sushruta Samhita, | | | Cataract Surgery | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **The Chinese Civilization in East Asia** The Chinese civilization is considered one of the four ancient civilizations. The rise and fall of dynasties become a theme in Chinese history. Huang He Valley (or in English, Yellow River Valley) was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization, and for that reason is often called "Mother River." The valley surrounds the principal river of northern China and is at the center of thousands of years of Chinese history. **Confucianism and Taoism were the two main religions** of ancient China, which have individually and collectively influenced ancient and modern Chinese society. **What is the problem caused by the Huang Ho River?** The extensive silt deposition in the river\'s lower reaches across the North China Plain and the expansive stretches of flat land surrounding it have always made the area extremely prone to flooding. While the river helps create fertile land that is suited for farming, during certain times of the year the Huang He frequently overflows. The water damages housing and crops across the North China Plain, an important agricultural region. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - Xia was the first government | | | to appear in ancient Chinese. | | | First to implement the policy | | | of dynastic succession; thus | | | making it China\'s first | | | dynasty. | | | | | | - It is said to have been | | | founded by a person known as | | | Yu the Grea who is a | | | descendant of the Yellow | | | Emperor. | | | | | | - It is considered a myth | | | (myth) by the people | | | historians of China due to | | | the lack of archeological | | | evidence. | +===================================+===================================+ | | - The most prosperous and | | | stable dynasty that led to | | | many cultural advances such | | | as the industrialized use of | | | copper, the calendar, | | | religious rituals, and | | | writing. | | | | | | - The scriptures of this period | | | were written on Oracle Bones | | | or tortoise shells and cattle | | | bones, which are said to be | | | the oldest of Chinese pens. | | | | | | - The Shang religion focused on | | | ancestor worship and | | | communicating with oracle | | | bones. | | | | | | - People perform sacrifices | | | especially whenever a leader | | | dies. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - People believed that the | | | Emperor\'s rule was | | | authorized by heaven or | | | \"Mandate of Heaven.\" | | | | | | - There were many great Chinese | | | philosophers, including | | | Confucius who were active | | | during the Zhou period and | | | made it the Golden Age. | | | | | | - Confucianism -- Founded by | | | Confucius. The goal is to | | | have a peaceful and organized | | | society through | | | self-improvement and valuing | | | the relationship between | | | people in society. The Golden | | | Rule: \"Do not do unto others | | | if you don\'t want others do | | | unto you.\" | | | | | | - Taoism -- Founded by Lao Tze. | | | It longs for the balanced | | | nature of the world and the | | | harmony of its people. | | | | | | - Legalism - Founded by Shang | | | Yang, Li Si and Hanfeizi. | | | According to this philosophy | | | man is born evil and selfish. | | | But they can be enforced by | | | strict laws and harsh | | | punishments. | | | | | | - Feng Shui (wind and water)- | | | is a traditional Chinese | | | concept that links a | | | person\'s destiny with his | | | environment. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - This is the shortest reigning | | | dynasty in Chinese history as | | | it lasted only 15 years. | | | Although this dynasty was | | | short lived, many important | | | contributions were made to | | | the development of China. | | | | | | - For the first time the Qin | | | dynasty unified China from | | | the warring states. The first | | | emperor of Qin, was Shi | | | Huangdi or Shih Huang Ti. | | | | | | - The magnificent Great Wall of | | | China was built as a defense | | | against the nomadic tribes | | | that came from northern | | | China. With the death of Shih | | | Huangdi the dynasty weakened | | | and was replaced by the Han | | | dynasty when Lui Bang | | | revolted. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - This dynasty was founded by | | | Liu Bang. | | | | | | - This was the first dynasty to | | | embrace Confucianism. | | | | | | - The writing of Chinese | | | history was a great | | | contribution of the Han | | | Dynasty. | | | | | | - This dynasty developed | | | porcelain. | | | | | | - This dynasty established the | | | Silk Road, a trade route | | | through which Marco Polo went | | | to Asia. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - This dynasty had one of the | | | shortest reigns in Chinese | | | history, lasting 37 years. | | | | | | - China was reunified after a | | | long period of disintegration | | | due to internal warfare. | | | | | | - The Grand Canal was built | | | connecting the Huang Ho and | | | Yangtze rivers. | | | | | | - The Great Wall of China was | | | repaired because it had been | | | neglected for a long time. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - Li Shimin, second emperor of | | | Tang laid the foundation for | | | the prosperity of the dynasty | | | for 100 years. | | | | | | - The Tang Dynasty produced the | | | only female emperor in | | | Chinese history- Wu Zetian | | | | | | - The earliest woodblock | | | printed illustration extant | | | today was **made in the year | | | 868, at the time of the Tang | | | Dynasty** | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - This period is called | | | economic growth or Pre-Modern | | | Economic Revolution because | | | of technological and | | | agricultural development | | | along with good and effective | | | management. | | | | | | - In this dynasty, the first | | | paper money was introduced or | | | | | | - bank notes around the world. | | | | | | - First use of Compass | | | Navigation in sailing. | | | | | | - Movable type printing was | | | invented*.* | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - It was founded by Kublai Khan | | | a Mongol. China is ruled by a | | | foreign invader from the | | | north. | | | | | | - After the battles, the | | | dynasty went through the | | | so-called Pax Mongolica or a | | | period of peace, a good | | | communication system and good | | | trade in a wide territory | | | covered from Southeast Asia | | | to eastern Europe. | | | | | | - In this same dynasty, Marco | | | Polo, an Italian sailor, | | | arrived, which made it | | | possible to recognize how | | | rich Asia is. | | | | | | - The teapot was invented. | | | | | | - This dynasty discovered | | | diseases caused by food | | | ingredients. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - A large part of the Great | | | Wall was built under this | | | dynasty. The Forbidden City | | | was also built in Peking | | | (Beijing) which became the | | | home of the emperor. | | | | | | - The arts were enriched | | | especially the making of | | | porcelain. | | | | | | - Under the leadership of | | | Admiral Zheng He, the Chinese | | | reached the Indian Ocean and | | | the eastern part of Africa. | | | | | | - Many books were printed using | | | the movable type printing | | | method. | | | | | | - The dynasty fell in 1644. It | | | was weakened by resistance to | | | social changes. This includes | | | fighting with Japan for | | | protecting the country of | | | Korea. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | - It was founded by the | | | Manchus. After the Ming | | | Dynasty was conquered by | | | semi-nomadic people from | | | northern Manchuria and | | | considered by the Chinese to | | | be barbaric foreigners. | | | | | | - China\'s defeat in the Opium | | | Wars against England | | | (1839-1842) and France | | | (1856-1860) was a major blow | | | to the empire. The Chinese | | | government opposed the sale | | | of opium by Europeans in | | | China, because it was | | | damaging to human morality | | | and social order. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Taiping Rebellion** | - Large-scale rebellion against | | | the Qing dynasty and the | | **Boxer Rebellion** | presence of foreigners in | | | China. The peasants, having | | | suffered floods and famines | | | in the late 1840s, were ripe | | | for rebellion, which came | | | under the leadership of Hong | | | Xiuquan. | | | | | | - The Boxer Rebellion is | | | defined as a quasi-populist, | | | religious, and social | | | rebellion that took place | | | near the end of the era of | | | dynasties in China. It took | | | place from 1899 to 1901, | | | during the Qing Dynasty. It | | | was a precursor to the | | | Chinese Revolution in 1911 | | | that effectively ended the | | | imperial system and turned | | | China into a republic. The | | | Boxer Rebellion was an event | | | that had multiple causes and | | | several major events that | | | affected Chinese society as | | | well as its international | | | relations. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+