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Unit 2: Ancient Civilizations - Coggle Diagram
Unit 2: Ancient Civilizations
Mesopotamia
Art: The Mesopotamians were the first to come up with things such as board games, including the oldest: The Royal Game Of Ur. In the text it said "This is the oldest board game in the world, and one of the most beautiful." (Steele 26)
Writing: In the text it said "Archeologists call this cuneiform(wedge-shaped) writing." These are symbols that represent certain things, which is very similar to things like hieroglyphs. (Steele 12)
Location: In the text it said "The ancient Greeks called Mesopotamia, meaning between the rivers." Mesopotamia is now the location of modern day Iraq. (Steele 6)
Architecture: Ziggurats are pyramid-like structures that are used to worship the gods, and they also built temples. I know because "The ziggurats themselves had small temples or shrines on top, reached by long stairways." (Steele 24)
Government: Empires were comprised of many city-states that were captured by ancient warriors such as Hammurabi, who also created a set of laws. I know this because on page 8 it said "The small villages built in Mesopotamia between 7000 and 4000 BCE grew bigger." (Steele 8)
Religion: The Mesopotamians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in multiple gods/goddesses. According to the author, " The Sumerians worshiped many gods and goddesses." (Steele 14)
Ancient Egypt
Art: The Egyiptians would use gold found at the coast of the Red Sea and looked out for Lapiz Lazuli as well, as they used a lot of it. I know this because on page 56 it said "Mines between the Nile and the Red Sea coast yielded large quantities of this precious metal." (Hart)
Writing: The Egyptians used a system of writing known as Hieroglyphics, and like Cuneiform, used symbols to represent certain things. I know this because on page 34 it says "Scribes had to be experts in writing hieroglyphics, an elaborate form of picture-writing with about 700 different signs." (Hart)
Architecture: The Egyptians built multiple pyramids known as "The Great Pyramids of Giza". I know this because on page 20 it says "The pyramids were intended to protect the bodies of the pharaohs buried deep inside them. (Hart)
Religion: They believed in many gods and amulets, including Anubis,
and Amun-Re and Khonsu. I know this because on page 24 it said " The Egyptians worshiped hundreds of different gods and goddesses, and sometimes it is difficult to work out who was who." (Hart)
Government: The Egyptian Government is ruled by a leader known as the pharaoh, who ruled Egypt. I know this because on page 66 it says "The Ancient Egyptians dated events to a particular year in the reign of a king or pharaoh(this is called regnal dating)." (Hart)
Location: On page 8 it said "The Egyptians lived on the banks of the Nile River or beside canals extending from it. The river would flood and make silt, which was vital for growing crops in Egypt. (Hart)
Ancient China
Art: Luxury items were heavily exported from China, and artisans were well thought of and respected in China. Some of these exported goods include jade, bronze, porcelain, silk, and lacquer. I know this because on page 56 it said "Unlike the merchants who sold their handiwork, artisans were well thought of in China. After the scholars and the peasant farmers, artisans were considered the most important members of society." (Cotterell)
Religion: Ancient China focused on Confucianism, in which they believed that kindness, respect, and the strength of the family is what China should turn to, as there was lots of power and greed during that time. The name derives from the chinese philosopher, Confucius, who went around and preached about his beliefs. I know this because on page 12 it says "Confucius believed that the early years of the Zhou dynasty (1027-256 B.C.) were golden years of social harmony. (Cotterell)
Writing: On page 11, it said the Shang kings used oracle bones to answer questions about important matters. Also, it states that " the cracks were then read to discover the answer to a question put to the ancestors." As a result, people would write down questions and answers on the oracle bone. (Cotterell)
Government: The Chinese first ruled in periods of time known as dynasties, and those usually ended when the emperor died. China was an empire, and while emperors were chosen by the mandate of heaven, they could lose power if they lost the Mandate of Heaven. I know this because on page 16 it said "The empire took its name from the Qin(pronounced "Chin")to become China." (Cotterell)
Commerce(Trade): The Chinese made the Silk Road, which was a road going to the west, in which merchants could easily trade items and goods. When the Mongols ruled the empire, they permitted merchants to freely trade throughout the empire. I know this because on page 58 it said "Chinese merchants amassed large fortunes by exporting luxury goods such as silk, spices tea, porcelain, and lacquerware." (Cotterell)
Technology: The Chinese mainly focused on war technology, as during that time period, war was common. The Chinese also invented decorational objects, such as the taotie and harness ornaments. I know this because on page 14 it said "Battles became large in scale, with crossbowmen, calvary, armored infantry, and chariots." (Cotterell)
Location: China was(and still is) located in Southeastern Asia, and controlled an increasing amount of land during each empire. Asia is also where they would eventually create the Silk Road during the Yuan Dynasty. I know this because on page 58 it said "They controlled the entire length of the Silk Road, a series of trade routes that ran from northern China across Asia." (Cotterell)
Indus River Valley Civilization
Location: The Indus River Valley Civilization was located along the Indus River, as it was fertile and useful for farming. The river is located in modern-day Pakistan, some of India, and a portion of Afghanistan. I know this because on the website, it says "Around 5,000 years ago, a civilization developed along the Indus River alluvial plain(floodplain), in South Asia, due to the large amount of fertile land and proximity to a water source."(Prentice Hall: World Studies)
Writing: One of the most enigmatic aspects of this ancient civilization is that the writing cannot be deciphered. More than 400 symbols have been found in various places. Many symbols are found on seals, ceramic pots and other materials. I know this because on the website, it says "Some scholars have questioned whether these symbols actually constituted a proper writing system." (Prentice Hall: World Studies)
Architecture/Technology: The people of the Indus Valley created well-planned cities. In particular, people during this period cared deeply about hygiene, and their cities reminded us of the importance of this idea. These early cities contain the remains of the world's earliest sewage system. (Prentice Hall: World Studies)
Religion: The Aryans lived by religious texts known as the Vedas, and it told stories about the Aryans invading India. Their religion was known as Brahmanism, and it was a heavy influence towards Hinduism. I know this because on the website, it says "Both religions have much in common and share many rituals."(Prentice Hall: World Studies)
Government: The Aryans came from the Central Asian region near the Caucasus Mountains, moving southeast and then occupying the entire Indus Valley by 1500 BC. They spoke Sanskrit, which became the basis for many modern South Asian languages.There is little archaeological evidence of how the Aryans of India lived. I know this because on the website, it says "However, they left behind two great collections of literature: 1) Mahabharata and 2) Ramayana. They were two epics that told exciting stories of followers, kings and heroes." (Prentice Hall: World Studies)
