Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Ancient Civilizations image - Coggle Diagram
Ancient Civilizations 
Mesopotamia
Location: On page 6, it said that Mesopotamia is located in what is today Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. According to the Greeks, Mesopotamia means "between the rivers". Also, the text states that "Mesopotamia included cooler mountainous regions in the north and reed-filled wetlands in the southeast." (Steele 6)
Religion: Sumerians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in more than one god. There were dozen of tales about the adventures of gods and goddesses. Also, according to the text, "The Sumerians believed that the world floated on an ocean of fresh water, called Apsu."(Steele 14)
Architecture: On page 24, it said that there is a lasting symbol platform made from brick. It also looks very similar to the steps from the pyramids. These were called ziggurats and they were made in 5000 BCE. (Steele 24)
Government: The rulers of mesopotamian city-states were put in an incredibly high social class. They were given names like 'king' or 'lord'. According to the text, "Sumerian kings claimed to rule by the will of the gods and therefore had to perform certain religious ceremonies." (Steele 10) Most rulers wore elaborate clothing, like headdresses.
Art
-
According to pages 28 and 29, Mesopotamians were skilled at many crafts, like pottery and metalworking. The potter's wheel was invented here. Many elaborate necklaces were found holding stones, beads, and everything in between. Also, temple design and other decorative carvings were all over Mesopotamia. Also, the text states that "Using low, horizontal looms, women wove cloth from wool, then linen, and from the eighth century BCE, cotton."(Steele 28)
Writing: On page 12, it says that Sumerians used something called Cuneiform writing(a series of symbols with meaning) to write. According to the text, "The Sumerians devised the world's first script or writing system." (Steele 12)
Ancient Egypt
Location: On page 8, it says that over 90 percent of Egypt is desert. Along the banks of the ever so famous Nile River, the Egyptians made their homes. They called the area by the Nile the Black Land because of the silt the farmers were so thankful for. According to the text, "Without this fertility, there would have been no civilizations in Egypt." (Hart 8)
Religion: According to page 24, Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in more than one god. They worshipped hundreds, and it's kind of remarkable that they were able to keep track of them all. Many gods were represented by animals, but that made some animals represent more than one god. According to the text, "...A baboon might stand for Thoth, god of wisdom, at one temple, and a moon god named Khonsu at another."(Hart 24)
Architecture: According to pages 20 and 21, Egypt had many fascinating structures, but none are more famous than their pyramids. The first pyramid was built in 2650 BCE. The largest pyramid is called the Great Pyramid. It was complete with a granite seal, a core of limestone, weight-relieving chambers, and a temple where you can make offerings. (Hart 21)
Government: There was obviously not a presidential system in Ancient Egypt, but there was a royal court. According to pages 12, this court was made up of the king, their family, and talented scribes. According to the text, "When people approached the king, they often kissed the ground at his feet." (Hart 12)
Art: According to pages 56 and 57, In ancient Egypt, gold was in everything. Especially the elaborate and breathtaking jewelry. They had falcon necklaces, symbolic belts, and much more. According to the text, "Egyptian jewelers had access to many semiprecious stones from the deserts-- orange-red carnelian, green feldspar, and mauve amethyst."(Hart 56)
-
Writing: Not many people could write in Ancient Egypt. Only a few people were picked to be scribes, trained in the art of reading and writing hieroglyphics. It was purposefully kept insanely complicated so only a select few could master it. According to the text, "Scribes living at the end of the Egyptian civilization had to be able to write Greek, the language of their overlords."(Hart 34)
Ancient China
Art- The text states that China was known for its elaborate and beautiful arts and crafts. Those who lived in Ancient China would create statues, boxes, and even teacups. In the text it says "They produced tools for agriculture and weapons for the army as well as luxury items such as decorated tableware and fine silk cloth."(Cotterell 56)
-
Government- In the text it says Ancient China was led by an imperial civil service for over 1,000 years. Eventually, the Han emperor Wu Di decided that you should have to take an exam to be a part of the service. According to the text, "Those who passed the top place examinations could expect to be appointed as ministers or even marry princesses."(Cotterell 18)
Technology- Page 22 states that China created some of the world's greatest inventions. They invented an instrument for monitoring earthquakes, one of the first wheelbarrows, gunpowder, and much more. In the text it says "Chinese inventions were carried along the Silk Road to Europe, where some had an enormous impact."(Cotterell 22)
Location- According to page 38, two great rivers once dominated China. They were the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The text states that "Over the centuries, the yellow river often broke its banks and caused devastating floods." (Cotterell 38)
Religion- According to the text, Confucius was a well-known thinker in ancient China. His beliefs formed a religion, called Confucianism. This religion is still practiced today. In the text it says that "Confucius believed that family relationships should also be governed by mutual respect, since strong family bonds formed the basis of a stable society."(Cotterell 12)
Writing- In the text it says that printing and paper might have been the most important inventions in Ancient China. Chinese writing started out on scrolls and eventually evolved to look like the books we have today, with stylish covers and woodblock printing. According to page 24, "Large-scale printing in the 10th century made books readily available in China for the first time."(Cotterell 24)
Commerce- Page 58 states that the Silk Road is a place where commerce flourished, especially from 1279-1368. According to the text, it was a series of trade routes that Mongol and Yuan emperors allowed merchants to roam freely in. In the text it says, "Chinese merchants anassed large fortunes by exporting luxury goods such as silk, spices, teas, porcelain, and lacquerware."(Cotterell 58)
-
Indus River Valley
-
-
-
Government- In the text it says that the people of the Indus River Valley used an elaborate caste system to determine social class. There were four classes, with a fifth, the 'untouchables' so unimportant that they weren't even on the pyramid. According to the text, "The Aryans lived in ganas, which means "collections." A gana was made up of several families. Each gana had its own territory, ruled by a warrior chief called a raja or king." (https://sites.google.com/mccsc.k12.in.us/history-of-south-asia/home/1500-bc-aryans)
-
-
-