Early Civilizations Table
Key Geographical Religious Beliefs
Features
Mesopota Mesopatamia is located between
the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and
mia north of the Persian Gulf. The land
in this area was prone to
destructive flooding which made
up of rich valleys with a very fertile
soil called silt. This soil made was
found mostly in the downstream
area called Sumer.
Egypt The Egyptian civilization arose in
the valley of the Nile River. The
calm and predictability of the Nile
made it easy for farmers develop
land for a variation of food crops.
Political Structures Social and/or
The Sumerians were
polytheistic people who
worshipped many gods.
Each city-state had its own
leading god. They built
ziggurats to honor these
gods. The Hebrews/Jews
were monotheistic and
worshiped only one god.
The relationship between
the people and their single
god was more leagalistic.
The Egyptians were
polytheistic and belived in
many gods and belived
them to be kind and caring.
Each community however
Cultural
Characteristics
People in Mesopatamia Mesopatamia was ruled
were organized into by several different kings.
communities called city- Some of these kings
states. These city-states brought large parts of the
were all ruled by region together. They
different kings. The kings used broze in the
used the resources to beginning but the
control the people and Arameans ended the
build temples and and broze age and iron was
armies to go to war to then used. The
take over other city- Phoenicians were
states. responsible for creating
purple dye as well as the
script used by the Greeks
to create the Greek
alphabet. They also
establish makets and
colonies throughout the
Mediterranen.
Early Egypt was divided Since the Egyptians
into two powers of required particular
Upper Eygpt to the south learning to manufacture,
and Lower Egypt to the measure, and control
North. After conflict over farmland, it is thought
Early Civilizations Table
With deserts on each side of the
Nile River, Egypt was protected
from armies invading it.
India India is a peninsula defined by the
Gangus and Indus Rivers. It is
home to animals such as donkeys,
goats, monkeys, humped bulls and
water buffaloes. While the Indus
river was used to irrigate crops, it
was also prone to flooding from
monsoons which caused problems
for the vegitation.
China China is surrounded by mountains,
dense forests, seas and oceans.
elevated their local gods
more than others. There
were also gods that were
worshipped on the
household level. They
governed their territory in
the soul of Ma'at, a goddess
who spoke to truth, equity,
and request.
The primary religious
beliefs in India were that
the elements of nature
possessed souls or
cousciousness. They had a
wide variety of gods who
overlooked personal
behavior and morals of the
people. The Primary God
was Indra, a war god.
Buddhism was also a
common belief in India.
Buddhism is based on the
belief that if you do not
desire suffering you will not
suffer.
Confucianism was a belief
that promoted justification
the Nile River trade and
precious metals King
Narmer united the two
kingdoms by conquering
the lower valley. Egypt
was ruled by a king who
was responsible for
pleasing the gods with
rituals and religious
ceremonies.
The main political system
used in India was the
caste system. This
system is based on a
divison of status and
labor in the society based
on birth. It is also belived
that the ranking in the
caste system was based
originally upon ethnicity.
The early Chinese
political system was
that the study of
geometry begins with
them. In Egypt
Hieroglyphics were used
as a writing system for
sacred text. Tey invented
a writing tool called a
stylus and a paper-like
material call papyrus.
India was made up of
streets laid out in a grid
like pattern which
differed from other
regions They also
created an advanced
water system which
contained public pools in
the center of each city
and a waste drainage
system that helped to
lower the spread of
disease. Baked bricks
were used to construct
houses and buildings.
The bronze metallurgy
began and was mastered
Early Civilizations Table
The Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
were located near China. Loess
was a light and easy to plow soil
that made up most of the area.
Even though it was very fertile it
was prone to erosion. The Yellow
River flooded and casued the loss
of farm animals and farmlands.
and fairness in a society. based on a feudal system in China. Iron making
Doaism was a belief system where the Emperor ruled was also introduced in
where they accepted and over feudal lords who China during the Zhou
followed the natural order rulled over the Dynasty. Workers in
of things and encouraged peaseants. Then as South China invented
living in harmony with system came into place iron casting. The oracle
nature. called the Mandate of writing system also
Heaven which was based began in China.
on the belief that a
divine force blessed the
emperors and allowed
them to rule.
Early Civilizations Table

References:
Acrobatic, 2017A