River Valley Civilizations
Brian Austin, Edward Chung, Milind Bhatnagar, Drew Tucker
Mesopotamia - Tigris and Euphrates River Valley
Art
Religion
Cities
Babylon and Nineveh were two of the largest cities ever in Mesopotamia. There were many other cities throughout Mesopotamian history including Eridu, Uruk and Ur.
Government
Social Structure
Writing
Egypt - Nile River Valley
Art
Religion
Cities
Government
Social Structure
Writing
China- Yellow River Valley
Art
Religion
Cities
Government
Social Structure
Writing
Indus Valley Civilization
Social Structure
Egalitarianism
- Though clear social leveling is seen in personal accessories
- Other assumptions: This civilization did not have social classes
City
Technologically advanced, included the world's first known urban sanitation systems
Homes obtained water from wells
Sewerage and drainage systems, were far more advanced than any found in existing urban sites in the Middle East and areas of Pakistan and India
Advanced architecture
Most city dwellers appear to have been traders or artisans
Writing
Undeciphered writing system
- Between 400 and as many as 600 distinct Indus symbols
- Picture: Ten Indus Scripts called “Signboard”, once hung over a city called Dholavira
Government
- No answers for a center of power or for depictions of people in power in Harappan society
- Many major assumptions: Harappan society had no rulers, and everybody enjoyed equal status
- Picture: Called “Priest-King” statue of Mohenjo-daro
Religion
Some Indus valley seals show swastikas
Many Indus valley seals show animals
Some scholars believe that the Harappan people worshipped a Mother goddess symbolizing fertility
Art
Sculptures, seals, pottery, gold jewelry, and anatomically detailed figures and other small statues