World Civ. Chapter 2

Front 1

The Norte Chico

Back 1

The first civilization in the Andes mountains, mostly self-contained with an unusually rich fishing industry and no large technologies (pottery, writing, advanced irrigation).

"Set the pattern for following civilizations in the area."

Front 2

The Indus Valley

Back 2

The first civilization in the Indian sub-continent. Little to no political hierarchy or central government. Their environmental and cultural impacts continue to change the region and the people in it.

Front 3

The Oxus

Back 3

The first civilization of Central Asia. Traded more than almost any other civilization of the time (with India, China, Mesopotamia, and nomads of Siberia). Were very developed for their lack of literacy. Only lasted until 1700 BCE when all its cities were abandoned.

Front 4

The Olmec

Back 4

The first civilization of North/Central America. Similar to Mesopotamia they were a collection of chiefdoms that rose huge cities with great art and culture. Laid the foundation for the Maya and other civilizations in the area.

Front 5

China

Back 5

The first civilization in Eastern/ South Eastern Asia. Compared to the others of the day they possessed an "ideal" centralized state with large state-funded improvement projects. More than any other civilization of the time had a huge continuity from then to modern times.

Front 6

Egypt

Back 6

The first civilization in the Nile River Valley. Is basically the more stable version of the Mesopotamia to the Northeast/East. Had almost continuous control of their area for 3000 years with their empire stretching as far as the Mediterranean sea at one point.

Front 7

Mesopotamia

Back 7

The first civilization in the world. Due to a variety of factors, they were unstable and cities were frequently invaded. Its inventions of writing, pottery, and advanced irrigation still have a huge impact on the world.

Front 8

Uruk

Back 8

Mesopotamia's largest city, including walls 20+ feet tall, over 50,000 people in the 3rd millennium B.C.E., a huge ziggurat in the center, and thousands of craftspeople and specialists. A true testament to the value of agriculture.

Front 9

Mohenjo Daro

Back 9

The Indus Valley Civilization's "most impressive city" with 2-3 story homes, indoor plumbing, bathrooms, private wells, grid-like streets, a sewage system, grand public buildings, and a 45+ foot wall surrounding it. Also the sister city to Harrapa.

Front 10

Harrapa

Back 10

The Indus Valley Civilization's "most impressive city" with 2-3 story homes, indoor plumbing, bathrooms, private wells, grid-like streets, a sewage system, grand public buildings, and a 45+ foot wall surrounding it. Also the sister city to Mohenjo Daro

Front 11

Epic of Gilgamesh

Back 11

One of the earliest known works of literary fiction from Mesopotamia. It originated from a series of Sumerian legends and poems. These were gathered into larger Akkadian poems to become the most complete version by King Ashurbanipal in the 7th century. Shows a key insight into the lives of the ancients.

Front 12

Code of Hammurabi

Back 12

One of the oldest and longest decipherable texts pertaining to law in the world. Allowed people to see the types of classist and sexist inequalities that were present in Mesopotamian laws and thus can be assumed were existent everywhere.

Front 13

patriarchy

Back 13

The idea that men are superior to women in law and legal issues. This can be seen in in the Code of Hammurabi. The extent of this idea varies among different civilizations.

Front 14

the rise of the state

Back 14

Over time, every civilization drifted towards the idea of a central state to some extent. Once in place, it replaced the idea of kinship as the basic governing and organizing factor. Not as totalitarian as some modern states with the religious heads and private economy providing checks on the king's power.

Front 15

Egypt's "gift of the Nile"

Back 15

The idea that due to the Nile's predictable, consistent, gentle flooding the Egyptians were in the perfect place for stability and prosperity. This is reflected in all aspects of life from have calm gods to easy agriculture. It culminated in nearly 3000 years of stable Egyptian rule over their domain.

Front 16

Paneb

Back 16

A 13th century B.C.E. Egyptian citizen known for his long list of crimes and wrong-doings seen in a document made by one of his many rivals. This includes fighting, promiscuity, bribery, and blasphemy after entering the pharaoh's tomb.

Front 17

Nubia

Back 17

A civilization just south of Egypt in the Nile Valley. They were very rich and had a large influence on Egyptian culture through trading and intermarriage. At one point the Nubian kingdom of Kush invaded Egypt and ruled it for over 100 years.

Front 18

Egypt vs. Mesopotamia Differences

Back 18

strong centralized state-collection of city states;

stable river flooding- unstable/ dangerous flooding;

general optimism-general pessimism;

rare attacks and invasion-almost constant attacks and conquered cities;

Front 19

Russian nomads

Back 19

Traders with many of the first civilizations as well as the first domesticators of horses and inventors of horse-powered carts and chariots. This led to a powerful revolution in warfare that led to the invasions of wide swaths of land by the Hittites and others.

Front 20

Writing by the first Civilizations

Back 20

Mesopotamia- Cuneiform

Egypt- Hieroglyphics

Norte Chico- Quipu (ropes)

Indus River Valley- pictographs and symbols

China- Oracle bone script

Olmec- signs representing sounds

Oxus- none