Topic Details

Geographic Located in the fertile valley between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, corresponding to modern-day
Location Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.

Societies Five main societies: Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Assyria, Chaldea.

- First civilization with advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record-keeping,
and advanced technology. - Innovations: wooden plow, stone wheel, cuneiform writing. - Notable
Sumer city: Ur or Uruq (modern-day Iraq). -Built ziggurats (pyramid templesWriting deciphered by Henry
Rawlinson in 1847 using the Behistun Rock.
- First empire established by Sargon (2334-2279 BC). Akkad absorbed Sumer into its empire, which
Akkad lasted nearly two centuries. Known for lack of creative contributions compared to other societies.

- Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) was the greatest ruler, known for the Code of Hammurabi. <br> -
Contributions: legal reforms, improved irrigation, housing, and taxation systems. Religion:
Polytheistic with numerous gods (Baal/Marduk). Innovations in science: 60-minute hour, 24-hour
day, 360-degree circle, seven-day week, 12-month lunar calendar. Medical advancements: physical
Babylonia examinations, diagnoses, prescriptions.

- Established around 2900 BC, with Ashur as the capital. Known for military prowess, advanced
armaments, and fierce courage. Key ruler: Tiglath-Pileser I (1115-1077 BC). Reached peak power
Assyria under Tiglath-Pileser III (744-727 BC).

- Semitic people from the Arabian Desert who conquered Babylonia around 1100 BC. Key ruler:
Chaldea (New Nebuchadnezzar (604-561 BC), known for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The empire rapidly
Babylonians) declined after Nebuchadnezzar's death and fell to Persian invaders in 539 BC.

- First plow and wheel- First written language (cuneiform) and records. - First written literature,
including the Epic of Gilgamesh. -Earliest written laws: Ur-Nammu Code and Hammurabi Code. -
First number system measuring distance, area, space, and time. - Introduction of astrology and the
zodiac chart. - Metal tools, farms, houses, schools, libraries, sailboats, hanging gardens, palaces,
Key Contributions and sculptures. - Temples (ziggurat pyramids) and polytheistic religion. - Social structure with
to Civilization segregation by class, sex, age, and wealth.

LESSON 1
LESSON 2

Topic Details

Geographic
Location Nile River Valley, crucial bridge between Asia and Africa, Suez Canal.

- Old Kingdom (3000-2160 BC): Unified by Menes, pyramids, capital at Memphis. - Middle Kingdom
(2160-1788 BC): Weak kings, capital at Thebes. - New Kingdom (1558-1100 BC): Golden Age,
Historical Periods powerful pharaohs, empire expansion.

- Menes: Unified Upper and Lower Egypt. - Thutmose III: Military expansion. - Queen Hatshepsut:
First female ruler. - Akhenaton: Introduced monotheism. - Tutankhamun: Famous tomb. - Ramses
Notable Figures II: Military victories, building projects. - Cleopatra: Last pharaoh, Roman alliances.

Religion Polytheistic, major gods: Amon Ra, Osiris. Belief in afterlife, mummification, pharaohs as near gods.

Government Pharaoh: absolute ruler. Society: royalty/priests, soldiers, commoners, slaves.

Education Temple schools for wealthy boys, subjects: reading, writing, religion, arithmetic, astronomy.

Literature Oldest works: Pyramid Texts, Book of the Dead, Hymn to the Sun, Instruction of Ptah-Hotep.

Economic Life Farming, crafts, shipbuilding, controlled trade routes.

Writing System Hieroglyphics on papyrus and stone, deciphered via Rosetta Stone.

Contributions to Pyramids, 365-day calendar, sundial, water clock, sailboats, geometry, surgery, embalming,
Civilization cosmetics, stone architecture, beauty treatments.
LESSON 3

Topic Details

Indus Valley Civilization - Originated in present-day Pakistan and Northern India around 3,000 BC

- Aryans migrated to the region and established a new civilization

- Flourished due to fertile lands watered by Himalayan rivers, enabling

successful farming

- Religion: Hinduism developed, with a Caste system dividing society into

rigid classes-
- Belief that people were born into their status in life and stayed there
-- Brahmins were the highest class, seen as holy and blessed by the gods
-Kshatriya were rulers, military leaders, and landowners.
-Vaishya were Merchants, traders, and farmers
-Shudra were artisans, laborers, and servants
- Untouchables (Dalitas) were considered outcasts and not to be
touched

- Members of different castes did not mix with others, maintaining social
orders

Hinduism - One of the world's oldest religions, with roots traced back thousands
of years before the Christian era

- Believers number over a billion people today

- Belief in innumerable gods found in various forms, including nature

and animals

- Customary greeting: "Namasteh" (I honor you)

- Hinduism allows for coexistence with other religions, contrasting with

monotheistic beliefs

- Practices like meditation, yoga, diet, and natural healing attract interest
from non-Indians

Buddhism - Founded by Siddharta Gautama in Nepal (560-480 BC)

- Focus on living method rather than a religion

- Four "Noble Truths" include the concept of suffering caused by selfish

desires and the path to Nirvana

- Eightfold path guides followers towards correct practices for reaching

Nirvana
 - Split into Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle)
branches

- Mahayana emphasizes priests guiding believers, while Hinayana lacks a

priest group

- Buddhist believers’ number about 300 million today

Karma - Belief that bad behavior could influence one's fate in the afterlife
(karma)
- Concept of cause and effect, where actions in this life affect future lives

Chinese Civilization - Chinese civilization began 2,000 years ahead of the West

- Strict class society with emperor and mandarins as the ruling class

- Emphasis on human relationships over spiritual or religious systems

- Influenced neighboring cultures like Japanese, Koreans, Mongols, and

Southeast Asians

Chinese Philosophy - Confucius (Kung Futze) emphasized virtues like benevolence,

righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and loyalty

- Lao Tzu founded Taoism, focusing on the "way of Virtue" for lasting
happiness

- Mencius believed in the natural goodness of people and the right to

overthrow bad rulers

Chinese Contributions to - Inventions include paper, brush pen, ink, compass, printing press,
Civilization gunpowder, and water mill

- Sericulture revolutionized clothing with silk industry

- Philosophers like Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Mencius contributed to

Chinese thought

- Innovations in military strategy, paper money, playing cards, and civil

service examinations

- Cultural contributions such as chopsticks, calligraphy, umbrella, kite,

pagoda architecture, and the Great Wall

Mandate of Heaven - Chinese belief that the emperor's power came from a divine mandate

- Emperor was responsible for the well-being of all others in the empire

- Emperor enjoyed the title of the "Son of Heaven"

- Concept used to justify the emperor's rule and legitimacy