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Early river civilizations
Early river civilizations
Early River Civiliations Chapter
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Similar to Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley; China also developed along a river. China’s civilization developed between two rivers that brought water and silt to make farming possible. Cities began to grow along the banks of the river. The two rivers are the Chang Jiang, also known as the Yangtze, which is located in central China. The other river is the Huang He, which is to the north and is also known as the Yellow River. In about 1766 B.C., Shang family kings started to control some cities. They set up a dynasty. In the Shang culture, respect for their parents and ancestors was extremely important. Family was closely bound to religion. The Chinese believed that their ancestors' spirits could bring good fortune to the family. In order to receive messages from the gods and their ancestor’s spirits, they communicated through oracle bones. These are animal bones or turtle shells where Shang royal priests would scratch questions on it. Next, they touched the bones with heated rods to make them crack, and if it cracked on one of the answers then that would mean that that is the answer. …show more content…
In my opinion the most interesting trait that we have learned from China this week is the Dynastic Cycle.
The cycle is; first the Mandate of Heaven, which is when the people believe the new dynasty had the gods’ approval. Second is that the dynasty’s power grows weaker. Third is disasters such as floods, famines, and invasions occur. Fourth is that the people believed the dynasty had lost the gods’ approval. Next it’s that the dynasty is overthrown. Last but not least the new dynasty restores peace and order, and then it goes back to the mandate of heaven. I thought it was really awesome that they could predict what was going to happen next. For example, if there were natural disasters, they would know that the dynasty had lost the gods’
approval.
In 3000 BCE, the creation of the first early river civilization of Mesopotamia sparked the creation of other advanced civilizations around the world. These civilizations had developed in modern-day Egypt, China, and the Middle Eastern Region. The civilization of the Shang came to in 1750 BCE and could be located in modern-day China. The Indus River valley civilization, however, developed as early as 2500 BCE in present-day North-Western India. Similarities and differences between the two progressions were common in their political systems, religious ideas, and artworks. Although not closely located, the Shang and Indus River civilizations shared more similarities than differences in some aspects due to them both facing the same issues that
Similarly to many ancient societies, the Chinese dynasties and societies flourished along the fertile land around rivers. The societies were based on agriculture, and engaged in trade networks along the Silk Road. The societies were ruled by semi-divine monarchies, with a class system. Unlike many of the other ancient societies, China’s rulers were chosen by The Mandate of Heaven, thus creating the dynastic cycle. China began to spread it’s ideals and products along the Silk Road, therefore influencing societies such as Persia, Greece and Rome.
Egypt and Mesopotamia were two of the world’s earliest city-based civilizations, creating the basis for Middle Eastern and Western history. Both Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations existed on the banks of major rivers. While Egyptian civilization thrived along the Nile, Mesopotamia settled between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Although they shared this characteristic, it was also the cause of many of their differences in political systems, religions, and social stability.
Ancient China was split into two principle regions, Inner and Outer China. The land of Inner China contained fertile land and could sustain a larger population than could the land of Outer China. Most of the population of China settled here for that reason. These regions then were each divided into five sub regions. Outer China contained three of these regions, the Tibet- Qinghai Plateau, the Northwestern Deserts, and the Northeastern Plain. Inner China held the remaining two, the North China Plain and the Chang Jiang Basins. Each of the regions had their own reasons why they were desirable or not to the nomads passing though China. The Tibet- Qinghai Plateau was an unwanted area of land because of many geographic factors that were stacked against it. One such reason was that the Plateau was very rocky and mountainous which discou...
From the time period 3500 BCE to 500CE two first civilizations were known as “Ancient Mesopotamia’s largest city” and “The mother of Mesoamerica” The civilizations of Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica both arose around the same time causing what is known as a common phenomenon. Both of the first civilizations had their religion practices in common. However, they both had recognizable differences in their cultures and in their political structures.
Egypt and Mesopotamia; two different civilizations that were similar in some ways, as well as different. They had their difference of their geographical location, as well as their different aspects of life. Even though they had their different life aspects, they had also had several similarities between each other.
What similarities and differences did Egypt and Mesopotamia have and why was Egypt more politically unified than its neighbor, Mesopotamia? I think in order to answer these questions it is important to look at how both societies lived. Egypt and Mesopotamia were two civilizations existing during the time period of 2000-1200 BCE.(text, 97) These civilizations were shaped by their environment, involved with trade, and faced changes in government after the 100 year drought; however, they differed in that Egypt was shaped by the Nile, traded goods for goods and changed their outlook on the pharaoh who was ruler of all; whereas, Mesopotamia was shaped by the Tigris and Euphrates, traded money for goods, and had a ruler over rulers. The governed harmonic life style of Egypt led this society to be more politically unified; whereas, Mesopotamia’s government led to many different ways of structure, thus creating a less unified society.
Early civilization remains permits us to observe how life was lived in earlier times. Until the Neolithic Era humans were fairly nomadic. When they became knowledgeable of farming they began to realize that they would not have to be nomadic anymore thus forming civilizations. These early civilizations were typically polytheistic, which means that they believed in many gods. During these civilizations they also learned to tame animals and their technologies grew more and more advanced. Almost all early civilizations have failed but they all left a lasting mark that will continue forever. The Nile River Valley Civilization and the Mesopotamia Civilization are both amazing but they both have their differences in their political and social aspects.
Before the beginning of history, people from across the land gradually developed numerous cultures, each unique in some ways while the same time having features in common. Mesopotamia and Egypt are important to the history of the world because of religious, social, political and economic development. Mesopotamia was the first civilization, which was around 3000 B.C., and all other countries evolved from it. Mesopotamia emerged from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The soil was rich and agriculture was plentiful. The Semitic nomads occupied the land around Akkad. The Sumerians established the city-states. Villages became urban centers. Because of the formation of the city-states everything flourished. However, Mesopotamian agriculture lacked stones; therefore mud brick became their major building block. Their diet consisted of fish from the rivers. The rivers were flooded frequently destroyed the cities. Mesopotamians made their living from crops and pottery.
During the time of early civilizations people were creating communities, societies, cultures, political structures and religions all new to our world. It was trying times and ages of awakenings. Religion played a major part role in the history of our world and mankind some of the religions discovered at this time are still practiced today, and some have faded away. The two early civilizations that stand out to me are Mesopotamia and India. Although the two share some similarities, the differences in religious beliefs between Mesopotamia and India are clear.
David Bebbington recounts cyclical history is history that repeats itself. It repeats itself much like a revolving wheel. This wheel has only one revolution, and then repeats. All individuals follow a same pattern of growth, decline, and death. (Bebbington, 2000).
The Nile and Indus River Valley civilizations were both unique civilizations in their own way in comparison. Yet despite being separated by thousands of miles there are similarities in these two ancient civilizations. It is seen that amongst ancient civilizations, rivers are fundamental for them to prosper and provide for a relatively stable society for which a people can grow and develop. There are general similarities with pinpoint differences as well as general differences with pinpoint similarities. Both civilizations have left their influence on human civilization and history, with their unique characteristics of their religion, way of life, social classes, cultures, technological advancements, government systems, rulers and notable
The first part of the journey begins; five thousand years ago with the tribal people who established residence along the shores of the Yellow River in China. (Wong 404). The tribal people believed that their chieftains had extraordinary powers, such as the powers: to control the elements, move the rivers, communicate with plants and animals, travel across the sky, and beneath the earth. (Ibid, 409) Initially, it was due in part to the tribal people’s belief, in the ability of particular individuals to possess inconceivable abilities, that shamanism came into practice in Ancient China. In fact, according to Eva Wong, “In ancient Chinese society, there was a class of people, called the wu.” (Wong 436). As a result, over the centuries, the importance of the wu or shaman continued to develop and by the twelfth century, the rulers of the land employed shamans as an integral part of their advisors. Thus, the shaman held political positions and were able to influence the governing of the nation. An equally important aspect of the ancient religion in China was the reverence of their ancestors’.
Approximately 5500 years ago four of the worlds' most prestigious ancient river civilizations had emerged. Our world has been left in astonishment and awe wondering how these civilizations were developed. Egypt and Mesopotamia were the first ancient river civilizations to create cities and their own ways of living. Society, geography, and religion played an enormous role in the development of the ancient cities. Although there is evidence of early Sumerian contact with the Egyptians, Egypt's civilization was largely self-generated and its history and cultural patterns differed from Mesopotamia.
At the onset of the Early Zhou Dynasty (ca. 10520–500 B.C.E.), the frontier state called Zhou rose against the Shang in about 1050 B.C.E. Here we discover Zhou Politics, Book of Documents that describes Zhou conquest of the Shang as the victory of just and noble warriors. The Shang fell to the Zhou Dynasty, whose first rulers claimed that the Mandate of Heaven had passed to them from the decadent Shang. The Zhou ruled an increasin...