ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE MESOPOTAMIA Extensive with Egypt & the Indus Valley Epic of Gilgamesh Early use of bronze tools, chariots Pessimistic view of the perhaps due to irregular, unpredictable flooding of the Tigris & Euphrates rivers Polytheism – gods powerful/cruel Kings powerful, but not divine RIVERS: Tigris & Euphrates City-states & warrior kings Hammurabi’s Code Competition among city-states as well as frequent invasions led to less political stability than in Egypt Job specialization – farmers, metallurgists, merchants, craftsmen, political administrators, priests Social classes Marriage contracts; veils for women; women of upper classes less equal than counterparts Concerned with decorative arts, ship building, some medical knowledge Less extensive Polytheism, with pharaoh as a god Optimistic view of life (regular, controllable flooding of the Nile River) Strong belief in the afterlife; Book of the Dead Hieroglyphics – complex pictorial language. RIVER: Nile Divine kingship – the pharaoh; highly centralized, authoritarian government Generally stable government throughout the 3 kingdoms Extensive bureaucracy; pharaoh’s power channeled through regional governors Smaller nobility than Mesopotamians; fewer merchants Some social mobility through the bureaucracy Priests have high status (only ones that understand the complex hieroglyphic written language) Women – probably higher status than in Mesopotamia; love poetry indicates some importance placed on male/female relationships One female pharaoh – Hatshepsut CULTURE POLITICAL ORGANIZATION SOCIAL STRUCTURE Writing system undecipherable Assumed to be complex & thought Priests have highest status
seals indicate trade with both Mesopotamia & China Polytheism Two cities: Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro, urban planning, sewer systems and grid RIVER: Indus to be centralized Limited information, but large granaries, plumbing, and cities designed on grid pattern indicate centralized control based on position as intermediaries between gods and people. Differences in house sizes indicate class distinctions Statues reflect reverence for female reproductive function Oracle bones used to communicate with ancestors, Patterns on bones formed basis for writing system; writing highly valued, complex pictorial language with 3000 characters by end of dynasty Uniform written language became bond among people who spoke many different languages Bronze weapons & tools, horse-drawn chariot Geographical separation from other civilizations (Gobi Desert & Himalaya Mts.), though probably traded with the Indus Valley (ethnocentrism) RIVER: Huang He (Yellow) Centralized government; power in the hands of the emperor Government preoccupied with flood control of the rivers (Huang He & Yangtze) Job specialization – bureaucrats, farmers, slaves Social classes – warrior aristocrats, bureaucrats, farmers, slaves Patriarchal society – women as wives & concubines; CULTURE POLITICAL ORGANIZATION SOCIAL STRUCTURE MESOAMERICA Olmecs in Mesoamerica; Highly developed astronomy; used to predict agricultural cycles & please the gods. Polytheism; religious Olmecs: apparently not united politically; unusual for ancient civilizations craft specializations; priests have highest status; most people were farmers
rituals important, Ritual ball Irrigation & drainage canals Giant carved stone heads, probably with religious significance Jaguar symbol important SOUTH AMERICA Chavin in Andean region Polytheism – statues of jaguar men Well-developed agriculture based on maize Unique geography: lived on coast, in mountains, and in jungle Chavin: probable political unification; public works operated by reciprocal labor obligations; had a capital city priests have highest status; capital city dominated hinterlands; most people were farmers