4 River Valley Civilizations

​What Were the 4 River Valley Civlizations?

Why are they important?

​Origins of science, mathematics, government, art, language and others started with these civilizations.

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Which achievement do you think is most influential on your life?​

Open Ended

List the 4 River Valley Civilizations. You may use the names of the Rivers to do so.

​Describe the 4 River Valley Civilizations

Mesopotamia

Multiple Choice

The area known as Mesopotamia, and later Sumer, Babylon and Akkadia are located between which two rivers?

• Nile & Congo

• Thames & Rhine

• Amazon & Rio

• Tigris & Euphrates

Open Ended

What would be some reasons for these Mesopotamian civilizations to END? What do you think happened to the people living in that area when one civilization ended and another began? (These are guesses, just do your best!)

​When did Sumer "end?"

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​When did Babylon emerge?

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When did Assyria "end?"​

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When did Persia "end?"​

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​Sumerian Writing & Literacy

Subject | Subject

​Sumerians developed a written language called "Cuneiform."

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The writing was done on clay with a reed of wheat.

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This promoted literacy & expanded communication.​

How did the cuneiform symbol for "King" change over time?

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Open Ended

How did the cuneiform symbol for "King" change over time?

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Sumer → Babylon

​Babylonians developed mathematics with Base 60. (We use Base 10.)

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Where do we still see Base 60 used today?

​Sumerians invented ...

• ​Pottery

• Carts (like chariots)

• Weapons of Bronze

• Tools of Bronze

• Wheels of Bronze​

Theocracy - a country ruled by religion

​Sumerians were a theocracy and were polytheistic.

​Our Days of the Week Are Norse & Roman

​Sun - Sunday

Moon - Monday

Tyr - Tuesday

Woden - Wednesday

Thor - Thursday

Freya - Friday

Saturn -Saturday​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Hammurabi's Code

Multiple Choice

If your ruler was appointed by god, and citizens must obey the practices & laws of this religion, this is known as a

• Democracy

• Autocracy

• Theocracy

• Oligarchy

Multiple Choice

What did the Babylonian ruler create so that all of his citizens would know the rules of society and would know the punishments if they broke any of them?

• 12 Tables

• 10 Commandments

• Hammurabi's Code

• The Torah

Multiple Choice

What were the major contributions of the Sumerians & Babylonians?

• Math, Bronze tools and weapons, code of laws

• Astrology, farming techniques, shipbuilding

• Democracy, natural resources

• Voting rights for indentured servants & women

Open Ended

Out of all the things you learned about Mesopotamia, which achievement do you think was most important to the world? Which was most influential on YOUR life? WHY?