Early Civilizations in Asia

GRADE 7

SOCIAL STUDIES

Compare and contrast the

social organization in each of

the early civilizations.

“Civilization is the
order and freedom
promoting cultural
activity.”

● The word civilization is easier described

than defined. People define it in many ways
depending on the period of history that
they are referring to.

● It is an advanced state in social

development wherein people have formed
some degree of social organization and
arrived at common ways of living and
believing.

● The earliest civilization in Asia developed

in Mesopotamia about 4000 BCE and
came to be known as the Sumerian
civilization.

● The Indus Valley civilization have emerged

about 7000 years ago.

● The Chinese civilization flourished more or

less about 2000 BCE.

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The earliest stage in the

development of the

Mesopotamian civilization

occurred in the lower

portion of the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers between

3200 and 3500 BCE.

The word Mesopotamia

was derived from the
Greek word “mesos”
meaning middle and

“potamos” meaning river.

“The land between

rivers.”

● The city state was considered the

manor or estate of a great God.

● Each Sumerian city-state had a temple

complex administered by a priestly
class.

● The priest leaders were members of the

oligarchic or ruling families.

● The priests commanded the respect of

people in the community and exercised
authority over the rest of the people.

● They were the managerial elite.

● They were responsible for the technological

breakthroughs like water management.

● Wheel - used for chariots and carrying

heavy loads for constructing temples.

● Calendar - important to farmers to

know the coming seasons for planting.

● The greatest contribution was the

invention of writing.

● Started as a way of recording individual

or group deposits from the granary.

● Wedge stylus were used to make the

recordings on the clay tablets
permanent .

● Sumerian society was stratified with

four distinct classes .

1. Priestly leaders - wealthy oligarchs
2. Specialists - merchants and artisans
3. Farmers - working for taxes and

offerings to the Gods.

4. Slaves - found in irrigation and temples

● Land was the most important property.

● Oligarchic families controlled the best

lands while others had marginal lands.

● Lands owned by the estates were

cultivated by rent-paying tenants or by
serfs (slaves).

● Produce from the fields were delivered

to estate owners .

● Trading was subject to regulation and

control of the authorities.

● Restrictions prevented the emergence

of a free market economy in Sumer.

● Sumerians believed that the whole

world was governed by assembly of
Gods.

● Each city has its own patron God.

● An or Anu - god of the sky
● Enlil - god of storm and thunder

● Temples are built at the

center of the cities.

● Ziggurats - supports the

shrines that houses the
patron God of the city.

● Government was established to manage

common activities and preserve peace.

● Citizens gather in a civic assembly.

● Representatives of rich families dominated

the deliberations and decision-making of
the assembly.

● The ruins of ancient

Indus civilization was
discovered in 1826.

● The biggest of the cities

was Mohenjo-Daro.

● The Indus Valley

civilization is said to be
older dating back to
7000 BCE.

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● Harappan prosperity was

anchored on agriculture.

● Wheat, barley, and millet

were cultivated in the Indus
plains. Rice was also
cultivated for trade.

● Rulers governed their cities

through control of trade and
religion and not by military
might.

● Presence of social divisions

are evident from the layout of
the cities that were divided
into two parts.

● Cities have two sectors:

citadel - upper portion
town - lower part

● The Great Bath - was used

for ritual bathing. Had brick
walls sealed with bitumen
(thick, black crude oil).

● Religion is seen through clay

seals and figurines of mother
Goddess

● Shiva - male deity.
● Tree worship was part of the

Indus civilization.

● Pipal tree - celestial plant

believed to have divine spirits.

● The Harappans were expert

craftsmen.

● They made beads and bangles.
● They also worked silver and

gold with great skill.

● Thy engaged in agriculture and

livestock-raising.

● Indus art was exemplified

archaeological finds like the
ostrich egg shell engraved
with cross-hatched designs.

● Dancing, painting, sculpture,

and music were part of their
culture.

● Numerous scripts and

symbols were found on the
tiny seals, figurines, and
potteries.

● There are about 30 letters

and over 40 symbols that
have been found.

● China’s very rich history

dates back to when the
foundations of Chinese
cultures were laid.

●

Yangshao culture (3000-1500 BCE)

●

Lungshan culture (2500-1200 BCE)

● Around 2100 BCE, dynastic

rule started in China with the
Xia (Hsia) rulers.

● Xia dynasty (2100-1800 BCE)
● Xia dynasty was ruled by King

Yu who was known for
teaching early Chinese flood
control techniques.

● Shang dynasty (1600-060 BCE)
● This dynasty ruled for almost

600 years with 30 kings of the
same clan ruling the empire.

● The Shang dynasty is most

noted for the oracle bones.

● Oracle bones - are used to

predict the future.

● The oracle bones can also be

used to ask questions involving
a decision to be made.

● Shang Cheng Tang overthrew

the Xia dynasty and moved the
capital from Shang to Yin
(Anyang) near the Yellow River.

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Governmen� an� societ�

● The King is at the top with

most of his officials
belonging to his own family.

● The work of government

was made more efficient by
the invention of the Chinese
way of writing .

● People were engaged in

agriculture and in the
domestication of animals.

● The chief crop was millet.

● Pigs and chickens were raised.

● Bronze-casting technology had

been perfected.

● The dynasty worshipped

“Shang Di” who ruled the
entire earth.

● They also practiced ancestor

worship.

● There were people who were

buried with the King.

● Chinese way of writing

started with the inscriptions
in oracle bones.

● It consists of characters

which signify things, ideas, or
sounds.