ANWSER
Answer:
The ancient world civilizations emerged during the Neolithic Revolution (circa 10,000 BCE), when humans transitioned from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities. Key regions include:
– Mesopotamia (Tigris-Euphrates Valley): Birthplace of the Sumerian civilization (c. 4500–1900 BCE), credited with inventing cuneiform writing, wheel, and ziggurats.
– Egypt (Nile Valley): Unified around 3100 BCE, known for pyramids, hieroglyphs, and advanced governance under pharaohs.
– Indus Valley (South Asia): Flourished c. 3300–1300 BCE with planned cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
– China (Yellow River): Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) introduced early writing and bronze work.
– Mesoamerica: Olmec (c. 1500–400 BCE) laid foundations for later civilizations like the Maya.
Common features included urbanization, social stratification, religious institutions, and technological innovations like irrigation and metallurgy. These civilizations laid the groundwork for subsequent human development.
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Question 2: Write short notes on the following civilizations of Mesopotamia:
I. Sumerian:
The Sumerians (c. 4500–1900 BCE) were the earliest Mesopotamian civilization, located in southern Mesopotamia. They established city-states (e.g., Ur, Uruk) and invented cuneiform writing. Contributions include the wheel, lunar calendar, and ziggurats (temple complexes). Their society was theocratic, with priests ruling in the name of gods.
II. Babylonian:
The Babylonian civilization (c. 1894–539 BCE), centered in Babylon, peaked under Hammurabi (r. 1792–1750 BCE), who created one of the earliest legal codes, the Code of Hammurabi. Known for advancements in astronomy and mathematics, Babylonians also built the Hanging Gardens and developed a base-60 numeral system.
III. Akkadian:
The Akkadian Empire (c. 2334–2154 BCE), founded by Sargon of Akkad, was the first multi-ethnic empire in Mesopotamia. They adopted Sumerian culture but used the Akkadian language. The empire facilitated cultural exchange and centralized governance but collapsed due to invasions and internal strife.
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Question 3: Identify the impacts of Nile River on Egyptian civilization.
Answer:
The Nile River was central to Egyptian civilization:
1. Agriculture: Annual floods deposited fertile silt, enabling surplus crop production (e.g., wheat, barley).
2. Transportation & Trade: The Nile facilitated boat travel, linking Upper and Lower Egypt and promoting trade.
3. Religious Beliefs: Deified as Hapi, the Nile’s cycles influenced rituals and a calendar based on flooding (Akhet, Peret, Shemu seasons).
4. Political Unity: The river’s geography helped unify Egypt under pharaonic rule, with the Nile Valley acting as a natural barrier against invasions.
5. Cultural Identity: Inspired art, mythology (e.g., Osiris), and architectural projects like the pyramids, aligned with the river’s orientation.
Without the Nile, Egypt’s longevity and prosperity as a civilization would not have been possible.