Era 2: River Valley Civilizations

Suggested time for instruction: two weeks

• SOL Standards
• Macro View
• Focus Questions
• Global Themes
• Resources
• Benchmarks
• Legacies

World History and Geography Macro View

Starting around 3500 B.C.E., some village cultures developed into civilizations that revolved around city life in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China. Other ancient societies such as the Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Kush emerged later in this era. These societies developed a degree of political order and power, specialization of jobs, class differentiation, city design, and building projects that required technological skills, establishment of religious centers, writing systems, and the beginning of organized trade. Pastoralism made it possible for larger communities to inhabit the semi-arid steppes and deserts of Africa and Eurasia. Migrations of peoples like the Indo-Europeans into Europe and India shaped the language and culture of later societies.

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Focus Questions for Era 2

1. How and where did early civilizations emerge?
   
   
2. What were the characteristics of early civilizations?
   
   
3. What are the enduring legacies that developed during this era?
   
   
4. How are these civilizations similar and different?
   

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Global Themes for Era 2

• Adaptation to the environment: The natural environment of the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang-He valleys shaped the development of early civilizations. In many parts of the world, environmental conditions favored hunter-gather, pastoral, and small-scale agricultural ways of life rather than urban societies.
  
  
• Human migration and population: In areas of Eurasia and Africa, cities and dense farming populations developed between 3500 and 1000 B.C.E. resulting in the spread of agriculture and the acceleration of world population growth. Population movements from western and central Asia affected peoples of China, India, Southwest Asia, and the Mediterranean region.
  
  
• Development and diffusion of technology: During this period, fundamental inventions and discoveries appeared which affected economic, cultural, and political life. Significant examples of these innovations were writing; the domestication of the horse; advancements in copper, bronze and iron technology; and the wheel.
  
  
• Communication and exchange: New ideas, products, techniques, and institutions spread from one region to another which were either assimilated into, rejected by, or adapted to prevailing cultural traditions.
  
  
• Belief systems: Polytheistic religions and ethical belief systems developed in the four river valley civilizations and legitimized the political and social order.
  
  
• Social structure: Social hierarchy and occupational specialties emerged, resulting in the tasks that people in urban regions performed.
  
  
• Political legitimacy and authority: Cultural achievements of early urban societies led to the development of state authority; aristocratic power; legal codes; taxation systems; and institutions of coerced labor, including slavery.

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Benchmarks:

NOTE: Red Bolded content in the indicators is considered essential and must be taught in all classrooms. Content which is not bolded goes beyond the scope and sequence of the state standards.

Benchmark 2.0: The student will improve skills in historical research and geographic analysis during the era of River Valley Civilizations. (WHI.1)

2.0 Performance Indicators

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary sources to make generalizations about events and life during the era of River Valley Civilizations.
   
   
2. Use maps, globes, artifacts, and pictures to analyze the physical and cultural landscapes of the world and interpret the past during the era of River Valley Civilizations.
   
   
3. Identify major geographic features important to the study of world history during the era of River Valley Civilizations.
   
   
4. Identify and compare modern political boundaries with the location of River Valley Civilizations.
   
5. Analyze trends in human migration and cultural interaction during the era of River Valley Civilizations.

Benchmark 2.1: The student understands factors which led to the development of four river valley civilizations: Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and Huang He China. (WHI.3)

2.1 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Explain the various criteria used to define “civilization” and the fundamental differences between early civilizations and other forms of social organization (notably hunter-gatherer bands, Neolithic agricultural societies, and pastoral nomadic societies).
   
   
2. Analyze how the environment influenced, and was influenced by, the early civilizations (better tools, plows, irrigation).
   
   
3. Compare geographic conditions under which the four river valley civilizations developed (flooding, rich soil, protection from invasion).
   
   
4. Analyze ways in which the emergence of civilizations represented a decisive transformation in human history.

Benchmark 2.2: The student understands the significance and contributions of the civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia. (WHI.3)

2.2 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify and explain the developments of Mesopotamian societies in terms of location in time and place; the development of social, political, and economic patterns; the development of religious traditions; the development of a written language, science, and technology (3500 B.C., Tigris/Euphrates River Valley, Fertile Crescent, Southwest Asia, specialization of labor, world’s first cities, city-states, Hammurabi’s Code, polytheistic, cuneiform, Sumer, iron developed by the Hittites).
   
   
2. Analyze the importance of trade in Mesopotamian societies and describe the networks of commercial exchange that connected various regions of Southwest Asia.
   

Benchmark 2.3: The student understands the significance and contributions of ancient Egypt. (WHI.3)

2.3 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify and explain Egyptian society in terms of location in time and place; the development of social, political, and economic patterns, the development of religious traditions, and the development of written language, science, and technology (3000 B.C., Nile River valley and Delta, pharaohs, dynasties, polytheism, hieroglyphics, slavery was accepted).
   
   
2. Analyze the importance of trade in Egyptian society and describe the networks of commercial exchange that connected various regions of Africa and Southwest Asia.
   

Benchmark 2.4: The student understands the significance and contributions of the Indus Valley. (WHI.3)

2.4 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify and explain Indus Valley societies in terms of location in time and place, the development of social, political, and economic patterns; the development of religious traditions; and the development of written language, science, and technology (2500 B.C., subcontinent, Indus River Valley, South Asia, indecipherable pictograms, slavery was accepted).
   
   
2. Analyze the importance of trade in Indus society and describe the networks of commercial exchange that connected various regions of Asia (trading seals).
   
   
3. Assess the possible causes of the decline and collapse of Indus Valley society.

Benchmark 2.5: The student understands the significance and contributions of the Huang-He Valley. (WHI.3)

2.5 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify and explain Shang Chinese society in terms of location in time and place; the development of social, political, and economic patterns, the development of polytheistic religious traditions; and the development of written language, science, and technology (2000 B.C., Yellow River/Huang He Valley, East Asia, dynasties, oracle bones and ancestor worship, polytheism, pictograms, slavery was accepted).
   
2. Assess the uses and significance of bronze development, weapons, and luxury goods.
   

Benchmark 2.6: The student understands the significance and contributions of civilizations such as the Hebrews, Phoenicians, and peoples of the Kush. (WHI.3)

2.6 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify and explain selected societies in terms of location in time and place and their major achievements (Hebrews/Jordan River Valley, Phoenicians/Mediterranean coast, Kush/upper (southern) Nile).
   
   
2. Explain the fundamental teachings and practices of Judaism ( Abraham, Moses, exile, Diaspora, ethical monotheism, Ten Commandments, Torah, Jerusalem).
   
   
3. Describe the importance of Phoenician trading patterns (along rivers and seas) in the Mediterranean Basin and the legacy of their alphabet.
   
   
4. Assess the importance of commercial, cultural, and political connections between Egypt and the peoples of Kush and Nubia.
   

Benchmark 2.7: The student understands how pastoral nomadic migrations from western and central Asia affected peoples of India, Southwest Asia, and the Mediterranean. (WHI.3)

2.7 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Define pastoralism as a nomadic way of life and explain the link between the climate and geography of Central Asia and the rise of pastoral societies on the steppes (domestication of the horse, wheel technology).
   
   
2. Analyze the role of pastoral peoples and explain why relations between herding and agrarian societies tended to involve both conflict and mutual dependence (Mycenaeans, Dorians, Aryans).
   
   
3. Assess the early political, social, and cultural effects of Indo-European (Aryan) migration through mountain passes into northern India including geographic features (Hindu Kush, Khyber Pass, Himalayas, Indian subcontinent, Indus River, Ganges River) and the founding of Brahmanism/Hinduism and the caste system.

Benchmark 2.8: The student understands similarities and differences among early civilizations. (WHI.3)

2.8 Performance Indicators
Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Analyze the connections between the spread of agriculture and the acceleration of world population.
   
   
2. Compare and contrast the early river valley civilizations in terms of geography, development of social patterns, slavery, political patterns, economic patterns, religious traditions, writing, and other achievements.
   
   
3. Identify the trade networks that connected early civilizations.

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Legacies

• New ideas, products, technologies and institutions spread from one region to another, establishing lasting patterns of trade and commerce.
  
  
• Early civilizations developed which were characterized by central authority, social hierarchies, belief systems, and institutions of coerced labor, including slavery. These early civilizations represented a significant turning point in human history.
  
  
• Two major world religions, Hinduism and Judaism, developed during this era.
  
  
• Writing systems developed and became critical for commerce, political bureaucracies, and the preservation of religious beliefs.
  
  
• Technological innovations led to the building of temples, pyramids, ziggurats, city designs, irrigation systems, and sewers.
  
  
• Early civilization made significant technological advances due to the use of copper, bronze, and iron.
  
  
• Pastoral nomads contributed to the quickening pace of exchange across Africa and Eurasia.
  
  
• The migrations of Indo-Europeans shaped the language and culture of later societies.

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