Chapter 2 Study Guide

Key Civilizations

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Key Innovations

• Sumer: social hierarchy; cuneiform writing; advances in astronomy and mathematics
  
• Egypt: bureaucracy; pyramids; peace treaty; mummification; social hierarchy; hieroglyphic, hieratic, and demotic writing; papyrus; advances in medicine, astronomy, and mathematics; 365-day calendar
  
• Babylon: legal code; advances in astronomy and mathematics
  
• Hittites: iron working
  
• Assyrians: legal regulation of royal household; libraries
  
• Israel: monotheistic religion, Judaism
  
• Persians: government organized into provinces with governors; roads; common set of weights and measures; use of coins and money economy; new religion of Zoroaster
  
• Phoenicians: Tyrian purple dye; alphabet
  

Key Causes of Rise and Fall of Civilization

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The Rise of Civilization

For: Interactive timeline
Web Code: nap-0261

Concept Connector

Cumulative Review

Record the answers to the questions below on your Concept Connector worksheets. In addition, record information from this chapter about the following concepts:

• Trade: Phoenician sea traders
  
• Geography’s Impact: Tigris and Euphrates rivers
  

1. Advances in Technology
   
   
   During prehistory, technological advances such as the development of stone tools and of domestication and farming allowed hominids and early humans to radically expand the possibilities for their lives. How do those advances compare in impact to technological advances that the peoples of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt made? Think about advances in the following:
   
   • military technology
     
   • writing
     
   • the sciences
     
   
   
2. Belief Systems
   
   
   People in many early civilizations established belief systems that became an important force in shaping their societies. Compare the influence of religion on ancient Egyptian and ancient Israelite society. Think about the effects of religion on these aspects of society:
   
   • government and law
     
   • daily life
     
   • standards for behavior
     
   • the sciences
     
   • art
     
   
   
3. Empire
   
   
   To maintain control over a vast empire, it was vital that a ruler be well-respected. Based on the empires of the ancient Middle East and Egypt, what characteristics do you think made the leaders you have read about most successful? Think about the following:
   
   • spiritual leadership
     
   • establishment of laws and punishments for crimes
     
   • military power
     
   • treatment of subjects
     
   
   

Connections to Today

1. Economic Systems: Money in the World Today
   
   
   The establishment of a money economy by the Persians allowed the many peoples living within the vast empire to exchange goods more easily because they shared a common currency. Today, many countries have their own unique coins and bills, so all people within each country use the same money. To sell goods or services in another country, however, people must exchange their own money for the equivalent amount of the other country’s money. Do you think there should be one common world currency? Explain your answer.
   
   
   
2. People and the Environment: A Dam on the Nile
   
   
   Like their ancient ancestors, modern Egyptians rely on the Nile. Nearly all Egyptians live on the 4 percent of land closest to the Nile’s shores. Since 1970, when Egypt completed construction of the Aswan High Dam across the Nile, people have had year-round access to water for farming and drinking. The dam also generates half the country’s electricity. However, it prevents the Nile’s rich silt from reaching farmland downstream. Compare the ways in which the Nile has served as a challenge and a resource in ancient times and today.