Chapter 2: Early Middle Eastern and Northeast African Civilizations

Why were the Tigris and Euphrates rivers significant for ancient Mesopotamians?
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Terms in this set (56)
Why were the Tigris and Euphrates rivers significant for ancient Mesopotamians?
Both the everyday needs for water and agricultural production as well as trade
What were the characteristics of civilizations found in ancient Mesopotamia?
Temple structures (Ziggurats), local rulers, class structures, skilled workers, and a writing system
What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell scholars about Mesopotamian values, views of the environment, and conceptions of the afterlife?
Values: loyalty and humility; Environment: violent and hostile, including a flood myth; Afterlife: gloomy and miserable for all
How did the rulers of ancient Mesopotamian empires attempt to bring together and control the people within their realms?
Administrative and military techniques
Describe the legacies of the civilization in ancient Mesopotamia.
Religion, social stratification, labor specialization, and one of the first written scripts
What are the central beliefs of Judaism evident in the early written tradition?
Abraham was the first Jew and he made a covenant with God; the Twelve Tribes of Israel; Moses led the flight from Egypt called Exodus; and the Ten Commandments
How did the United Kingdom of Israel develop and who were its key leaders?
King Saul started to unify; King David (who defeated Goliath) was a warrior-king who defeated internal and external enemies to unite Israel; and King Solomon ruled the peaceful realm as a wise king.
How have the Israelites and their traditions been influential?
Led to widespread monotheism and based much of their religion on ethics - such as everyone, even the king, had to obey the law
How did the Nile River and the region's climate and geography influence the development of Egyptian civilization?
The river flows south to north while the winds blow north to south, facilitating trade and contact between Upper and Lower Egypt; and the flood plain of the Nile is narrow, leading to high population densities close to the river because of the desiccation of the surrounding areas
Which characteristics of civilizations were seen in Ancient Egypt?
Social differentiation, labor specialization, and a centralized governmental power