World History Pre-AP – Duez NAME________________________________ PD:

Chapter 2: Western Asia and Egypt, 3500–500 B.C. Time: 2 Weeks

Chapter 2 describes the rise of civilization in a region stretching from the Persian Gulf to Egypt. The early civilizations of this region emerged in the
river valleys of the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile Rivers. Farming was the economic base for the growth of civilization.
Big Ideas: 1. What enabled civilization to begin and to thrive?
2. Can you compare our world today with a civilization from the past, in what ways are we similar and different?
3. Can you compare two of the early civilizations in terms of their political, economic, religious, social,
intellectual, and artistic elements?
Student-Friendly Learning Target Statements
• Mesopotamia—the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—was the birthplace of several of the earliest
Section 1 known civilizations. Rainfall was sparse and unpredictable, but occasional floods had deposited layers of fertile silt.
Civilization • Irrigation and drainage techniques made regular farming possible; food supplies prompted social and economic
Begins in changes that led to the emergence of civilization.
Mesopotamia Ziggurat Hammurabi City-states

empire Hammurabi patriarchal

cuneiform polytheistic monotheistic
• As early as 3000 B.C., Sumerians engaged in wide-spread trade and built walled cities that had economic and political
control over the surrounding countryside. Like other Mesopotamians, Sumerians believed gods and goddesses
controlled the universe and owned the cities, which were administered by priests and priestesses. Eventually power
passed to kings.
Epic of Gilgamesh Sumerians dynasty
pharaoh bureaucracy vizier
Section 2 • Egyptian civilization shared many features with early Mesopotamian civilization. It grew out of the farming economy
Egyptian along a major river, the Nile.
• Historians describe three major periods in early Egyptian civilization: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the
Civilization:
New Kingdom.
"The Gift of the Giza Hatshepsut Tutankhamen
Nile"
• Egyptians believed that their kings, often called pharaohs, ruled by divine right. They created an extensive government
bureaucracy and built the pyramids as tombs for mummified pharaohs. Art, science, and a form of writing called
hieroglyphics also flourished in Egypt.
Ramses II Cleopatra VII hieroglyphics
Nile River hieratic script

Section 3 New Pastoral Nomads Indo-Europeans Phoenicians

Centers of Israelites King Solomon Isaiah
Civilization • Around 1200 B.C., several smaller groups, including the Phoenicians and the Israelites, established small kingdoms
and city-states.
• The Phoenicians improved their ships and built an extensive trading empire and colonies. They invented an alphabet
that was passed on to the Greeks.

Section 4 The • With the help of a large army with iron weapons, the Assyrians established a new empire by 700 B.C. They built an
Rise of New effective system of communication and one of the world's first libraries.
• After the collapse of the Assyrian Empire, the Persian Empire became the leading power in western Asia.
Empires
Assyrians Nebuchadnezzar Persians
Darius satrapies monarchy

Homework Quiz is on Friday 9/18 Test on Chp 2 is

Questions Study the bold words above. They can Tuesday 9/22
(due on all be found in the chapter.
Wed/Thu
9/16 & 9/17) "Ancient Civilizations Posters"
RC = Reading Check We will be working on an in class project in groups as a daily grade.
Question 5. RC p. 46 This project will help introduce each of the ancient civilizations to
6. RC p. 52 you before we begin the chapter.
1. RC p. 38 7. Page 60 # 4
2. RC p. 40 8. RC p. 62
3. RC p. 42 9. RC p. 64
4. RC p. 43 10. Page 64 #4