Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the importance of the ancient Asian Civilizations to modern society.
• Explain the achievement of Sumerian and Persian civilization.
• Tell What do you know about ancient Asia Civilization?

Brainstorming Questions

• Do you know about Persia and India?
• What do you think about ancient Sumerian civilization?

key terms

2.2.1 Mesopotamia

Geography and Early Civilization

• Location: Mesopotamia encompasses parts of modern-day eastern Syria, southern Turkey, and most of Iraq.
• Significance: Home to the Sumerian civilization, recognized as the earliest great river valley civilization, situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Achievements

• Urban Development: The Sumerians built the first cities in history, utilizing sun-dried mud bricks.
• Architecture: They constructed large stepped temples known as Ziggurats.

• Agriculture: The fertile soil and innovations in flood control and irrigation led to significant agricultural production.
• Political Structure: Sumerian kings ruled with divine authority, representing their city’s principal deity.

Culture and Innovations

• Religion: The Sumerians were polytheistic, worshipping multiple gods.
• Technological Advances:
  • Invention of the plough and potter’s wheel.
  • Possible early use of bronze.
• Writing: Development of cuneiform around 3200 BC, a complex system of ideographs rather than an alphabet.
• Intellectual Contributions: Advances in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and metallurgy.

2.2.2 Persia

Geography and Empire

• Location: Included parts of present-day Iran and Afghanistan, referred to as the “Land of Aryans” (the basis for the name Iran).
• Empire Formation: Founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BC, the Persian Empire became the largest in the ancient world.

Achievements

• Territorial Extent: The empire spanned from the Balkans in the west to the Indus Valley in the east, including parts of North Africa.
• Governance and Infrastructure:
  • Significant contributions to government and law.
  • Development of extensive road networks and the first postal service “phony express”.

Religion and Culture

• Zoroastrianism: Founded by the prophet Zoroaster, this was the primary religion of the Persian Empire.

2.2.3 India

Early Civilization

• Location: The first Indian civilization arose in the Indus Valley (modern-day Pakistan and western India) around 2500 BC.
• Peak Period: Flourished until about 1500 BC.

Achievements

• Infrastructure: Advanced systems for counting, measuring, and irrigation, including canals and ditches for agriculture.
• Trade: Engaged in trade with neighboring civilizations like Mesopotamia.

Cultural Developments

• Craftsmanship: Artisans created tools, mirrors, pots, and crafted jewelry from copper, bronze, and gold.
• Social Structure: Society was hierarchically organized into various social classes, a system dating back 3,000 years.

Religious Traditions

• Hinduism: Developed from early Indo-Aryan beliefs.
• Buddhism: Emerged as a reform movement within Hinduism, spreading throughout Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.

2.2.4 China

Early Civilization

• Location: Ancient Chinese civilization began in the Yellow River region around the third millennium BC.
• Expansion: Over time, it extended into central and southern China, reaching its height around 3000 BC.

Dynastic Developments

• Shang Dynasty (c. 1700-1122 BC): Known for creating bronze vessels, war chariots, and an early writing system.
• Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 BC): Overthrew the Shang, fostering literary classics and philosophical developments.

Philosophical Contributions

• Confucius (551-479 BC): Influential philosopher who founded Confucianism, emphasizing a well-ordered society with distinct social roles.

• Infrastructure: Construction of the Great Wall of China, extending approximately 7,400 kilometers to protect against invasions.

Writing System

• Logographic Writing: The Chinese developed a pictorial writing system, where symbols represented words, allowing for complex written communication.