What are the most important events related to the development of civilization? (Chapter 1 & 2 Test)

The First Urban City-States (Mesopotamia)

3000 BCE

The first settlements that were in between “towns” and real “cities” existed around 4000 BCE. However, a truly urban society in Mesopotamia was in place closer 3000 BCE. Cities were able to be developed because of the discovery of agriculture. Since they discovered agriculture, they no longer had to travel to supply their food.

Cuneiform (Mesopotamia)

3000 BCE

The Mesopotamians invented the first systems of writing. It was first developed in order to keep track of tax records. Their style of writing is called cuneiform. It started out as a pictographic system. Each word or idea was represented by a symbol, but it eventually changed to include both pictographs and syllabic symbols.

Old Kingdom in Egypt

2680 BCE

The Old Kingdom united Egypt under a single ruling house. It also developed systems of record-keeping, and formed an all-important caste of scribes, and the royal bureaucrats who mastered hieroglyphic writing. The Old Kingdom represented a long, unbroken line of kings that presided over the first full flowering of Egyptian culture, architecture, and prosperity. The pyramids of Egypt were all built during the Old Kingdom.

Sargon The Great (Mesopotamia)

2340 BCE

When the king Sargon the Great ruled, it was the first time that a single military leader managed to conquer and unite many of the Mesopotamian cities. He conquered almost all of the major Mesopotamian cities and forged the world's first true empire. Sargon united the regions of Akaad and Sumer in the process of conquering.

Ur III Dynasty (Mesopotamia)

2112 BCE

One major Mesopotamian empire was the “Ur III” dynasty. named after the city-state of Ur which served as its capital. Much like Sargon had, the king Ur-Nammu conquered and united most of the city-states of Mesopotamia. They were the most effective to-date in governing all of the different city-states. This is because of a system of bureaucracy that they used.

Hebrews leave Mesopotamia

1900 BCE

The first patriarch, male clan leader, of the Hebrews was Abraham. He led the Hebrews away from Mesopotamia. Once they left they became wandering herders.

Middle Kingdom of Egypt

1720 BCE

The Middle Kingdom came after the Old Kingdom and was the next great Egyptian kingdom of the ancient world. The Middle Kingdom rulers still claimed to be at least partly divine, but they also emphasized their humanity.

New Kingdom in Egypt

1550 BCE

The New Kingdom is the most powerful to date and was also when the Egyptian kings started calling themselves pharaohs, which means “great house,” lord over all things. By using new bronze military technology, the New Kingdom was, at times, able to expand Egyptian control all the way into Mesopotamia. The adoption of a composite bow was much more powerful than a wooden one. They greatly enhanced the power of the Egyptian military.

The Bronze Age

1100 BCE

The Bronze Age was a period in which long-distance trade networks and diplomatic exchanges between states became permanent aspects of political, economic, and cultural life in the eastern Mediterranean region. It was the period during which civilization itself spread and prospered across the area. The invention of Bronze was a huge factor that impacted militarism the most. (Cant use pictures on time span option, so marked as 1100)

The Iron Age

550 BCE

Iron is a useful metal by itself without the need of alloys. some innovative smiths figured out that it was possible through forging to create iron implements that were hard and durable. The invention of the Phoenician alphabet and advancements made in religion were made during this period. (Not able to use pictures fro time spand, so marked as 550)