Ap World History Comparisons/Differences Study Guide
Comparisons
8000 BCE- 2000 BCE:
River Valley Civilizations:
Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and India were all river valley civilizations, meaning they arose in the valleys of major rivers. Mesopotamia arose on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; china on the Yellow river; Egypt on the Nile river; and India on the Indus river. Irrigation systems were built to control water for farming. All four civilizations were governed by kings who derived their authority form the gods(either they claimed to be a god themselves or they claimed to by appointed by the gods). All were polytheistic and their gods were usually tied to nature. All had hieroglyphic writing systems. The Indus valley civilizations writing system has yet to be deciphered so researchers know little about the civilization. All were a patriarchal society were the eldest male in the extended family had the greatest authority. They all also developed metallurgical skills and made important cultural achievements. In Mesopotamia, the wheel, the sundial, number system based on 60, construction, irrigation systems, mathematics and astronomy, and a writing system; in China, paper, wheelbarrow, watermills, construction, writing system, and irrigation systems. In India, construction, writing system, and irrigation system; in Egypt, writing system, irrigation system, calendar based on 365 days, construction, and a form of papyrus.
Differences:
Women in Egypt were treated better then women in Mesopotamia, India ,or China. Women in Mesopotamia, for example, could be beaten(as long as the stick was smaller than the husbands thumb) or drowned by their husbands, but women in Egypt divorce, own/inherit property, and participate in business ventures with their husbands.
Roman, Han, and Gupta India:
All three empires were built on conquest, and they begun as small states and eventually became large, culturally diverse empires. All three were patriarchal societies. The status of women varied in these
8000 BCE- 2000 BCE:
River Valley Civilizations:
Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and India were all river valley civilizations, meaning they arose in the valleys of major rivers. Mesopotamia arose on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; china on the Yellow river; Egypt on the Nile river; and India on the Indus river. Irrigation systems were built to control water for farming. All four civilizations were governed by kings who derived their authority form the gods(either they claimed to be a god themselves or they claimed to by appointed by the gods). All were polytheistic and their gods were usually tied to nature. All had hieroglyphic writing systems. The Indus valley civilizations writing system has yet to be deciphered so researchers know little about the civilization. All were a patriarchal society were the eldest male in the extended family had the greatest authority. They all also developed metallurgical skills and made important cultural achievements. In Mesopotamia, the wheel, the sundial, number system based on 60, construction, irrigation systems, mathematics and astronomy, and a writing system; in China, paper, wheelbarrow, watermills, construction, writing system, and irrigation systems. In India, construction, writing system, and irrigation system; in Egypt, writing system, irrigation system, calendar based on 365 days, construction, and a form of papyrus.
Differences:
Women in Egypt were treated better then women in Mesopotamia, India ,or China. Women in Mesopotamia, for example, could be beaten(as long as the stick was smaller than the husbands thumb) or drowned by their husbands, but women in Egypt divorce, own/inherit property, and participate in business ventures with their husbands.
Roman, Han, and Gupta India:
All three empires were built on conquest, and they begun as small states and eventually became large, culturally diverse empires. All three were patriarchal societies. The status of women varied in these