Western Civilization

(Sean Pound) #1
The peoples of Southwest Asia and Egypt laid the foundations
of Western civilization. They developed cities and struggled with
the problems of organized states as they moved from individual
communities to larger territorial units and eventually to empires.
They invented writing to keep records and created literature.
They constructed monumental buildings to please their gods,
give witness to their power, and preserve their culture. They
developed new political, military, social, and religious structures
to deal with the basic problems of human existence and organiza-
tion. These first civilizations left detailed records that allow us to

view how they grappled with
human relationships, the nature
of the universe, and the role of
divine forces in that cosmos.
Although later people would pro-
vide different answers from those
of the Mesopotamians and Egyp-
tians, it was they who first posed
the questions, gave answers, and
wrote them down.

CHAPTER TIMELINE


CHAPTER REVIEW


Upon Reflection


Q What achievements did early humans make during
the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages, and how did
those achievements eventually make possible the
emergence of civilization?
Q What roles did geography, environmental
conditions, religion, politics, economics, and

women and families play in the civilizations of
Southwest Asia and Egypt?
Q What do you think Western civilization has derived
from the civilizations of the ancient Near East?

3000 B.C.E. 2500 B.C.E. 2000 B.C.E. 1500 B.C.E. 1000 B.C.E.

Akhenaten’s religious
upheaval
Great Pyramid Egypt—Middle Kingdom

Emergence of Egyptian civilization Egypt—Old Kingdom

Beginning of cuneiform

Code of Hammurabi
Babylonian kingdom

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Indus valley civilization
India

Shang dynasty

China

Central Asian civilization

Central Asia

Caral, Supe River valley of Peru

South America

Chapter Summary • 25


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