Ancient Civilizations
Inquiry Question: How would have life in the Indus Valley differed from life in ancient Mesopotamian?
Both the Indus Valley civilization and the Mesopotamians developed in river valleys. The Indus River flooded twice a year, and this made its land very fertile. John Green said it was the most fertile land in the world. The Indus Valley civilization likely had even more food surpluses than the Fertile Crescent.
Archaeologists have not found weapons or signs of violence on human remains in the Indus Valley. The Assyrians we know liked war, conquest, and developed weapons. All the Mesopotamians built temples and gave resources to the gods, and later to the Kings.
Resources went mainly to the people in the Indus Valley and the building of the cities to make them comfortable. They had well-built cites, with sewage systems and probably less social stratification. The Indus Valley civilization was more peaceful, comfortable for every day people than Mesopotamia, and they likely expanded through the sharing of their building technology and not war.
Inquiry Question: How did the Nile contribute the Ancient Egypt?
The Nile River Basin lent itself to the development of Egyptian Civilization, by separating ancient Egypt into the red and black lands, each contributing to the richness and security of the civilization in different ways.
The Black Land was along the Nile River. The Nile was dependable and calm. It gave fish, fowl, and transportation. It allowed for basin irrigation, and they didn't need to build many dykes or canals. When the Nile flooded, it deposited fertile silt, which allowed Egypt to grow and store food surpluses. Food surpluses allowed for specialization of labour and increased collective learning.
The red land was hot and dry desert. The desert supplied building materials for cites and pyramids and gold and semi-precious gems for trade and the store of wealth. The desert gave them protection to the east and the west from invading armies.