Ancient Civilizations Project
Modes of Transportation: Chariots and Horse back riding
When the horse was first introduced, it was used for milking and eating. Once it was introduced to other civilizations, the horse helped accelerate communication, revolutionized warfare, and made long distance trade possible.
The domestication of the horse is said to be as early as 4000 B.C.E. somewhere among the nomadic people in the Asian Steppes. Domesticated horses quickly diffused throughout the ancient world, reaching Mesopotamia by 2000 B.C.E. and Egypt by 1500 B.C.E..
Once the horse was introduced in Mesopotamia, the horse-drawn chariot, an open, light-weight cart pulled by two horses, emerged. This chariot revolutionized warfare. The horse-drawn chariot enabled the Hyksos to defeat the Egyptians in the 16th century B.C.E.. Once the Egyptians adopted the chariot, they were enabled to produce much larger kingdoms. One famous Egyptian battle, the Kadesh, involved the Egyptians using 50 chariots against the Hitties, who were also using a large number of chariots. By 1200 B.C.E. the chariot had reached China. The chariot was used all over the ancient world by civilizations such as the Babylonians, Assyrians, and the Greeks.
Once horse back riding emerged in the Steppes, it slowly replaced the need for chariots. One of the first civilizations to invade another culture on horse back were the Scynthians, who invaded the Assyrians. Horse back riding didn't emerge until later because earlier breeds of horses were said to be too weak to carry a man. Once these new breeds of horses evolved, most civilizations flourished, military power increased, and trade expanded.
The domestication of the horse is said to be as early as 4000 B.C.E. somewhere among the nomadic people in the Asian Steppes. Domesticated horses quickly diffused throughout the ancient world, reaching Mesopotamia by 2000 B.C.E. and Egypt by 1500 B.C.E..
Once the horse was introduced in Mesopotamia, the horse-drawn chariot, an open, light-weight cart pulled by two horses, emerged. This chariot revolutionized warfare. The horse-drawn chariot enabled the Hyksos to defeat the Egyptians in the 16th century B.C.E.. Once the Egyptians adopted the chariot, they were enabled to produce much larger kingdoms. One famous Egyptian battle, the Kadesh, involved the Egyptians using 50 chariots against the Hitties, who were also using a large number of chariots. By 1200 B.C.E. the chariot had reached China. The chariot was used all over the ancient world by civilizations such as the Babylonians, Assyrians, and the Greeks.
Once horse back riding emerged in the Steppes, it slowly replaced the need for chariots. One of the first civilizations to invade another culture on horse back were the Scynthians, who invaded the Assyrians. Horse back riding didn't emerge until later because earlier breeds of horses were said to be too weak to carry a man. Once these new breeds of horses evolved, most civilizations flourished, military power increased, and trade expanded.
Sewage and Water Systems
Sewage systems and water ways have been found through out many ancient civilizations but the most well-known is the Indus Valley civilizations. These civilizations managed to give their people public wells, running water, flushing toilets, a sewage system to dispose of the waste, and even baths.
One of the best sewage systems can be found in Mohenjo-Daro, an Indus-River civilization which came to be around 2600 B.C.E.. Most houses contained bathrooms with two types of toilets: a pit toilet or a flushing toilet. These bathrooms had clay pipes that connected to a complex set of pipes and drains that ran through the city. The waste was dumped into the nearby Indus river or a cesspool. Fresh water ran through a separate set of pipes. Both the rich and the poor could receive these benefits. Deep wells were made for storing water which the public had access to. Mohenjo-Daro also had a great bath. This bath also had access to clean water, so the dirty water was drained away and replaced with clean water.
Mohenjo-Daro wasn't the only city with these complex sewage and water systems. The city of Lothal and Harappa also contained similar features of which Mohenjo-Daro has. Rome started to develop their sewer system around 830 B.C.E. as well. Water ways and sewage systems have been a part of the ancients' way of living. Their complex sewer systems will later help other civilizations develop sewage systems and water ways for their people as well.
One of the best sewage systems can be found in Mohenjo-Daro, an Indus-River civilization which came to be around 2600 B.C.E.. Most houses contained bathrooms with two types of toilets: a pit toilet or a flushing toilet. These bathrooms had clay pipes that connected to a complex set of pipes and drains that ran through the city. The waste was dumped into the nearby Indus river or a cesspool. Fresh water ran through a separate set of pipes. Both the rich and the poor could receive these benefits. Deep wells were made for storing water which the public had access to. Mohenjo-Daro also had a great bath. This bath also had access to clean water, so the dirty water was drained away and replaced with clean water.
Mohenjo-Daro wasn't the only city with these complex sewage and water systems. The city of Lothal and Harappa also contained similar features of which Mohenjo-Daro has. Rome started to develop their sewer system around 830 B.C.E. as well. Water ways and sewage systems have been a part of the ancients' way of living. Their complex sewer systems will later help other civilizations develop sewage systems and water ways for their people as well.
Sculptures
Sculptures in the ancient world differed in styles, but sculptures were found through out the ancient world.
Most sculptures were made out of clay, stone, limestone, or wood, but some civilizations, like the Assyrians, made some sculptures out of bronze. Egypt's sculptures are one of the most interesting. Sculptures were usually made for the pharaoh, and associated with tombs. The Egyptians had access to limestone and sandstone for their sculptures, but to make grand sculptures like their great Sphinx, they had many materials imported to them. In India, sculptures of gods and goddesses were made, mainly because of the strong Hinduism religion. The Chinese Terracotta Army is another clear example of sculptures being made for emperors and high officials. The Terracotta Army was sculpted by many sculptomrs who were forced to make them under the rule of Emperor Qin. All these sculptures are made and carved in great detail, and are made to be preserved over the years. Even in Mesopotamia, small sculptures of mystical creatures or bearded people were made. The people were bearded to show the power they possessed.
Ancient sculptures all had one thing in common. They were made for higher officials and usually in great detail. Every civilization seemed to try and develop a sculpting style, and some were successful, such as the Chinese and Egyptians, and others needed to borrow from other civilizations, such as
India adopting Assyrians style of religious sculpting.
Most sculptures were made out of clay, stone, limestone, or wood, but some civilizations, like the Assyrians, made some sculptures out of bronze. Egypt's sculptures are one of the most interesting. Sculptures were usually made for the pharaoh, and associated with tombs. The Egyptians had access to limestone and sandstone for their sculptures, but to make grand sculptures like their great Sphinx, they had many materials imported to them. In India, sculptures of gods and goddesses were made, mainly because of the strong Hinduism religion. The Chinese Terracotta Army is another clear example of sculptures being made for emperors and high officials. The Terracotta Army was sculpted by many sculptomrs who were forced to make them under the rule of Emperor Qin. All these sculptures are made and carved in great detail, and are made to be preserved over the years. Even in Mesopotamia, small sculptures of mystical creatures or bearded people were made. The people were bearded to show the power they possessed.
Ancient sculptures all had one thing in common. They were made for higher officials and usually in great detail. Every civilization seemed to try and develop a sculpting style, and some were successful, such as the Chinese and Egyptians, and others needed to borrow from other civilizations, such as
India adopting Assyrians style of religious sculpting.
Elaborate Weaving
Weaving linen, silk, and spinning thread were all important for ancient civilizations. While this work was done by women, it provided clothing for everyone and helped the economy of the civilizations' due trading these textiles.
Weaving can be found in practically every civilization. Mesopotamia and Babylon were big in producing textiles from weaving and spinning. Due to their geographic location, both civilizations did a good amount of trading of their textiles. Egypt also participated in this trade too. Egyptian women would weave linen and spin thread as a part of the house hold economy. They are known to have mastered weaving with flax rather than cotton or wool, and the Egyptians could have produced the "finest cloth there is" by 2100 B.C.E.. They also included geometric designs in their textiles. In China, however, by 2700 B.C.E. they discovered how useful a silkworm thread could be. They developed elaborate methods of weaving silk thread and they started to raise silk worms. They incorporated elaborate designs and geometric patterns in the textiles they produced, which became common in China. They had mastered the art of weaving.
No matter where in the world a civilization is, they can weave with cotton, silk, wool, and even flax. Weaving was important to both the culture and the economy.
Weaving can be found in practically every civilization. Mesopotamia and Babylon were big in producing textiles from weaving and spinning. Due to their geographic location, both civilizations did a good amount of trading of their textiles. Egypt also participated in this trade too. Egyptian women would weave linen and spin thread as a part of the house hold economy. They are known to have mastered weaving with flax rather than cotton or wool, and the Egyptians could have produced the "finest cloth there is" by 2100 B.C.E.. They also included geometric designs in their textiles. In China, however, by 2700 B.C.E. they discovered how useful a silkworm thread could be. They developed elaborate methods of weaving silk thread and they started to raise silk worms. They incorporated elaborate designs and geometric patterns in the textiles they produced, which became common in China. They had mastered the art of weaving.
No matter where in the world a civilization is, they can weave with cotton, silk, wool, and even flax. Weaving was important to both the culture and the economy.
Works Cited
http://www.ancient.eu.com/chariot/
http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?category=Transportation
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/07/1141272/-Ancient-Asia-The-Domesticated-Horse
http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/IndiaUnit/UnlockingSecretsMohenjoDaro.html
http://www.sewerhistory.org/grfx/wh_region/indus1.htm
http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/ancient-art/egyptian-sculpture.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/artcrafts/tp/weaving.htm
http://mesopotamiadiv1.wikispaces.com/Mesopotamian+Women
http://www.chinese-arts-crafts.com/Chinese-Silk-Weaving-p_s-8.html