MESOPOTAMIA
Based on where you live, you had different economic systems. If you lived in the fertile region, you based your economy on agriculture. People grew things such as wheat, onions, barley, turnips, grapes, apples, and dates. Some herded cattle, sheep, and goats. Some who lived nearby the river would go fishing. Whereas, some infertile regions are able to create irrigation systems along the river banks to grow their crops. Other city-states relied on neighboring lands for survival. Most parts of the Mesopotamian civilizations were self-sufficient. Jobs such as craftsmen, potters, spinners, weavers, carpenters, and laborers were given to common class people. |
EGYPT
Ancient Egyptians relied mainly on trade to get goods and resources that they need. Because Egypt was surrounded by many large bodies of water making it easy to get crops, woods, metals, and other resources from surrounding countries was easy. Before official currency was created, people would exchange luxury items, such as small pieces of gold and silver, at markets. Goods such as grains, breads, and alcohols could also be exchanged at markets. The price of the items usually depended on the merchant and what they are willing to trade. |
CHINA
Since, the ancient China was isolated, it was hard for them to trade their products and crops to the west civilizations. However, China was civilized along the Yellow River where they had fertile soil for the crops. Some of the main crops were millet, water chestnuts, and lotus.Also, the Yellow River provided them salt for trading; it was during the Han Dynasty when they started mining for salt. Even though they are isolated, one of their main trading route was the Silk Road. Also, the Shang Dynasty was the first civilization to used cowrie shells for money in China; it eventually spread throughout the Asia, and Africa. |
INDUS RIVER
The Indus River Valley Civilization depended on crops they grew and animal husbandry. The main crops grown were wheat, rice, dates, melons, green vegetables, and cotton. Trading was also very important because the Indus civilization was located on a floodplain meaning there was few raw materials resources available nearby. |