The four River Valley Civilizations had writing systems to communicate; each used writing to communicate not only with their fellow neighbors, but with other civilizations. They each used writing for trade, and this kept all the four civilizations running.
The only difference between the writing systems was what they wrote it on and where they wrote it. First, India drew pictures (pictograms) and wrote it on seals for trade; they were so fund of trading that a seal appeared all the way in Mesopotamia’s; sadly, India’s form of writing has still not been deciphered today. Next, Egypt used many different styles of writing like, pictograms, hieroglyphics and Greek letters. Scholars used something called the Rosetta stone to decode their writing. Third, China used oracle bones as writing; but, unfortunately, literacy was limited only to the upper class. Last, Sumer used pictograms and cuneiform and wrote them on clay. Obviously, they each used writing, but they used it in different forms. …show more content…
Along with writing comes trade.
They each traded to import things that they needed to thrive. All four of the civilizations depended on others because of trade. The thing that they had in common was using writing to communicate to the other civilizations for what they
wanted.
Although, they may have all traded they did have different things that they imported and exported. First, Egypt traded with other places and their ships would come into their ports. They usually imported timber, and exported: ebony, juniper wood, ivory, glassware, ostrich eggs/feathers, cedar, linen, furniture, lapis lazuli, and grain. Second, Sumer imported, metal, copper, gold, wood, and stones, which they traded with grain that they produced. Sumer also traded with Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and India. Next, India used seals to stamp their wares and traded with civilizations that were very far away. Last, China traded things that they produced like jade and pottery items, but the most requested item was silk from the silkworm.
As you can see they may have had their differences, but they are very similar in the way of their systems. You can also see how each system needs one another to make the civilizations work; ex: without writing there would be less trade. They may have had different techniques that they use in the systems but they each had a common goal.