Foundations of Civlization

I. From Villages to CitiesA. Advances in Farming1. Irrigation systems: network of

canals or ditches that links fields of crops to nearby streams OR to storage basinsEnabled people to farm more landEnabled people to farm in drier

conditions

2. Surpluses: could support larger populations NOT everyone had to farm

(specialization)Surplus = barter opportunities

B. Changing Economies

1. Fewer farmers needed

2. Division of Labor: each worker specializes in a particular task/ joba. weaversb. pottersc. religious leaders

C. Characteristics of Cities1. started as villages

2. populations rose

3. diversity increasedvillages consisted of a few extended

familiesearly cities usu. Included many unrelated

people.

4. formal organizationHad a defined center Palaces, Gov’t bldgs., Temples, Monuments,

Marketplace

5. had defined boundaries

6. centers of trade

II. The First Civilizations: Shared Characteristics

A. Developed CitiesCities

Served as political, economic, and cultural centers for surrounding areas

Examples

Ur and Uruk near the Tigris and Euphrates

Memphis on the Nile

Mohenjo Daro on the Indus

Anyang near the Huang He

B. Organized Gov’t.Probably formed to meet the needs of planning,

decision making, of such large projects – irrigation

CONTROL!!!!Created lawsEstablished systems of justicesSupervised food production & bldg practicesGathered taxesOrganized defensePower base differedReligious figures (priests) Influential eldersWarriorsFamilies

C. Formalized Religion

Ceremonies & rituals to gain gods’ favor

Occupational: priests became powerful (divine influence)

Gov’t & religious institutions were closely related

D. Specialization of labor

Tax collectors

Engineers

Soldiers

Famers

Potters

Weavers

Construction work: roads, temples, palaces

Artisans: skilled craftspeople (basketry, carpentry, metalwork, pottery)

Merchants

E. Social Classes

Based on occupation, wealth, and influence

Highest ranking Rulers Priests Nobles

***followed by artisans & merchants ***then farmers & unskilled workers ***slaves

F. Record Keeping & Writing

Need for permanent records Gov’t to track tax payments Traders to track payment of goods

Sumerians used clay tokens

Incas used quipo

*Systems of writing developed c. 5000 yrs ago

Calendar creation: to plan planting & harvesting AND adapt to flooding

G. The Arts

Statues

Paintings

Adorned city squares, public buildings, and royal tombs

How many shared characteristics are there in the earliest civilizations? & what are they?

SEVEN “prerequisites”

Cities

Gov’t

Religion

Specialization of Labor

Social Classes

Record keeping AND writing

Arts

Lights, camera, action!

dvd tomorrow