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
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