Development of Early Civilizations (aka “cradles”) Mesopotamia, Nile, Yellow, and Indus (& Olmec)

Development of Early Development of Early Civilizations (aka “cradles”)Civilizations (aka “cradles”)

Mesopotamia, Nile, Yellow, Mesopotamia, Nile, Yellow, and Indus (& Olmec)and Indus (& Olmec)

What are characteristics of a What are characteristics of a civilization?civilization?

A form of written languageA form of written language Social stability with their organizationSocial stability with their organization Access to resources – natural/ Access to resources – natural/

manmademanmade Usually has a form of religionUsually has a form of religion Arts and innovation- intellectual Arts and innovation- intellectual

stimulatestimulate

Civilization Characteristics (cont’d)Civilization Characteristics (cont’d)

Distinction between classes and Distinction between classes and gendersgenders

Distinction between “civilized” and Distinction between “civilized” and “uncivilized”“uncivilized”

Greater impact on the environmentGreater impact on the environment Legal systemsLegal systems

When did they come about?When did they come about?

Many characteristics of civilizations Many characteristics of civilizations by 6,000 or 5,000 BCEby 6,000 or 5,000 BCE

Origins of civilization around 3,500 Origins of civilization around 3,500 BCE until about 1,000 BCEBCE until about 1,000 BCE

Where did they occur?Where did they occur?

In river valleysIn river valleys Mesopotamia, Nile, Indus, Yellow, (& Mesopotamia, Nile, Indus, Yellow, (&

Olmec)Olmec) Covered only a tiny portionCovered only a tiny portion

Was development of civilization a Was development of civilization a good thing?good thing?

Not alwaysNot always Many non-civilized societies have Many non-civilized societies have

more regulationsmore regulations Nomadic peoples contributed greatly Nomadic peoples contributed greatly

to world historyto world history

What does civilization mean and is What does civilization mean and is it dependent on anything?it dependent on anything?

Derived from Derived from civitascivitas meaning city meaning city Most civilizations depend on the Most civilizations depend on the

existence of significant cities….why?existence of significant cities….why?

Why settle in the river valley?Why settle in the river valley?

Lacks adequate rainfall, natural Lacks adequate rainfall, natural resources, constant threat of resources, constant threat of droughtsdroughts

Fertile soilFertile soil Tremendous results with irrigationTremendous results with irrigation

Why were they able to come Why were they able to come about?about?

Built on changes in technologyBuilt on changes in technology AgricultureAgriculture New civilizations continued to be New civilizations continued to be

founded in northern Europe, as late founded in northern Europe, as late as 1500 BCEas 1500 BCE

Use of metalsUse of metals

First metal used- goldFirst metal used- gold Next, copperNext, copper Humans learn to alloy copper with Humans learn to alloy copper with

different metalsdifferent metals Next major step is ironNext major step is iron

What is so important about What is so important about irrigation?irrigation?

Makes civilization workMakes civilization work Increase in food = increase in Increase in food = increase in

populationpopulation

Were all agricultural societies Were all agricultural societies stationary?stationary?

No- some used idea of slash and burn No- some used idea of slash and burn agricultureagriculture

Herding peoples moved in tribal Herding peoples moved in tribal bandsbands

Was new land always available Was new land always available nearby? Were there advantages to nearby? Were there advantages to

staying put?staying put?

No, so most agricultural people didn’t No, so most agricultural people didn’t movemove

Yes, some advantagesYes, some advantages Irrigation key incentive to stabilityIrrigation key incentive to stability

What are some commonalities What are some commonalities among early civilizations?among early civilizations?

CitiesCities WritingWriting Formal statesFormal states TradeTrade Mutual relationshipsMutual relationships

Development of WritingDevelopment of Writing

Starts with oral tradition Starts with oral tradition Almost all major alphabets in world Almost all major alphabets in world

derived from the writing forms derived from the writing forms pioneered in the river valleyspioneered in the river valleys

Cuneiform

Hieroglyphics

Writing cont’dWriting cont’d Most civilizations developed writingMost civilizations developed writing First form- cuneiform (writing based on First form- cuneiform (writing based on

wedge-like characters) in the Middle East wedge-like characters) in the Middle East ~3500 BCE~3500 BCE• http://http://www.upennmuseum.com/cuneiform.cgiwww.upennmuseum.com/cuneiform.cgi

Another form of writing was HieroglyphicsAnother form of writing was Hieroglyphics• http://www.quizland.com/hiero.htmhttp://www.quizland.com/hiero.htm

Societies that used writing could organize Societies that used writing could organize more elaborate political structuresmore elaborate political structures

Writing cont’dWriting cont’d

Could tax more efficiently and make Could tax more efficiently and make contracts and treatiescontracts and treaties

Generate a more explicit intellectual Generate a more explicit intellectual climateclimate

Firmer Class or Caste DivisionsFirmer Class or Caste Divisions

Promotes greater separation Promotes greater separation Greater inequality between men and Greater inequality between men and

womenwomen• More fully patriarchal structures More fully patriarchal structures

emergedemerged

Did development of civilizations continue the Did development of civilizations continue the process of technological change and process of technological change and

political organization?political organization? YesYes Civilizations generated the largest Civilizations generated the largest

populations populations Most elaborate artistic and Most elaborate artistic and

intellectual formsintellectual forms Civilization increased human impact Civilization increased human impact

on the environmenton the environment

Decline/ ConnectionsDecline/ Connections

Despite accomplishments, most in Despite accomplishments, most in decline by 1,000 BCEdecline by 1,000 BCE

Connections between the first Connections between the first civilization and subsequent forms in civilization and subsequent forms in several river valley civilizationsseveral river valley civilizations

ConclusionConclusion

After ~ 1,000 BCE development and After ~ 1,000 BCE development and spread of civilization beginspread of civilization begin

Many accomplishments had a lasting Many accomplishments had a lasting impactimpact

Conclusion cont’dConclusion cont’d• Others- invention of the wheel, taming Others- invention of the wheel, taming

of horses, the creation of usable of horses, the creation of usable alphabets, writing implements, the alphabets, writing implements, the production of key mathematical production of key mathematical concepts such as square roots, the concepts such as square roots, the development of well- organized development of well- organized monarchies and bureaucracies,monarchies and bureaucracies,

and the invention of functional and the invention of functional calendars and other divisions calendars and other divisions

of timeof time

Conclusion cont’dConclusion cont’d

One final result- a pattern of division One final result- a pattern of division among the world’s peoplesamong the world’s peoples• Small groups spread to almost every Small groups spread to almost every

corner of the worldcorner of the world• Rise of agriculture created new links and Rise of agriculture created new links and

trade soon entered the picturetrade soon entered the picture