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Development of Early Civilizations (aka “cradles”)

Development of Early Civilizations (aka “cradles”). Mesopotamia, Nile, Yellow, and Indus (& Olmec). What are characteristics of a civilization?. A form of written language Social stability with their organization Access to resources – natural/ manmade Usually has a form of religion

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Development of Early Civilizations (aka “cradles”)

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

  2. What are characteristics of a civilization? • A form of written language • Social stability with their organization • Access to resources – natural/ manmade • Usually has a form of religion • Arts and innovation- intellectual stimulate

  3. Civilization Characteristics (cont’d) • Distinction between classes and genders • Distinction between “civilized” and “uncivilized” • Greater impact on the environment • Legal systems

  4. When did they come about? • Many characteristics of civilizations by 6,000 or 5,000 BCE • Origins of civilization around 3,500 BCE until about 1,000 BCE

  5. Where did they occur? • In river valleys • Mesopotamia, Nile, Indus, Yellow, (& Olmec) • Covered only a tiny portion

  6. Was development of civilization a good thing? • Not always • Many non-civilized societies have more regulations • Nomadic peoples contributed greatly to world history

  7. What does civilization mean and is it dependent on anything? • Derived from civitas meaning city • Most civilizations depend on the existence of significant cities….why?

  8. Why settle in the river valley? • Lacks adequate rainfall, natural resources, constant threat of droughts • Fertile soil • Tremendous results with irrigation

  9. Why were they able to come about? • Built on changes in technology • Agriculture • New civilizations continued to be founded in northern Europe, as late as 1500 BCE

  10. Use of metals • First metal used- gold • Next, copper • Humans learn to alloy copper with different metals • Next major step is iron

  11. What is so important about irrigation? • Makes civilization work • Increase in food = increase in population

  12. Were all agricultural societies stationary? • No- some used idea of slash and burn agriculture • Herding peoples moved in tribal bands

  13. Was new land always available nearby? Were there advantages to staying put? • No, so most agricultural people didn’t move • Yes, some advantages • Irrigation key incentive to stability

  14. What are some commonalities among early civilizations? • Cities • Writing • Formal states • Trade • Mutual relationships

  15. Development of Writing • Starts with oral tradition • Almost all major alphabets in world derived from the writing forms pioneered in the river valleys

  16. Cuneiform

  17. Hieroglyphics

  18. Writing cont’d • Most civilizations developed writing • First form- cuneiform (writing based on wedge-like characters) in the Middle East ~3500 BCE • http://www.upennmuseum.com/cuneiform.cgi • Another form of writing was Hieroglyphics • http://www.quizland.com/hiero.htm • Societies that used writing could organize more elaborate political structures

  19. Writing cont’d • Could tax more efficiently and make contracts and treaties • Generate a more explicit intellectual climate

  20. Firmer Class or Caste Divisions • Promotes greater separation • Greater inequality between men and women • More fully patriarchal structures emerged

  21. Did development of civilizations continue the process of technological change and political organization? • Yes • Civilizations generated the largest populations • Most elaborate artistic and intellectual forms • Civilization increased human impact on the environment

  22. Decline/ Connections • Despite accomplishments, most in decline by 1,000 BCE • Connections between the first civilization and subsequent forms in several river valley civilizations

  23. Conclusion • After ~ 1,000 BCE development and spread of civilization begin • Many accomplishments had a lasting impact

  24. Conclusion cont’d • Others- invention of the wheel, taming of horses, the creation of usable alphabets, writing implements, the production of key mathematical concepts such as square roots, the development of well- organized monarchies and bureaucracies, and the invention of functional calendars and other divisions of time

  25. Conclusion cont’d • One final result- a pattern of division among the world’s peoples • Small groups spread to almost every corner of the world • Rise of agriculture created new links and trade soon entered the picture

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