Inquiry 2 Inquiry 2 Emergence of a Emergence of a

CivilizationCivilization

Writing:Writing: Its a means of communicating.Its a means of communicating. Plays a big part of our lives!Plays a big part of our lives!

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The Importance of Law in Our The Importance of Law in Our SocietySociety

What is the importance of law today? In order to establish What is the importance of law today? In order to establish this we must first establish what the point of law is. Law and this we must first establish what the point of law is. Law and order is essential in all communities. In an orderly law-order is essential in all communities. In an orderly law-abiding community people can plan ahead, work in safety abiding community people can plan ahead, work in safety and do business in trust. In most modern societies order and do business in trust. In most modern societies order means stability. The guarantees of this order take place in means stability. The guarantees of this order take place in the form of laws. Laws are rules and customs that the the form of laws. Laws are rules and customs that the citizens of a community regard as binding upon them and citizens of a community regard as binding upon them and can be enforced by the courts. Laws provide boundaries so can be enforced by the courts. Laws provide boundaries so that people realize where and when they are committing an that people realize where and when they are committing an offence. One of the principal objects of the law is to offence. One of the principal objects of the law is to safeguard (make safe) the rights of citizens. Our basic rights safeguard (make safe) the rights of citizens. Our basic rights are what give us our freedom in daily life. The freedom of are what give us our freedom in daily life. The freedom of speech, the right to a fair trial etc…speech, the right to a fair trial etc…

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First seeds of civilization:First seeds of civilization: The Nile Valley Civilization (green)The Nile Valley Civilization (green) The Mesopotamian Civilization (purple)The Mesopotamian Civilization (purple) The Indus Valley Civilization (red)The Indus Valley Civilization (red) The Chinese Civilization (blue)The Chinese Civilization (blue)

Irrigation use in Irrigation use in agriculture:agriculture: All four (4) civilizations developed on All four (4) civilizations developed on

fertile land and near rivers.fertile land and near rivers. Each spring, the water levels rose and Each spring, the water levels rose and

spilled over the banks and flooded the spilled over the banks and flooded the area for several months.area for several months.

Water levels eventually receded and left Water levels eventually receded and left behind fertile mud (silt) on the ground.behind fertile mud (silt) on the ground.

Farmers now had fertile soil to grow Farmers now had fertile soil to grow crops.crops.

Major Irrigation projects:Major Irrigation projects:

Farmers were forced to develop an Farmers were forced to develop an irrigation system*irrigation system* because of dry seasons because of dry seasons – no water!– no water!

Floods occurred once a year – they were Floods occurred once a year – they were periodic. periodic.

*An *An irrigation system irrigation system involves involves capturing capturing water water and sending it across the crop fields and sending it across the crop fields on a on a regular basis regular basis throughout the year.throughout the year.

Irrigation projects involved:Irrigation projects involved:1.1. Building Building canalscanals to get water to fields. to get water to fields.

2.2. Building Building dikesdikes to retain water in canal. to retain water in canal.

3.3. Building a Building a reservoirreservoir to store floodwaters. to store floodwaters.

How did agriculture affect How did agriculture affect civilizations?civilizations? It allowed more people to be fed and families It allowed more people to be fed and families

to grow in numbers.to grow in numbers. Small villages grew into large cities.Small villages grew into large cities. Large cities required a leader.Large cities required a leader. A chief would rule and pass laws which A chief would rule and pass laws which

everyone had to follow.everyone had to follow. Written laws were formal, permanent and Written laws were formal, permanent and

undisputable.undisputable. These cities became organized.These cities became organized. This is what a civilization is!This is what a civilization is!

Why did the Mesopotamians Why did the Mesopotamians invent writing?invent writing? Mesopotamians needed to record and Mesopotamians needed to record and

communicate information to others.communicate information to others.

Keeping track of food surpluses would Keeping track of food surpluses would be impossible without recording be impossible without recording quantities.quantities.

Food surpluses lead to the Food surpluses lead to the creation of more trade groups:creation of more trade groups:

Trade groups needed and relied on each Trade groups needed and relied on each other.other.

They provided each other with goods and They provided each other with goods and services.services.

Labour was organized into four (4) trade Labour was organized into four (4) trade groups: groups:

1.1. PeasantsPeasants2.2. ArtisansArtisans3.3. MerchantsMerchants4.4. Soldiers Soldiers

1. 1. PeasantsPeasants:: They produced food.They produced food.

These crops included wheat, barley, sesame, and These crops included wheat, barley, sesame, and milletmillet

They raised livestock. They raised livestock. Most of the population was peasants.Most of the population was peasants.

2. Artisans: 2. Artisans: Made tools, pots, weapons, bricks, etc.Made tools, pots, weapons, bricks, etc. Built houses, public buildings, boats and wagons.Built houses, public buildings, boats and wagons.

3. Merchants: 3. Merchants: Bartered with other Mesopotamian cities Bartered with other Mesopotamian cities

and with people living outside of and with people living outside of Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

4. Soldiers:4. Soldiers: Protected the goods and territory from Protected the goods and territory from

robbers.robbers. Protected roads travelled by merchants.Protected roads travelled by merchants.

Trade:Trade: Merchants travelled long distances to Merchants travelled long distances to

trade.trade. Mesopotamia traded food surpluses for Mesopotamia traded food surpluses for

products that they did not have. products that they did not have. What products did other What products did other civilizationscivilizations

give to Mesopotamia?give to Mesopotamia?

1.1.HittitesHittites offered copper, lead, silver, iron offered copper, lead, silver, iron

2. 2. CanaanitesCanaanites offered copper, bronze, tin, gold offered copper, bronze, tin, gold

3. People from the Zagros mountains offered iron and steel

Evolution of Writing:Evolution of Writing: People began writing around 3,500 BC.People began writing around 3,500 BC.

They started by drawing objects, and They started by drawing objects, and engraved their drawings (calledengraved their drawings (called pictogramspictograms) on moist clay tablets.) on moist clay tablets.

Pictograms:Pictograms: PictogramsPictograms represented animals and represented animals and

objects (i.e. number of cows, bags of grain).objects (i.e. number of cows, bags of grain).

What about more complex explanations What about more complex explanations that involved emotions and detailed that involved emotions and detailed thoughts? thoughts?

PictogramsPictograms were simple and quite limited were simple and quite limited in what they could describe. in what they could describe.

From Pictograms to Cuneiform From Pictograms to Cuneiform Writing:Writing: A writing system invented by the Sumerians in A writing system invented by the Sumerians in

ancient Mesopotamia. ancient Mesopotamia. It pre-dates letters by 1500 years.It pre-dates letters by 1500 years. It is the earliest known writing system in the It is the earliest known writing system in the

world.world. It was often inscribed on damp clay tablets using It was often inscribed on damp clay tablets using

a special shaped tool called a stylus.a special shaped tool called a stylus. Cuneiform had approximately 700 symbols.Cuneiform had approximately 700 symbols. Only scribes knew how to read and write in Only scribes knew how to read and write in

cuneiform.cuneiform.

How was the Mesopotamian How was the Mesopotamian Society Organised?Society Organised? It was a hierarchical society.It was a hierarchical society. A person’s hierarchical position depended on his A person’s hierarchical position depended on his

wealth, his job and/or who he knew. wealth, his job and/or who he knew. An artisan was considered more valuable than a An artisan was considered more valuable than a

peasant because he was skilled and harder to peasant because he was skilled and harder to replace. replace.

The peasants, who simply worked the fields, The peasants, who simply worked the fields, were unskilled and less valued than highly were unskilled and less valued than highly trained warriors who were given the important trained warriors who were given the important role of defending the city from invaders.role of defending the city from invaders.

Political Power in the Cities:Political Power in the Cities: Mesopotamia had 10 major cities.Mesopotamia had 10 major cities. Each city was:Each city was:

a)a) Independent from the othersIndependent from the others

b)b) Built near crop fieldsBuilt near crop fields

c)c) Surrounded by protective wallsSurrounded by protective wallsd)d) CComposed of two (2) parts:omposed of two (2) parts:

Lower cityLower city

Higher cityHigher city

Lower city:Lower city: This part of the city was inhabited by the peasants. In This part of the city was inhabited by the peasants. In

the event of an attack, the lower city would be overtaken the event of an attack, the lower city would be overtaken by the enemy and the peasants would be killed.by the enemy and the peasants would be killed.

Higher city:Higher city: This part of the city was inhabited by all the important This part of the city was inhabited by all the important

people. It was harder to get to because it was built on a people. It was harder to get to because it was built on a mound. Its where all of the important mound. Its where all of the important institutions/buildings were located (temples, the institutions/buildings were located (temples, the ziggurat, the royal palace and food/supply warehouses ziggurat, the royal palace and food/supply warehouses etc.).etc.).

It was safer to be in the higher city because the enemy It was safer to be in the higher city because the enemy would have a harder time overtaking it because it was would have a harder time overtaking it because it was more elevated than the lower city.more elevated than the lower city.

Social groups in Social groups in Mesopotamia Mesopotamia The king The king (inherited this position):(inherited this position): He was the supreme ruler of all major He was the supreme ruler of all major

Mesopotamian cities.Mesopotamian cities. He managed the army, irrigation projects and He managed the army, irrigation projects and

food supplies.food supplies. He represented the Gods on Earth.He represented the Gods on Earth.

The Elite:The Elite: They were the high priests, army They were the high priests, army

commanders, rich merchants.commanders, rich merchants. They advised the king and carried out his They advised the king and carried out his

orders.orders.

The Free people:The Free people: Priests, artisans, peasants, merchants, soldiers, and Priests, artisans, peasants, merchants, soldiers, and

civil servants.civil servants. Peasants gave part of their harvest to the king in the Peasants gave part of their harvest to the king in the

form of a tax.form of a tax.

The slaves:The slaves: They were prisoners of war.They were prisoners of war. They had no rights.They had no rights. They received no wages ($) for their work.They received no wages ($) for their work.

Law and Justice:Law and Justice: The kingThe king`s authority ensured stability and `s authority ensured stability and

unity within societyunity within society Written laws ensured/guaranteed that Written laws ensured/guaranteed that

justice was served!justice was served! Anyone caught violating/breaking laws were Anyone caught violating/breaking laws were

punished.punished. These laws applied to everyone. These laws applied to everyone.

The Code of Hammurabi:The Code of Hammurabi: It is the oldest written law code that exists.It is the oldest written law code that exists. Hammurabi had these laws engraved on a stele. Hammurabi had these laws engraved on a stele.

Were these laws just? Were these laws just? Fair?Fair? These laws were not fair because the punishment These laws were not fair because the punishment

for breaking the law was not the same for everyone. for breaking the law was not the same for everyone. What you did for a living, who you knew and what What you did for a living, who you knew and what

you owned played (called social status) a big part on you owned played (called social status) a big part on the severity of the punishment for breaking a law.the severity of the punishment for breaking a law.

The punishment was harsher for a peasant than a The punishment was harsher for a peasant than a member of the elite.member of the elite.

For crimes against persons:For crimes against persons: The code applied the law of retaliation (an eye for The code applied the law of retaliation (an eye for

an eye!) which meant that the criminal would an eye!) which meant that the criminal would receive the same damage he had inflicted onto his receive the same damage he had inflicted onto his victim. victim.

Family issues:Family issues: The code sought to protect women and children.The code sought to protect women and children.