THE BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION

THE GROWTH OF CIVILIZATIONS Civilization-A complex, highly organized social order.

First civilizations developed near river valleys Water supply Transportation Plenty of animals Fertile soil

EFFECTS

Rich conditions in river valleys allowed farmers to produce surpluses

Surplus-More food than necessary

Consequences: Population growth-villages become cities

Division of labor-People work at other jobs than farming

THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS

Egypt (Nile River Valley)-2575 BC

Indus River Valley (India and Pakistan)-2600 BC

Huang River (China)-1766 BC

Sumer (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq)-3300 BC

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

1. Organized Governments As cities grew, more complex governments were required

Responsibilities: food production, flood control, digging canals/irrigation

Challenges: Law and order, tax collection, defense

Different departments of government formed for different tasks.

Leaders were often powerful warriors, priests

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

2. Complex Religions Most ancient people were polytheistic-believed in many gods

Believed gods controlled natural forces like flooding, rain, sunshine, birth, death, etc.

Created complex rituals-ceremonies, dances, prayers, etc.

Built temples, sacrificed plants, animals, sometimes people

Required full time, trained priests

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

3. Job Specialization Individuals could specialize in certain jobs because of food surpluses

Artisans-skilled craftspeople, created pottery, baskets, etc.

Metalworkers learned to work with copper and bronze

Other jobs: bricklayers, soldiers, merchants, entertainers

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

4. Social Organization Surplus of food, growth of personal property, and job specialization led to social classes

1. Priests and nobles 2. Wealthy merchants 3. Skilled artisans 4. Peasant farmers 5. Slaves

Nuclear family=basic unit of social organization

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

5. Arts and Architecture Expressed the talents, beliefs, and values of the people who created them

Temples and palaces-remind people of the strength and power of government, religion

Decorated with wall paintings, statues of gods and rulers, design work

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

6. Public Works Strong leaders order projects to benefit civilizations Irrigation systems Roads Bridges Defensive walls

Often very expensive in gold and lives

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

7. Language All cultures have spoken language, many civilizations developed written languages

Scribes recorded religious rituals, farming technique, achievements of rulers

Pictographs-Simple drawings that look like the objects they represent

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

8. Economic System How people use the limited resources available to them Traditional Economy-People produce what they

need, tend not to change Command Economy-Rulers tell people what to

produce Market Economy-People have freedom to buy,

sell, produce as they choose Mixed Economy-Mixture of command and

market

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION

9. Customs and Traditions People began to pass down important behaviors and beliefs

Values-what the people find important Norms-expected behaviors

CHANGES

Civilizations always must adapt to their environment Climate Landforms Natural resources

Cultural diffusion spread technologies and ideas Migration Trade Warfare

Civilizations grew in power City-state-A political unit including a city and its surrounding lands and villages Empire-A group of territories controlled by one ruler.