This statue shows Raherka, an “inspector of the scribes”

of Egypt, with his wife, Mersankh, around 2350 B.C.E.

The couple wears their hair in similar traditional styles and

is dressed modestly in tunics.

Mersankh stands slightly behind her husband on his left and holds onto his left arm with her left hand. The hair of the figures is colored

black, and the skin and clothing shows remnants of

ochre and yellow colors.

What made the person represented

in this statue significant in his

time?

First Civilizations:Cities, States, and the

Development of Unequal Societies

Mr. Prindiville

Core and foundational civilizations developed in a variety of geographical and environmental settings

where agriculture flourished.

Olmecs

Mesopotamia Shang

Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa

Egypt

Chavín/Norte Chico

Six major civilizations (plus many smaller ones)

•Scattered around the world•Develop after 3500 BCE•Civilization is a global phenomenon

• States were powerful new systems of rule that mobilized surplus labor and resources over large areas.

• Early states were often led by a ruler whose source of power was believed to be divine or had divine support and/or who was supported by the military.

As states grew and competed for land and

resources, the more favorably situated —

including the Hittites, who had access to iron — had

greater access to resources, produced more

surplus food, and experienced growing

populations.

These states were able to undertake territorial

expansion and conquer surrounding states.

• Pastoralists were often the developers and disseminators of new weapons and modes of transportation that transformed warfare in agrarian civilizations.

Hittite Weapons

The Chariots of Ur

Culture played a

significant role in unifying

states through laws,

language, literature,

religion, myths, and

monumental art.

Early civilizations developed

monumental architecture and urban planning.

Huantar de Chavin

Left: drainage

Above: corridor

• A large public well and public bathing platforms were found in Harappa.

• They had a sophisticated system of plumbing and sewage

Early civilizations developed

monumental architecture and urban planning.

Harrapa Gateway, Artists Conception -Grid layout

Early civilizations developed

monumental architecture and urban planning.

Ziggurat

Early civilizations developed

monumental architecture and urban planning.

Elites, both political and religious,

promoted arts and artisanship.

The sandeel monolithic has a length of 5 meters and represents a Chavín deity

Gold Chavin

Systems of record keeping arose independently

in all early civilizations and were later spread about.

• Cuneiform = Sumerian system of writing• The symbols

represented complex ideas

• Scribes were trained to read & write documents and stories• Epic of

Gilgamesh = oldest story in the world

Systems of record keeping arose independently in all early

civilizations and were later spread about.

States developed legal codes, including the Code of

Hammurabi, that reflected existing hierarchies and

facilitated the rule of governments over people.• Babylon (Mesopotamia) was Ruled

by Hammurabi• Strict Code of Laws = Hammurabi’s

greatest achievement• Rules and consequences that

addressed daily life• Law code covered entire region of

Mesopotamia• “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” type

of laws• Government assumed the responsibility

of protecting its citizens• People now had laws to protect their

rights & didn’t need to resort to violence