Beginnings of Civilization

Beginnings of a Civilization First civilizations are by RIVERS - ?? Transportation, water supply, food, farming Surpluses – more than what is necessary Grow large populations, food for the future Eventually forming cities Traditional economy – relies on habit, custom, or ritual and tends not to change

River Valley Civilizations Civilization: a complex, highly organized social order Cities are the MAIN feature Sumer: between the Tigris and Euphrates Egypt: along the Nile River Indus: along the Indus River Shang: Huang River (Yellow River)

Features of a Civilization Organized Governments Councils/Chiefs turn into central governments Rulers/royal officials Taxes, laws, defense Priests/Warrior kings on TOP Complex Religions Polytheistic – Specially trained priests for ceremonies and rituals

Features of a Civilization cont. Job Specialization Artisans: skilled craftspeople Weapons are made of metals Copper then bronze Bricklayers, dancers, storytellers Social Classes Ranking of individuals within the society Priests and nobles were typically on top

Features of a Civilization cont. Arts and Architecture Artwork and buildings that display the values, customs, and beliefs for the society Temples, palaces, statues, paintings Public Works Projects that are costly and benefit the city and people Irrigation systems, roads, dikes, bridges, walls

Features of a Civilization cont. Writing System of communications originally used by governments and religious leaders Grain collection, rituals, prayers, seasonal information Pictographs: picture writing Scribes: people that specialize in reading and writing 7th

Change in Civilizations Loss of resources Environmental forces Cultural Diffusion: the spread of ideas, customs, and technologies Warfare, migration, trade City-state: a group of lands that includes a city and the surrounding people and villages that it controls Empire – multiple cities and people