The Beginnings of Civilization Sec. #3

Advantages of a Settled Life People no longer had to move around Producing food through farming allowed villages to grow into a civilization Food surplus allowed people to have larger families When food was plentiful not everyone had to be farmers Some people became artisans, skilled people who made leather goods, pottery, baskets and cloth

The Growth of Cities Cities developed where fertile soil grew surpluses of food People needed a dependable source of water for drinking and irrigation, giving water to the crops so they settled near rivers As the population grew, rules were needed so government was formed to control society Eventually, civilization formed, a society with a central government, workers in various jobs and religion

Trade Helps Civilization Spread The goods that artisans made such as pottery, cloth, tools, weapons and spices were traded to faraway places The wheel and axle made it easy to transport from the farm to the city and out to distant places Ships carried goods across rivers and oceans and new goods and ideas were brought back and shared People grew wealthy and social classes developed People became part of groups with common interests and wealth levels