1. Beginnings of Civilization

2. Do Now:
What are some things that you believe every civilization needs? Justify your answer. 

3. First Cities and Civilizations Arise
Earliest civilizations were situated near major rivers
Rivers provided water supply and transportation
Used animals for food and work
Floodwaters spread silt
Silt= tiny bits of rock and dirt from river bottom.
Silt helped keep soil plentiful for farming

4. Farming Farmers were able to produce surpluses of food.
Surpluses- more than necessary
How do you think surpluses impacted population?

5. Traditional Economy
With surpluses of food, this meant people could do other jobs than farming.
Since people were able to do other jobs, what do you think began to happen?
Cities began to grow!

6. How is civilization defined?
Civilization- a complex, highly organized social order.
The world’s first civilizations were near rivers.

7. Basic features that define civilization
Organized governments
Complex religions
Job specialization
Social classes
Arts and architecture
Public works
Writing

8. Organized Governments
Rulers were able to oversee the civilizations
Governments coordinated the production of food
Brought people together for projects
Issued laws
Collected taxes
Organized systems of defense

9. Organized Governments
Early rulers claimed their power was passed down by gods.

10. Complex Religions Polytheistic- believed in many gods
Early worshipers tried to gain favor through rituals such as ceremonies, dances, prayers, and hymns.
Used sacrifices

11. Job Specialization People began developing new crafts.
People could not be a master in all different skills
Began to specialize in certain jobs.
Artisans- skilled craftspeople
People learned to make tools and weapons.

12. Social Classes People are ranked according to their jobs.
Priests and nobles were the top level
Wealthy merchants were next
Artisans
Peasant farmers
Slaves occupied the lowest rank

13. Arts and Architecture
Art and Architecture expressed the talents, beliefs, and values of the people who created them.
Many rulers had their own buildings constructed
Art often depicted religious items including gods

14. Public Works
Projects included: irrigation systems, roads, bridges, and defensive walls.
These projects were meant to benefit the city.

15. Writing
The first writing systems were established in different places at different times.
First documents were to record amounts of grain collected and prayers
Writing style- pictographs.
Later on civilizations had scribes- trained people to read and write.

16. Environment and its Impact
Civilizations depended on their physical environment.
Civilizations needed rain and fertile soil
Earthquakes or volcano's could impact an entire civilization

17. Cultural Diffusion
Cultural diffusion- the spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one personal to another.
Cultural diffusion occurred through migration, trade, and warfare.

18. City-state
City-state- a political unit that included a city and its surrounding lands and villages.
Rulers, nobles, and priests often controlled the land outside the city.

19. Empire
Empire- a groups of states of territories controlled by one ruler.
Empires helped end war between neighboring communities.
Created common bonds among people