The Emergence of First Civilizations: Key Characteristics and Historical Insights

1. Chapter 3: First Civilizations

2. What is a “civilization?” • Definition: The most complex stage of human societal organization, made possible by the immense productivity of Ag. Rev. • Characteristics often include: • People residing in cities numbering 10,000+ • Centralized government • Written language • Organized Religion • Different social and economic classes • Art and Architecture • Specialization of labor (different jobs) • Infrastructure (irrigation systems, roads, bridges, temples, etc.) • Civilizations developed independently in six major locations around world after 3,500 BCE

4. How did civilizations get started? • Began developing with agricultural revolution • A.R. allowed for surplus production to grow communities • A.R. allowed for specialization of elite minorities • Emerged from earlier competing chiefdoms • Already possessed social rank & specialization • Not all early chiefdoms became civilizations • One popular civilization development theory is: • Population density  competition due to limited available land • Competition led to innovations (irrigation, plows) and warfare • Winners absorbed losing populations into their societies as lower class worker

5. What were the earliest civilizations? • Sumer civilization was oldest • Southern Mesopotamia (fertile crescent) • Between 3500 and 3000 b.c.e. • First written language • Egyptian civilization appeared around same time • Nile River Valley • Smaller Nubian civilization to its south • Norte Chico civilization • Central coastal Peru • Emerged between 3000 and 1800 b.c.e. • Unique from other civilizations because: • Smaller cities without walls or signs of pervasive warfare • Less evidence of economic specialization • No grain-based agriculture • Did not develop certain technologies like pottery • No writing system • Little outside trade/imports

6. Earliest Civilizations (cont.) • Indus River Valley civilization • Present-day Pakistan • Arose between 3000 and 2000 b.c.e. • Elaborately planned cities • Standardized weights, measures, architectural styles, and brick sizes • Still undeciphered written language • No palaces, temples, or political classes (kings, warriors classes, etc.) • Possibly organized around small republics ruled by priests • Early form of the caste system • Environmental degradation led to its collapse in 1700 b.c.e • Several parts of culture influenced late Indian societies

8. Earliest Civilizations (cont.) • Shang Chinese civilization • Modern-day China along Yellow River • Around 2200 b.c.e. • Dynasty system created highly centralized state • “Son of Heaven” – Ruler was link between people and Gods • Had power as long as he ruled w/ benevolence and maintained order • Early Chinese civilization has strongest link to modern times of all early civs. • Olmec civilization • Modern-day Mexico • 1200 B.C.E. • Cities created with ceremonial centers • Highly developed religious culture • 1st written language in Americas in 900 B.C.E. • Great influence on Mayan & Aztec civs. which came later

10. What did early civilizations look like? • Cities were most distinctive feature of first civilizations • Political capitals • Cultural centers • Trade hubs • Early manufacturing centers • Mesopotamia: • Largest city = Uruk • 50,000 people surrounded by 20 ft. walls • At city center was giant stepped pyramid known as Ziggurat • Large governmental presence • Highly specialized workforce • Indus River Valley: • Largest cities = MohenjoDaru & Harappa • 40,000 people • Streets in grid system, lined by 2-3 story houses • Indoor plumbing w/ extensive sewer networks

14. How did civilizations affect earlier social equality? • Coming of civilization resulted in development of vast social inequalities • New levels of inequality are a major turning point in the social history of humankind • Creation of cities made social differences greater • People moved into professional/craft specialization • Upper classes: • Possessed great wealth • Avoided physical labor • Occupied top positions in political, military, and religious life • Enjoyed preferred treatment under law, and manner of burial • Free commoners: • Formed vast majority of population • Included artisans of all kinds, lower-level officials, soldiers and police, servants, and farmers • Their surplus was taken to support upper classes

15. Social Inequality (cont.) • Slaves at bottom of social hierarchies everywhere • Slavery and civilization emerged together • 1st generation slaves = prisoners of war, criminals, debtors • Children of slaves sometimes freed • Most often worked in fields, mines, homes, and shops • Commonly part of ritual sacrifices • Not defined by race or ethnicity • Looked differently in different civs: • More militarized Mesopotamia had more than Egypt or Indus Valley

16. Why did civilizations alter earlier gender equality? • Coming of civilizations introduced vast gender inequalities to human history • Theories on why patriarchy emerged in First Civilizations: • Animal-drawn plows and large herds favored male labor • …patriarchy emerged in American civs. as well • Men were less important in household and were more available for powerful specialist roles • Used authority to shape the values of societies to benefit them at expense of women • Women associated with nature (their role in reproduction) • Early civilizations highlight human mastery over nature • Prevelance of warfare in most 1st civilizations • War limited to men