8 Characteristics

Farmers settled in fertile river valleysGrew surplus (extra) foodLed to an increase in populationSettlements grew into cities

Examples: Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus River Valley

http://www.awesomestories.com/assets/athens

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reconstruction_of_Ancient_Jerusalem.jpg

http://www.penfall.com/architecture/back-by-popular-demand-googlegap-but-with-cooler-graphics

HTTP://WWW.DREGATE.COM/CLIPART/CLIPART3/PAGES/MEDIEVAL%20COUNCIL.HTM

Governments run by councils or religious leaders develop to safeguard (to protect) food supply and irrigation systems

Provide defense

Religious leaders conducted elaborate ceremonies (rituals) to appease the gods (polytheism) and insure a good harvest.

Drought and floods blamed on the anger of the gods.

http://meynu.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/gods-of-ancient-egypt.jpg http://www.carnaval.com/greece/festivals/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-Qnopyq_sDE/TMNO8FlAgLI/AAAAAAAAAMo/WoNsSrROH5g/s1600/image84532543.jpg

In time, many civilizations adopted monotheistic religious beliefs.

As civilizations became more complex, artisans and craftsmen were needed to build and maintain specific items and tasks. No longer could individuals do all the work

Some concentrated on teaching, scribing, stonecutting, etc.

As jobs became more specialized so did the status and needs of individuals.

A social hierarchy was created:Kings, warriors, and religious leaders were on the top rung.

Herders and slaves were on the bottom rung.

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004203/social/social01.htm

Records were needed to keep accounts on trade goods and food storage.

Writing necessary because the information was too great.

Ideas, such as belief and social order needed to be expressed --- pictures and simple words would not suffice.

http://thomas09.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/travel-journal/hieroglypics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuneiform

http://www.truton.com/2BIOLOGY/ChineseMind.html

Expressed the beliefs and values of a people

Different styles were developed and copied by societies

Art used to impress visitors and people about the beauty and power of a king or community

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/ancient-greece

Government would order these to be built

Very expensive, but would benefit the community

Examples: Wall to protect a

city from attack Canal for irrigation

http://www.authorama.com/ancient-china-simplified-22.html

http://www.the-world-heritage-sites.com/ping-yao-world-heritage-site_china.htm