early civilizations getting it all started!
DESCRIPTION
What is a “civilization” anyway? It has FIVE characteristics Advanced Cities Specialized Workers Record Keeping Complex Institutions Advanced TechnologyTRANSCRIPT
Early Civilizations
Getting it all started!
What is a “civilization” anyway?
It has FIVE characteristics1. Advanced Cities2. Specialized Workers3. Record Keeping4. Complex Institutions5. Advanced Technology
Characteristics of civilizations
Large and advanced cities
Specialized workers who don’t grow their own food
Writing and record keeping
Complex institutions – like religion and law
Technology like metal and stone working
Advanced Cities
Key characteristics
Trade center• barter, bazaar
Large populace
What we have today
Network hubs – trade, transportation, finance, information
Metropolitan areas
Specialized Workers
Key characteristics
Focus on different kinds of work
• farmers, irrigation workers, artisans, bronze workers, merchants, priests
What we have today
Retail, manufacturing, communication
Assembly line
Education, training, tests, certification
Record Keeping
Key characteristics
Writing, which can lead to other purposes
What we have today
Data of sales, payments, public records
Electronic files, books, newspapers, epics, novels, poetry
Record Keeping
Complex Institutions
Key characteristics
Leads to government, religion, economy, social structure
What we have today
Government, religion, education, charities, corporations, social classes
Advanced Technology
Key characteristics
Produce new tools & techniques for solving problems
• Plows, irrigation, potters wheel, bronze
What we have today
Telecommunications, computers, science, automobiles, airplanes, spaces exploration
Where were these?
What did they have in common?
along rivers natural barriers agriculture polytheism afterlife
writing mathematics social classes dynasties
Mesopotamia
Modern-day Iraq primarily Along the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
“Land between the waters” Fertile Crescent
Polytheistic built large temples call ziggurats
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Main cities Ur – Sumerian city Babylon (later capital of Mesopotamia)
Controlled by various kingdoms Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian,
Macedonians, Romans, Turks, Mongols, British, etc.
Mesopotamia
Ur was a busy trade center before the Persian Gulf shore formed further downstream. In the background is the Great Ziggurat.
The Torah states that Ur was Abraham’s birthplace and where he left with his family for Canaan.
Mesopotamia
Babylon ruins in 1932 and rebuilt
ruins in 2003
Mesopotamia Babylon becomes city-state
dominant in region under Hammurabi.
The Code of Hammurabi is the first known written code of law.
The law was engraved onto pillars which were located in public places for all to see. Of course, it would help to be able to read them…. most people couldn’t read.
Mesopotamia
Cuneiform development as
a pictograph language
Egypt
Along the Nile River Two kingdoms would unite:
Upper – Nubia (to the south) Lower – Delta region connecting to the
Mediterranean Sea Major cities – Thebes, Memphis Controlled by several pharaoh dynasties
as well as Nubians, Assyrians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks, Romans
Egypt
Egypt
Hieroglyphics started as pictographs for ideas, they became more like sounds. Could be written on papyrus or carved into stone at temples.
Rosetta Stone found in 1799
Indus Valley
Along the Indus River in Pakistan and western India
Major cities – Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa Sewage system Unable to decipher ancient text Indo-European invaders brought the
foundations for later culture Religions – Hinduism, Buddhism
Indus Valley
Indus Valley
China
Along the Huang He & Chang Jiang Rivers Many dynasties by the “mandate of heaven” Large producer of silk Ethical systems
Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism Constant threat of invaders from the north,
so built the Great Wall
China
China
China
Ancient Chinese pictographic language on paper and bamboo.
Oracle Bones
scapula from an ox
turtle shell