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Introduction and theNear Eastern Origins of

Western Civilization

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Introduction to Western Civilization

1. What Are Your Questions…What Do You Hope to

Discover?

2. How Might This Course Help in Your Quest?

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Introduction to Western Civilization

All history is the history of thought.

(R.G. Collingwood)

To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to remain always a child.

(M. Tullius Cicero)

Anyone who cannot give an account to oneself of the past 3,000 years remains in darkness, without experience, living from day to day.

(Goethe)

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Key Questions

What is “Western” Civilization?

Is the West “special?”

Does the West have unique/noteworthy features or is it just one of many cultures?

Is the West in decline or withering away?

Is Western culture better – or worse – than others?

Does it matter? (Dead…White…Men)

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Major Themes

Growth of rational inquiry

Tension between religious ideals and social-political realities

Rise of constitutional forms of government

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Interesting Questions

History of ideas (e.g., progress)

How the West grew rich

Emergence of the self

The death of the soul

The nature of war

The American political ideals and the concept of rights

Echoes of the past in art and architecture

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Principal Focuses

Historical record: Social, political, intellectual, technological, and economic events

Cultural legacy: Developments that move culture in new directions; provide examples of specific styles/modes of thought; show diverse perspectives; provide links between styles; mark start/end of era; are interesting or “cool.”

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What Is A “Civilization?”

Form of urban life, involving the construction of permanent settlements

System of government that regulates political relations

Development of social classes distinguished by wealth and occupation

Tools and specialized skills for production of goods, leading to manufacturing and trade

Shared system of religious beliefs, whose officials play significant role in community affairs

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An Important Caveat

The anthropological use of the term “civilized” carries absolutely no value judgment

“Primitive people” can create valuable and lasting works

Highly “civilized” societies can cause indescribable suffering

This course chronicles high achievements and grim background

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The Origins of Western Civilization

Africa is the site of the origin of hominids … and the earliest “human” recognition of abstract images in the environment.

The Makapansgat pebble resembling a human face, c. 3 million BCE

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Recent African Origin (RA0) Model of Modern Humans

According to this theory, anatomically modern humans evolved solely in Africa, between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago, with members of one branch leaving Africa by 60,000 years ago and replacing all earlier human populations. Alternative theories claim a multiregional origin of modern humans. Some claims push back the original "out of Africa" migration to 2 million years ago.

The recent African origin of modern humans is one of two hypotheses of the origin of anatomically modern humans. The theory is also known as the Out-of-Africa model, the recent single-origin hypothesis (RSOH), and the Replacement Hypothesis.

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Upper Paleolithic (40,000 – 11,000 BCE)

Traces of physically modern humans found in North Africa, Near East, parts of Europe

No writing; everything known (surmised) from artifacts:

Nomadic

Hunter-gatherers

Implements of stone, bone, wood

Probably small populations/bands

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Stone Age Art: Women

L-R: Venus of Willendorf (c. 28,000 BCE), Venus of Laussel (c. 25,000 BCE, Reclining Woman (relief,

c. 12,000 BCE, La Magdelaine Cave, France)

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Stone Age Art: Sculpture

Human with feline head, Hohlenstein-satdel, c. 30,000-28,000 BCE.

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Stone Age Art: Animals

Two Bison, Ariege, c. 15,000 BCE Bison with turned head c. 12,000 BC

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Stone Age Art: Cave Paintings

Clockwise from upper left: Altamira bison; spotted horses, Pech-Merle, 22,000 BCE; aurochs, Ardeche, 30,000 BCE; rhinoceroses, Ardeche, 30,000 BCE;

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The Purpose of Cave Paintings (?)

Linton Panel,

Linton Farm, Maclear District, Eastern Cape, SA

The Linton Panel contains many trance images. In the top picture is a reclining figure with cloven hoofs. Here, the shaman has taken an animal form to enter the spirit world. Those who have experienced the trance state compare it to being under water, which explains the fish and eels around this figure. Supernatural force could be drawn from the eland and brought back for healing, rainmaking, and hunting game. These paintings were produced in the last 200 years.

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The Neolithic Era (11,000-4,000)

After 11,000 BCE changes in the global climate brought transformation in economic and settlement patterns

Agriculture is the key

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The Fertile Crescent

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Impact of Agriculture (1)

1. Dependence of relatively few plants

2. Vulnerability to weather

3. Dependence of harvest times

4. Demand for intense physical labor

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Impact of Agriculture (2)

1. Permanent Dwellings

2. Specialization

3. Technological Advances

4. Accumulation of Wealth

Agra, in Iran, and Catal Hayuk, Turkey

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The Agricultural Revolution: Technology (1)

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The Agricultural Revolution: Technology (2)

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The Agricultural Revolution: Technology (3)

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The Agricultural Revolution: Technology (4)

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The Agricultural Revolution: Technology (5)

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Neolithic Settlements

Jericho tower

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New Technologies

Clay containers

Tools

Animal Plows

Boat

Wheel

Kiln-fired brick/pottery

Weaving/dyeing/tanning

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Neolithic Society

StratifiedHereditary (?) elites were rulers, priests, generals/warriors

Focus on supernatural powers

But…very little known about Neolithic society

Coordinated systems of authority do not emerge until 4th millennium BCE in Mesopotamia.