Features of Civilization

1) Developed Cities Main feature of a civilization Political, economic, and cultural centers

2) Organization and Government Should meet the needs of the people Powerful Ruled by religious leaders, wealthy, or elders Has specific duties Gather taxes Organize defenses

3) Complex Religion Polytheistic (many gods) Monotheistic (one god) Built temples, sacrificed animals, crops, and at times other humans People worked as priests

4) Job Specialization Developed once people did not need to spend all of their time looking for food Instead of doing many jobs “ok”, you do one job really well and do that for others In turn, other people do the jobs that you may not be as good at

5) Social Classes People become grouped in social classes Social organization became more complex Priests Wealthy merchants Artisans Peasant farmers Slaves

6) Arts and Architecture Expressed the beliefs and values of the society Showed strength and power of the government Sometimes meant to intimidate other groups or countries

7) Public Works Projects that benefit the city Irrigation systems (for water) Roads Bridges Defensive walls

8) Record Keeping and Writing Began in temples with priests Scribes- People who can read and write Earliest writing made up of pictograms Pictogram- Simple drawings that looked like the items they represented