3500 BCE – 500 BCE First Civilizations
Objectives Contrast civilizations with other forms of human communities Explore when, where, how the 1st civs arose Explore the structures of society Show the differences in civs Explore outcomes of civ, including positive and negatives for humanity
Civilization is only made possible by surplus produced by ag. rev.
Distinct features of Civ: Cities Monumental architecture! Populations in the 10s of 1000s Powerful states that could compel obedience and wage large scale warfare Much greater inequality Wealth and status
The very first civilizations 6 major civilizations
6 major civilizations (plus many smaller ones) Scattered around the world Develop after 3500 BCE Civilization is a global phenomenon
1. Mesopotamian Civs Sumer ~3500 BCE First written language Appearance of Egyptians and Nubians to the south at the same time.
Settled on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Practice irrigation (modern Iraq – Fertile Crescent) Practice irrigation Cities controlled by temple priests initially Polytheistic religion –Ziggurat center of city
Cuneform – the earliest form of writing
Mesopotamia Hammurabi (1792-1750BCE) created an empire out of the former Sumerian kingdoms Uniform code of laws Babylonian Empire ends around 1500 BCE
2. Chavin 900 BCE – 200 BCE Capital located 10,000 ft in the Andes. Many of them lived on the coastal plain or foothills near the coast. Andean Cultures in Chronological order. 1.1 Caral 1.2 Chavín 1.3 Valdivia 1.4 Nazca 1.5 Moche 1.6 Tiwanaku 1.7 Chachapoyas 1.8 Wari 2.1 Chimú 2.2 Inca Empire 2.3 Muisca
Chavin Coastal population traded fish, decorative shells for corn, shellfish, and other foods Llamas were domesticated. Developed extensive irrigation. Chavin capital was located at the intersection of trade routes
Chavin Culture Built many temples in pyramids in order to honor and worship gods and rulers. Had many of the same religious beliefs as the Olmecs. Class of priests existed and directed religious life. Held power.
Chavin Circular Plaza
Huantar de Chavin Left: drainage Above: corridor
Gold Chavin The sandeel monolithic has a length of 5 meters and represents a Chavín deity
Quipu: a system of record keeping used throughout the Incan and preIncan Civilizations. Though the Chavin had glyph writing, subsequent Andean empires did not.
Just for fun… Human remains found at Chavin show indications of cranial surgery and the odd, but common practice (in Meso and South America), of head shaping for beauty or medicine.
3. Indus Valley 3000-2000BCE Elaborate cities Standard weights, measures, brick sizes Written script (as of yet deciphered) Environmental collapse led to end of civilization by 1700 BCE Later shaped Indian society
Indus Valley The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in what is present day Pakistan. It was named after the city of Harappa. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were major cities. This Indus Valley civilization flourished around 4000-1000 B.C.
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa
Earliest Phase-Ravi (3300-2800BCE)
Old World Civilizations
Comparative Timeline
Indus River Valley The similarities in plan and construction between Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa indicate that they were part of a unified government with extreme organization.
Harappa Site
Indus River Valley A large public well and public bathing platforms were found in Harappa. They had a sophisticated system of plumbing and sewage
Mound E Gateway Artists Conception -Grid layout
Ancient Indus