Beginnings of Civilization Mr. Szyzdek World Studies

Geography What influence does geography have on civilization? Land, weather, transportation, water etc. It is no coincidence that almost all major civilizations developed near bodies of water or rivers. Geography also had a major impact on trade Fertile lands where conditions favored farming

Agricultural Revolution 10,000 years ago people began to: Domesticate of animals – Man power to animal power – Domesticated animals provided meat, milk, hide. Farming – Domestication of plants – Population increase

First Civilizations Civilization- highly organized group of people with their own language and ways of living Most developed independently from one another. ALL shared certain features that we define as the basis for civilization

Government What are the basic needs for government? -Order vs. anarchy -laws and rules -Protection -Cooperation -Power structure

Religion Organized belief begins to surface. – Gives meaning and purpose, and often, a goal to aspire to when life is complete. – Home, farming, relationships, marriage, birth and death, these are all common events in cultures; needed guiding principals Often gives codes of behavior for society and culture.

Specialization Specialization- the separation of tasks within a system. Surplus = specialization New technologies = new skills Allowed for development of trade economic systems

Social Class Beginning of class in a civilization: Strong provided protection General hierarchy – King or leader -> Priests and nobles (owned land) -> government officials/ wealthy merchants -> artisans/ farmers (majority of people) -> slaves.

Record Keeping/ Alphabet Development of writing – Pictographs – Cuneiform Tax records and religious ceremonies Propelled trade Credible laws

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