The First Civilizations

Civilization Neolithic Revolution – Agriculture – Food Surpluses Permanent settlements

Partner Discussion Question Examine the picture on the following slide. What key features do you see that cities would require? What are other necessary things that are not depicted in the picture? Write down your thoughts in your notes.

List features cities require seen in image. List features cities require not seen in image.

Needs of Early Cities Fresh water Organization – Trade – Farming – People Villages become cities

New Farming Inventions – Plows – Sickles – Irrigation canals Required Cooperation – Shared canals used by many fields More food – Surpluses Cities become first civilizations

What Makes a Civilization? Reliable Food Surpluses Cities Specialization of Labor – Social Classes Complex Institutions / Government – Bureaucracy Record Keeping / Writing Monumental Building – Pyramids / Irrigation Systems

Reliable Food Surpluses Supports growing population

Cities Organized areas – Areas for farming – Areas for living – Area for trade What do we call these??? Marketplace – Trade – Social

Specialization of Labor Food Surpluses – What does this allow for??? Specialized workers – Artisans Metal workers Weavers Potters – New inventions – Creates Social Classes – But… Most still farming

Complex Institutions Government Religion – Common beliefs – Nature gods Temples Economy/ Trade – Barter (trade)

Record Keeping Why??? – Tax collection – Laws – Grain storage – Calendars Scribes - professional recorders Written languages – Pictographs – Stylus

Mesopotamian City