1. 3.1 Global Political Developments
The Development of Civilization | BCE

2. Similarities and Differences
Civilizations will concentrate power into a small social class
Justifications for this power disparity will range from religion to social necessity

3. East Asia Chinese political traditions began with the Shang Dynasty
What these leaders did, other Chinese leaders would do
Would begin a political culture in China
Dynasties of rulers
Centralized authority
A courted aristocracy
Given land by emperor to rule

4. South and Southeast Asia
South Asia: the Formative Period c BCE
Indo-Aryan migrants needed to justify their rule of indigenous Indians
Assimilation over hundreds of years needed explanation
The Vedas as the story of this conquest/settlement
A social caste system began to form
The Indo-Aryans were at the top of the political system

5. The Middle (Near) East Mesopotamia had numerous cultures
The first empires in the region had a choice
Destroy or accept foreign cultures
Empires began to adopt useful aspects of other cultures
Empires needed to provide social stability
Political protections for various cultures
The Code of Hammurabi (Babylonia)
Ensured rights for the wealthy elite in society
Wealth transcended all cultures
Would form the basis of division

6. Africa Ramses II would be Egypt’s most powerful pharaoh
Extended power to Palestine
Over time, the priest class would decentralize power into factions
Weak Pharaohs would jeopardize Egypt’s power
A trend of foreign rule began to develop (Nubia)
Eventually, Egypt would be conquered
Its rulers would be foreign until the 20th century

7. Europe Minoan civilization would influence mainland Greece
The Mycenaeans would adopt Minoan culture
Continue some Egyptian trends
C BCE the Minoans would be destroyed
Mycenaean culture was more warlike
Kings with cities on hills competed for power
The Trojan War c BCE

8. The Americas The Olmec civilization along the Gulf of Mexico
San Lorenzo as center of power
Powerful leadership to organize maize/bean surpluses
Organized diverse trade across Mesoamerica
Economic monopoly on rare goods
Obsidian, jade, chocolate, et cetera

9. Recommended Resources
Independent research
Be sure to cite with Chicago Manual of Style with footnotes.1
Suggested reading
Human Legacy.2 Make sure the title of the text is in italics (see below).
These notes
When pulling information directly from me, cite me as a source, the slide title, and the title of the presentation in italics.3
1 Use this website to easily cite your source
2 Human Legacy, pages 1-10.
3 Mr. Geier, Political Systems, 2.1 East Asia.