1. What makes a civilization?

2. Definition of a civilization
A human society with an advanced level of development in social and political organization and in the arts and sciences.
Most historians believe the FIRST civilization rose about 3300 B.C. in Sumer, a city-state in southern Mesopotamia

3. 5 traits of a civilization
Advanced Cities
Specialized Workers
Complex Institutions
Record Keeping
Advanced Technology

4. Advanced cities: Organized places
Had a place to store surplus grain
Offered different jobs to its people
Offered temples to worship or pray

5. Specialized workers
Need a surplus of food before a civilization can develop
Some men can do other jobs for people besides farming
Sewing clothes
Making pottery
Making tools
Building houses

6. Complex institutions need:
Religion
Education
An army
A government
All of the above exist within the city
Help meet the needs of the citizens

7. Record keeping Societies needed to track things
Mesopotamians needed to keep track of food supplies
Used scribes (people who knew how to write)
Very few people were scribes and were very important to the society
Cuneiform: Mesopotamian writing

8. Advanced technology
Societies advance when they invent and learn things in a better way.
Mesopotamians invented:
Canals
Bronze tools
The wheel and more