1. III. Foundations of Civilization
World History Chapter 1
III. Foundations of Civilization

2. Bell Ringer Exercise
Get into small groups and create a definition of Civilization. Then make a list of characteristic institutions and features that a civilization should have.

3. Main Idea
From farming villages arose cities, and with them, the first civilizations marking the beginnings of recorded history.

4. A) From Villages to Cities
Settlements became villages, villages became cities
Irrigation allowed more food to be produced
Surplus – excess of food – support larger populations
People began to work in other jobs besides farming
Division of labor – economic arrangement in which each worker specializes in a particular task or job
Traditional economy – economic decisions are based on custom, tradition, or ritual – exp. farmers trade for raw materials

5. Characteristics of Cities
Cities were larger and more densely populated than villages
Uruk, Iraq – 3000 BC 40,000 – 50,000 people and covered 1,000 acres; Catal Huyuk – 5,000 – 6,000 and covered 30 acres
Populations more diverse – not related - clan
More formal organized – defined center, palaces, temples and walls
Served as centers of trade – farmers fed the cities in return for goods they created.

6. B) The First Civilizations
Civilization – is a complex and organized society
4 great river civilizations – Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus, Huang He – flood – Mississippi?

7. Characteristics of Civilizations
Cities develop – Ur, Uruk, Memphis, Mohenjo Daro, Anyang
Organized Government – need planning and decision making – some ruled by religious people
Formalized religion – needed rituals for farming and other stuff – priests became very powerful.
Specialization of Labor – not all farmed
- artisans – skill craftspeople – basketry, carpentry and such
Social Classes – rulers, priests upper; merchants and artisans next, then farmers and unskilled and then slaves
Record Keeping and Writing – developed written language to keep records – government and economic
The Arts – statues and paintings of tombs

8. First Calendar Farmers first used a “calendar”. Use the flood.
Also used the moon. What is the problem?
Moon phase is 354 days – 11 short

9. Change in Civilizations
Environmental changes hurt cities – floods, drought, ruined soil, run out of resources
Spread of ideas through trade, customs, culture, ethnicity, art
cultural diffusion – spread of ideas, beliefs, customs, and technology from on culture to another.
beginning of warfare – as cities got bigger they needed more stuff – get it from the neighbors – mainly land

10. Review How did early cities differ from early farming villages?
What was the relationship between job specialization and the development of social classes in early civilizations?
How did cultural diffusion affect early civilization?