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Published byAdam Hampton Modified over 9 years ago
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Foundations of Civlization
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I. From Villages to Cities A. Advances in Farming 1. Irrigation systems: network of canals or ditches that links fields of crops to nearby streams OR to storage basins Enabled people to farm more land Enabled people to farm in drier conditions 2. Surpluses: could support larger populations NOT everyone had to farm (specialization) Surplus = barter opportunities
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B. Changing Economies 1. Fewer farmers needed 2. Division of Labor: each worker specializes in a particular task/ job a. weavers b. potters c. religious leaders
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C. Characteristics of Cities 1. started as villages 2. populations rose 3. diversity increased villages consisted of a few extended families early cities usu. Included many unrelated people. 4. formal organization Had a defined center Palaces, Gov’t bldgs., Temples, Monuments, Marketplace 5. had defined boundaries 6. centers of trade
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II. The First Civilizations: Shared Characteristics
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A. Developed Cities Cities Served as political, economic, and cultural centers for surrounding areas Examples Ur and Uruk near the Tigris and Euphrates Memphis on the Nile Mohenjo Daro on the Indus Anyang near the Huang He
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B. Organized Gov’t. Probably formed to meet the needs of planning, decision making, of such large projects – irrigation CONTROL!!!! Created laws Established systems of justices Supervised food production & bldg practices Gathered taxes Organized defense Power base differed Religious figures (priests) Influential elders Warriors Families
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C. Formalized Religion Ceremonies & rituals to gain gods’ favor Occupational: priests became powerful (divine influence) Gov’t & religious institutions were closely related
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D. Specialization of labor Tax collectors Engineers Soldiers Famers Potters Weavers Construction work: roads, temples, palaces Artisans: skilled craftspeople (basketry, carpentry, metalwork, pottery) Merchants
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E. Social Classes Based on occupation, wealth, and influence Highest ranking Rulers Priests Nobles ***followed by artisans & merchants ***then farmers & unskilled workers ***slaves
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F. Record Keeping & Writing Need for permanent records Gov’t to track tax payments Traders to track payment of goods Sumerians used clay tokens Incas used quipo *Systems of writing developed c. 5000 yrs ago Calendar creation: to plan planting & harvesting AND adapt to flooding
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G. The Arts Statues Paintings Adorned city squares, public buildings, and royal tombs
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How many shared characteristics are there in the earliest civilizations? & what are they?
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SEVEN “prerequisites” Cities Gov’t Religion Specialization of Labor Social Classes Record keeping AND writing Arts
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Lights, camera, action! dvd tomorrow
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