1. First Civilizations A civilization is a complex and organized society. First civilizations arose in fertile river valleys- the Tigris and Euphrates in Southwest Asia, the Nile, the Indus and the Yellow River. River valleys flooded annually. Floods spread mineral rich silt from the river bottoms onto the nearby land. Result: the river valleys had fertile land that could support a growing population.

2. Civilizations Civilizations had several characteristics in common: Specialization of labor Developed cities Organized government and law code Trade Record keeping and writing Formalized religion Social classes Technology

3. Agricultural Surplus- The first step to becoming a civilization Sometimes called the agricultural revolution The society produces enough food with the result that Living is less precarious There is more food than the society needs with everybody farming

4. How were societies able to have Surplus Agriculture Created new methods to increase farm production. One of most significance was the development of irrigation systems. Enabled people to farm more land and to farm in drier conditions. Result: farmers could plant more crops and produce more food. With irrigation, some farmers began to produce a surplus or excess of food.

5. Results of the Agricultural Surplus – 1. Specialization of Labor As not every person has to be dedicated to the production of food, labor specialization occurs Result: people worked full-time in jobs other than farming. Full time weavers, potters, or religious leaders. Food surplus and a growing division of labor resulted in economic changes. As there is an agricultural/economic surplus, taxation to support the payment of governmental officials can occur

6. Specialization of Labor Many new jobs developed Gathering taxes Engineers planned irrigation systems Soldiers defended the city Farmers Built large public works: temples and roads Artisans or skilled craftspeople, developed their time to crafts such as basketry, carpentry, metalwork, or pottery.

7. 2) Urban Living/ Cities Agricultural surpluses go hand in hand with the development of cities. Laborers, merchants and craftsmen need a central where they can purchase food and goods used in their day to day lives The central place where this occurs is the city. Importance of Cities Places for the exchange of goods Places for the exchange of ideas Places where information can collected and also disseminated more widely. Places where a shared culture and religion, shared values can develop

8. Characteristics of Cities Differences between early villages and early cities: Larger populations City of Uruk had around 40,000-50,000 people Village of Huyuk had about 5,000 to 6,000 people. More diverse in culture Villages consisted of few extended families Cities included many unrelated people. Formal organization Cities had defined centers which contained palaces, temples, monuments, government buildings, and marketplaces. Centers of trade

9. 3. Organized Governments Cities grew and governments formed. Why did governments form? Building large irrigation systems and feeding a growing population required planning and decision making. Governments created laws and established systems of justice. Cities require some people whose job it is to administer the city and civic services Tax collectors People to repair city infrastructure Judges to hear court cases Officials to preside over the market Generals to lead people into battle

10. Oldest Example of Sumerian Case Law, ca 2050 BCE NB: This is not a law code, but an example of case law, that is a discussion of a case and its resolution to be consulted when similar trials occur.

11. Standard of Ur 2600-2400 BCE

12. 4) Trade Networks Some of the labourers who do not farm and are able to specialize become merchants in civilizations Merchants organize trade that brought food from the countryside into cities and good produced in the cities to the countryside and other cities Trade networks encourage greater economic growth of a civilization but also the exchange of ideas and technology

14. 5) Record Keeping and Writing Writing is necessary to ensure an efficient bureaucracy Legal contracts Taxation records Religious documents Ability to record more accurate? History Ability to foster greater scientific and intellectual inquiry

15. Record Keeping and Writing Need for permanent records Ex: merchants needed to keep records of trade goods and officials needed to track tax payments. Before writing people used a variety of methods for to keep records. Ex: Inca civilization used knotted colored strings to keep accounts.

16. Cuneiform Developed by the Sumerians beginning in 3000 BCE The first writing systems used pictographs, or picture symbols, to represent ideas or objects. Developed as pictographs, then evolved into phonological symbols by about between 2000 and 1000 BCE

17. Writing With the development of writing, early civilizations began to create a written record of their society. The study of history begins with written records- everything before is considered prehistory Why are these ancient text important? Provide historians with a wealth of information about early civilizations.

18. 6. Formalized Religion Religious institutions that included ceremonies, rituals, and other forms of worship. To gain the god’s favor priests performed rituals, such as sacrificing animals or offering gifts of food. Because religious leaders often interpreted the will of the gods, priests became powerful figures. Proved authority by claiming they ruled by the will of gods. Government and religion closely linked. To honor the gods people built large temples and participated in various ceremonies

19. 7. Social Class What is social status based on today? The social order was based on people’s occupation, wealth, and influence. In early civilizations, who had the most power? Rulers, priests, and nobles Merchants and artisans ranked next Farmers and unskilled workers (made up the majority of the people) Enslaved people: captured in war or sold into slavery

20. Social Rankings Merchants and Artisans Enslaved people Farmers and unskilled workers Rulers, priests, and nobles

21. Significant Technological Development A hallmark of civilization is the development of tools to aid in production or understanding of the world Calendars Stylus Metal tools for farming (ie: bronze, iron) Fast potting wheel

22. Early civilizations developed calendars. What was the need for calendars? People needed to track the changing of the seasons and when it was time to plant or harvest. People in river valleys needed to know when yearly floods would occur. Calendars were based on the phases of the moon Art Art reflected each civilizations culture. Created statues and paintings of gods and goddess, heroes, and rulers.

23. Changes in Civilizations Environmental Influences People relied on their environment and the forces of nature could easily bring destruction or ruin. Storms could destroy crops and leave people without enough food. Flash floods could wipe out an entire city, and drought could kill livestock. Farming used up the land, and after a period of time the soil lost fertility. Scarce of needed resources Ex: Areas with few trees some people began to use dried animal dung as fuel for cooking

24. Spread of People and Ideas Throughout history, the movements of people through trade, migration and conquest has helped spread cultures and ideas. Migrants brought their language, customs, and traditions with them when they moved to new areas. Civilizations imposed their culture on the peoples they conquered. The spreading of ideas, beliefs, customs, and technology from one culture to another is called cultural diffusion.

25. Expansion and Warfare Conflict over land, water, and other resources occurred and often led to war. Civilizations waged war to gain control of rich farmland or regions with valuable resources.