Early Civilizations Overview

Early Civilizations: Learning Objectives

• Discuss the definition of civilization and its characteristics
• Explain how early civilizations formed, from scavenging to agricultural villages, cities, and finally, civilizations

Complex Societies (Civilization)

• A civilization is a complex human society, typically made up of several cities, with cultural and technological characteristics
• The term "civilization" comes from the Latin word "civitas," meaning "city"
• The basic definition of civilization is a society made up of cities

Civilization's Development

• The development of civilizations depended on the ability of agricultural settlements to consistently produce surplus food
• This surplus allowed some people to specialize in non-agricultural jobs like craftwork, leading to increased production, trade, population growth, and societal complexity

Five Characteristics of Civilization

• Advanced cities: Cities are centers of trade and larger than villages
• Specialized workers: People develop specialized skills like craftsmanship, trade, government, or priesthood
• Complex institutions: Long-lasting organizations like government, religion, or economy
• Record keeping: Systems for documenting laws, taxes, and other important events
• Advanced technology: Tools or technologies like pottery, the wheel, or metalworking improve quality of life and contribute to societal advancement

Advanced Cities

• A city is more than a large group of people living together; it's a center of trade for a larger area

Specialized Workers

• As cities grew, the need for specialized workers like traders, officials, and priests also increased
• Some city dwellers became artisans, skilled workers who crafted goods by hand
• Specialization in different skills improved craftsmanship and made various goods, tools, weapons or clothing

Complex Institutions

• In civilizations, leaders emerged to maintain order and establish laws
• Government is an example of an institution, a long-lasting pattern of organized community structure
• Other institutions include religion and the economy

Record Keeping

• Government officials in early civilizations documented taxes, laws, and grain storage
• People used writing for other purposes like documenting events, wars, trades, natural disasters, and the lives of kings and queens

Advanced Technology

• New tools and techniques were needed as large groups of people lived together
• Around 3500 B.C., people first used the potter's wheel to make jugs, plates, and bowls
• Sumerian metalworkers discovered how to melt copper and tin to create bronze
• The Bronze Age (around 3000 B.C.) saw the shift from using stone to bronze for tools and weapons

Case Study: Ur

• Ur was one of the earliest cities in Sumer, located on the Euphrates River in modern-day southern Iraq
• Ur was a highly sophisticated civilization

Conclusion

• The five characteristics of civilization (advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record-keeping, and advanced technology) are crucial for understanding how civilizations developed.

Explore the key concepts of early civilizations, including their definitions, characteristics, and development. Understand how agricultural settlements transformed into complex societies with advanced cities and specialized roles. This quiz will help solidify your knowledge of civilization's growth and significance.