H9 Unit 3 Slides (Sayre School, 2024-2025) - PDF

Unit 3 Building Complex Societies History 9 | Sayre School | 2024-2025 I Cannot Emphasize Enough the Importance of Farming It dramatically changed how humans got food, encouraged people to settle down, & formed the foundation of civilization all over the world. Why Was Agriculture So I...

Unit 3 Building Complex Societies History 9 | Sayre School | 2024-2025 I Cannot Emphasize Enough the Importance of Farming It dramatically changed how humans got food, encouraged people to settle down, & formed the foundation of civilization all over the world. Why Was Agriculture So Important? Where Did Agrarian Societies First Develop?  Let’s Define Agrarian Civilization An increasingly complex system that grows into villages, cities, states, & empires.  7 Moments of “Change Over Time” that Made Societies More Complex #1: Agrarian Civilizations Were Settled Communities Larger and larger populations of settled people Smaller villages turned into cities, states, and eventually empires.  #2: Larger Populations Require LOTS OF FOOD Goal of civilizations: Produce more food to feed more people. The Key Word is “SURPLUS” #3: Surplus food allowed people to become more specialized in their labor. New jobs helped take care of societies. When you don’t have to think about collecting food anymore, you can help society in other ways! #4: The “Secondary Products Revolution” Primary Products: Using animals for their meat/skin + Secondary Products: Using animals for their milk/eggs/fur AND for their power #5: The Rise of Rulers and Social Hierarchies Rulers Served As A “Coordinating Mechanism” for New Laborers, Food Rulers Surplus, & Rules. Clergy **Less equality + more hierarchy** Merchants This led to social hierarchies Rulers at Top Religious Priests/Officials Next Merchants in Middle Peasants Peasants at Bottom Example of Hierarchy: Egypt  #6: Advanced Collective Learning Foragers = Personal Networks Agrarian Societies = Networked Communities #7: Physically Larger Societies and Governments Armies & Increased Warfare Larger & Larger Public Architecture Male Dominated Formative: Where and Why Did the First Cities and States Appear? Villages  Early Farming Villages Village Society Early Farmers lived in village clusters Men worked primarily in the fields. Women and children assisted them & worked at home  Early Farming Villages Village Society Cooperation Beyond Kin (i.e. family) ○ Performing important tasks in a village required the entire village to work together (not just family). ○ Although old hierarchies remained, most villages lived as equals at first. ○ Customs and festivals emphasized the importance of the community over the individual.  Early Farming Villages Village Society Importance of Fertility (Children) ○ There was an increased need for farm labor, which led village families to value greater numbers of children – more than hunter/forager groups.  Early Farming Villages Village Society The Utility of Pottery ○ Appeared in settled societies (too fragile for nomads). ○ Used to store food, liquids, seeds, and to cook. ○ Sometimes used for artistic expression. ○ Kilns (used to make pottery) appeared in 6,000 BCE in Mesopotamia, allowing for the mass-production of pottery.  Risks of Advantages of Village Life Village Life Accumulation of possessions in Spread of farming and village life settled life led to an increased allowed for rapid population risk of attack by strangers. growth. Constant threat of Dependence on a community floods/droughts. larger than family. Risks impacted culture, which Distribution of labor/jobs, which became the subject of religious created new goods, ideas, and rituals like fertility and rain more. worship, as well great respect for ancestors. 21  Complex Agrarian Societies History 9 | Sayre School | 2023-2024 UNIT 3: Growth of Complex Societies Where Are The First Complex Agrarian Societies?  Basic Definitions Term Definition Complex Society States Cities  Basic Definitions Term Definition Complex Society Large-scale units with an elaborate division of labor, pronounced social hierarchy, hundreds of different social roles, and institutions to regulate individual and group exchanges. States Cities  Basic Definitions Term Definition Complex Society Large-scale units with an elaborate division of labor, pronounced social hierarchy, hundreds of different social roles, and institutions to regulate individual and group exchanges. States Territorial units and political communities overseen by formal governments. Cities  Basic Definitions Term Definition Complex Society Large-scale units with an elaborate division of labor, pronounced social hierarchy, hundreds of different social roles, and institutions to regulate individual and group exchanges. States Territorial units and political communities overseen by formal governments. Cities Generally contain the elaborate divisions of labor and social hierarchies that are found in most complex societies. Will also have dense living quarters, open public spaces, and imposing public buildings, with markets to connect buyers and sellers.  Examining Complex Societies 1. Economics 2. Social Systems Economics is the study of how Social systems are the ways people people use resources to meet their organize themselves into groups needs and wants. In early agrarian and roles within a community. In societies, this meant managing land, early agrarian societies, these crops, and trade to support growing systems helped structure populations and developing cities. relationships, dividing work, power, and resources among different classes, families, and leaders.  Economic Bases of Early Complex Societies The Power of the Plow - Mesopotamia (3800 BCE) - Later Egypt & China - Part of the “Secondary Products Revolution”  Economic Bases of Early Complex Societies The Power of the Plow Importance of Irrigation - Eurasia/Americas (3500 BCE) - Increased crop yields 5-10x - Created abundance of food - This led to more job specialization, people, & power  Economic Bases of Early Complex Societies The Power of the Plow Importance of Irrigation - Eurasia/Americas (3500 BCE) - Increased crop yields 5-10x - Created abundance of food - This led to more job specialization, people, & power  Economic Bases of Early Complex Societies The Power of the Plow Importance of Irrigation Drawbacks? - Massive food production drew in enemy raiders. - Created waterborne diseases (malaria, etc.)  Economic Bases of Early Complex Societies The Power of the Plow Importance of Irrigation Drawbacks? Environmental Impacts - Erosion & Reduction of Farmland - Nutrient loss  Social Systems of Early Complex Societies Social Inequality - Defined: When resources, power, or opportunities are distributed unevenly among people, creating different levels of wealth and social status in society. - Became worse in cities - Based on wealth, occupation, and class A Typical City Included: Top: Ruling Elite Middle: Skilled Laborers Bottom: Unskilled Laborers & Slaves  Social Systems of Early Complex Societies Social Inequality Disease - Cities full of disease - “Crowd Disease” built immunity, though, and increased survival over time (but not for kids). - Disease spread outside the city by travelers, traders, etc.  Social Systems of Early Complex Societies Social Inequality Disease Enslaved Labor - Major source of inequality - Vulnerable people, captured enemies, purchases in the market  Characteristics of First States History 9 | Sayre School | 2023-2024 UNIT 3: Growth of Complex Societies Characteristics of First States  What Is A State & Why Did We Create Them? “State” is the formal name of a country. States include: First Government: 1. Defined territories MONARCHY (which is 2. A form of complex government hereditary & divine) 3. “Imagined Community” a. This refers to the many ways in which different people create ways of seeing things in common with one another (religion, language, etc.) States include MANY cities…. But a “city-state” is a state built around ONE city  Early Complex Society: Mesopotamia Known as the “Cradle of Civilization” & “land between the rivers,” it includes many of the first civilizations, first cities, and first writing systems! Early Complex Society: Mesopotamia Early Complex Society: Mesopotamia Meaning: “Land Between Rivers” Euphrates & Tigris Rivers Significance Here we see earliest forms of writing, complex cities, and organized government. Early Complex Society: Mesopotamia Key Achievements Writing: Cuneiform (3200 BCE) What does the act of writing things down tell us about their civilization? Early Complex Society: Mesopotamia Key Achievements Writing: Cuneiform (3200 BCE) Innovations: Math, astronomy, irrigation Early Complex Society: Mesopotamia Key Achievements Writing: Cuneiform (3200 BCE) Innovations: Math, astronomy, irrigation Governance : System of Law through Hammurabi’s Code Translating Cuneiform Archeologists have translated the cuneiform system roughly to the modern alphabet. The symbols were used to represent the same sounds as the letters below them. Because the cuneiform writing system was very different than modern alphabets, the two systems cannot be translated exactly. Note that there is no direct translation for the letter X. Characteristic s of Ancient Cities Mesopotamia Gives Us The First City…. But What Is A City? A Process of Urbanization: Urbanization is the process by which rural communities grow to form cities that grow larger over time. 10,000+ People Mesopotamia Gives Us The First City…. But What Is A City? A Process of Origins: Urbanization: Mesopotamia and Egypt Urbanization is the 6,000 Years Ago process by which rural communities grow to China, India, and form cities that grow Southeast Asia larger over time. 5,000 Years Ago 10,000+ People Mesoamerica, Andes, sub-Saharan Africa 4-2,500 Years Ago  Mesopotamia Gives Us The First City…. But What Is A City? A Process of Location, Location, Origins: Urbanization: Location Mesopotamia and Egypt Urbanization is the 6,000 Years Ago process by which rural Good Spot for Agriculture, communities grow into or Trade, or Defense China, India, and move into cities over Southeast Asia time. 5,000 Years Ago 10,000+ People Mesoamerica, Andes, sub-Saharan Africa 4-2,500 Years Ago The First City: Uruk (OO-rook) Nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the world’s first major city sprang up in a fertile state called Sumer in the complex society (region) called Mesopotamia. Location (Modern Day Iraq): Within Mesopotamia In a state called Sumer Founded: c. 4500 BCE Location: Mesopotamia Region: Sumer What do you notice about the location? The First City: Uruk The World’s First System of Writing: Cuneiform in c. 3200 BCE ○ Kept track of jobs, animals, measures of grains. ○ Thousands of years later they created hymns, funeral songs, and epic tales (like Gilgamesh) Cylinder Seals ○ Rolled over clay to act like a stamp ○ Showed private ownership ○ Signed documents The First City: Uruk Earliest Known Religions: An (sky god) + Inanna (goddess of love/war) Inanna once favored city of Eridu, but came to favor city of Uruk. She stole Eridu’s decrees, and brought them to Uruk. What might this tale tell us about the development of society? The First City: Uruk Public Architecture & Specialists: The First Ziggurat ○ A Terraced temple in Mesopotamia ○ A Temple to Goddess Inanna ○ Staffed by priests/servants The First City: Uruk Rules & Hierarchy: Inanna brought the meh - divine rules Priests maintained order through coercion Priests distributed surplus food to entice good behavior, rule-following, and societal structure