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First Civilizations. Cities, States and Unequal Societies. What is a civilization?. Cities with populations in the 10’s of thousands Monumental Architecture Powerful states that demand obedience Much greater inequality - economic - social. First Civilizations.
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First Civilizations Cities, States and Unequal Societies
What is a civilization? • Cities with populations in the 10’s of thousands • Monumental Architecture • Powerful states that demand obedience • Much greater inequality- economic- social
First Civilizations • Sumer (southern Mesopotamia)- first written language – cunieform • Norte Chico (Peru)- smaller cities- less agriculture- no walls – less warfare?- quipus
First Civilizations • Indus Valley (India)- planned cities, grid system- standardized weights and measures- caste system • China (Xia, Shang, Zhou dynasties)- centralized- mandate of heaven- oracle bones (writing) • Olmec (Mexico/Texas)- first written language in Americas 900BCE- eventually influenced the Maya
Origins of The First Civilizations • The need for warfare, trade, large irrigation projects • Competition led to warfare and innovation- the plow was developed- winners of war absorbed losers into their civilization as subordinate workers • Features of the first civilizations- cities- job specialization- center of culture (arts), exchange, politics
The Erosion of Equality • Upper Class- great wealth, no physical labor- distinguished by clothes, burial, government positions, special treatment under law • Lower Class- majority of people, workers- slavery emerged with civilizations- slaves were conquered people, not race of skin color
Hierarchy of Gender • Civilization undermined equality of gender- more intensive agriculture (plows, tech)- women associated with nature- war – men physically stronger • Women activities restricted- couldn’t inherit property- exchange of female slaves- concubines- couldn’t initiate divorce
The Rise of the State • Reasons for the emergence of civilization- irrigation, defense • Rule by divine authority- In China “Mandate of Heaven” • Writing- accounting, tax collection, propaganda, astronomy • Kings- grand monuments, luxurious clothes, elaborate burials
Egypt and Mesopotamia – Environment and Culture • Both depended on rivers- Nile in Egypt: more predictable - Tigris/Euphrates in Mesopotamia: erratic • Mesopotamia less geographically isolated- more prone to invasion than Egypt- more pessimistic outlook on world b/c more threats • Environmental Difficulties- in Mesopotamia, soil erosion, deforestation due to rising population. invasions- more continuities in Egypt due to more advanced agriculture
Mesopotamia and Egypt • Mesopotamia- City-States each ruled by a king- 80% of pop. Lived in city-states for protection- Outside forces conquered city-states around 2300BCE • Egypt- Around 3100BCE Egypt became unified- Egypt unified for 3000 years- travel along the Nile helped unification efforts
The Pharaoh • God in human form – Son of Re • Linked to flooding of the Nile • Connected people to the afterlife- mummification • Discredited around 2200BCE when Nile didn’t flood- 2200-2000BCE – state of anarchy- Pharaohs restored 2000BCE but never regained the same clout
Interaction and Exchange • Both Mesopotamia and Egypt frequently interacted • Egypt benefited from Mesopotamia- agriculture: cereal grains- architecture: step pyramids- writing: cuneiform • Interaction- Mesopotamian trade with Anatolia, Egypt, Iran, and Afghanistan- Egypt interacted w/ Nubia and African east coast
Cultural Influences Along Trade Routes • Hebrews migrated from Mesopotamia to Palestine and Egypt – monotheism eventually emerged. • Phoenicians- adapted cuneiform into the first alphabet. 22 characters • Nubia borrowed from Egypt- pyramids, hieroglyphics, gods • Egyptian influence in Minoan art (Crete)
Mesopotamia and Egypt were also influenced by their neighbors • Hittites brought chariots to Mesopotamia and conquered the Babylonian Empire – 1595BCE • Hyksos invade Egypt- used chariots to invade in 16-1500’sBCE- brought new armor and weapons, new metallurgy- new methods of spinning and weaving- olive and pomegranate trees • By 1500BCE Egypt was an imperial state- rule over non-Egyptians in Africa and Middle East
Mummification and Civilization Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JqlAD7dn-E • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1g60SSGmeY
Egypt and Mesopotamia • Activity- Comparing Egypt and Mesopotamia- pairs – PERSIAN charts