SOCIAL STRUCTURES

1. SOCIAL STRUCTURES - Mesopotamia – Egypt – Indus Valley – - Shang – Olmec – Chavin – Aegean –

2. Similarities Across Civilizations • Ancient civilizations shared similar social structures • Hierarchy with king at top & slaves at bottom • Upper classes usually associated with war or religion • Role of slaves & intermediate classes depended on economy • Merchants appeared in hierarchy over time • Women subordinate to men • Patriarchy emerged • More intensive agriculture favored male labor over female • Natural role in reproduction may have played a role • Daily life revolved around religion

3. Mesopotamia • Distinct social classes based onprofession & gender • Upper class – defined by large amounts of land & wealth • Avoided physical labor • Enjoyed finest goods • Commoners – most of the population • Punished more harshly than those of superior rank • Slaves – bottom of class system • Pessimistic view on death • Gender division – divorce easier for men; women subjected by husbands & veiled in public • Hammurabi’s Code – law code reflected social structure • Punishments for crimes determined by class • Defined patriarchal family life

4. Egypt • Social hierarchy permitted social mobility • Peasants & farmers could move up economic ladder • Lower class families could save money to send sons to learn a trade • Pharaohs – leaders thought to be gods in human form • Slaves – often POWs • Could be appointed into positions of government and palace • Had rights that were not in other ancient civ. – could regain freedom; children born free • Women – greater rights than in other regions • Own, sell, and inherit property • Allowed to work • Dissolve marriages • Men still superior – Cleopatra & Hatshepsut only two female pharaohs is an example

6. Indus Valley • Social structure is debateddue to little archaeological evidence • Three classes • Warriors at top • Priests in middle • Peasants at bottom • Merchant class later added above peasants • Priests would move above warriors later • Social mobility allowed • Women had almost no rights • Became more complex & rigid over time • Later added sub-castes & social mobility ended

7. Shang Dynasty 1750-1045BCE • King at top of social pyramid • Military nobility – elite warrior class fought with bronze weapons & horse-drawn chariots • Priests • Merchants & farmers • Distinguished in burials • Elite buried in elaborate tombs with objectsof wealth for afterlife • Lesser classes buried in pits of varying size • Lowest classes sometimes tossed down well • Ancestor worship important in religion & life • Kinship structures based on clans gave way to multigenerational family units emerged in Zhou Period 1045-221BCE • Fathers had absolute authority over women & children • Arranged marriages • Could sell labor of family members • Limited to one wife, but permitted additional sex partners • Women discouraged from remarrying, but men obligated to • Yin/yang concept complemented male & female roles in natural order • Yang- men – active, bright, shining • Yin – women – passive, shaded, reflective

8. Olmec Civilization1200-250BCE • Little evidence • Two main groups • Common people • Worked on farms or irrigation systems, supplying food for the population • Elite • Rulers  shaman  skilled artisans & craftsmen • Lived in small religious centers or cities (La Venta & San Lorenzo) • Rulers often associated with different gods • Obtained control over trade & imports like jade & cacao • Not believed that the cities ruled over all rural areas • No military

9. Chavin Civilization 900-250BCE • Social distinctions increased over time in contrast to Olmec • Local chiefs & more powerful king dominated politics • Priest class ruled religious life • Military developed • Conquering lands important aspects of society • Influence depended on development of religious beliefs in conquered areas • Metallurgy became popular among highly skilled artisans

10. Minoan Civilizationc.2000BCE • Early period – no evidence of social hierarchy, similar to Neolithic patriarchal communities • Men & women may have had near equal social status • Definite rich & poor class • Upper class Minoans had free standing houses aside from the palace • Some poor had multi-room dwellings in the city • Evidenced by later tombs • Social power affected by economic situation, historical position of family, religious caste • In general – simple population & workers  palatial elite  religious class

11. Mycenaean Civilization • Strict hierarchy indicated by graves • Powerful ruling monarchy • Adopted palatial states of Minoan & Near East civilizations • Political & religious leader at top • Lower administrative duties & powers given to local chiefs & controllers • Centralized political system based on land ownership • Military character – ruling class often gained wealth from booty in military operations

12. Resources • http://apworldhistory-rochester-k12-mi-us.wikispaces.com/1C.+Basic+features+of+early+civilizations-+Mesopotamia,+Indus+Valley,+%26+Egypt • http://thesocialclassesoftheancientworld.blogspot.com/2012/02/social-classes-of-indus-river-valley.html • http://apworld2012.wikispaces.com/OLMEC+AND+CHAVIN • http://www.bronzeage.org.uk/7.aspx • http://www.ime.gr/chronos/02/mainland/en/mg/society/