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Development of Civilization. River Valleys Characteristics of Civilizations . 9/17 Focus: From farming villages arose cities, and with them the first civilizations, marking the beginnings of recorded history. Do Now: Where do many historians believe that farming first began. .
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Development of Civilization River Valleys Characteristics of Civilizations
9/17 Focus: • From farming villages arose cities, and with them the first civilizations, marking the beginnings of recorded history. • Do Now: • Where do many historians believe that farming first began.
The Rise of Civilizations • One of the most important effects of the Neolithic revolution • About 5,000 years ago the first civilizations began to develop in River Valleys • Tigris and Euphrates • Nile • Indus • Yellow or Huang-He
The Rise of Civilizations • Common geographic characteristics of river valleys • All of the are found in a similar latitude • Warm to hot climate • long growing season • Fertile land for farming due to annual flooding • Provided water for irrigation of crops • Rivers were used for transportation and trade with other groups • Provided a food source (fish)
Civilization • A complex, organized society • Advanced cities • Organized government • Traditional Economy • Specialization of labor • Organized religion • Social classes • Art and Architecture • Public works • System of record keeping or writing Characteristics of Civilizations
Civilization • Cities, Governments, and Public Works • Food surpluses lead to increased population • Urbanization: • The migration of people from rural areas to cities • More organized forms of leadership were needed to manage and protect the increased populations • Rulers ordered the building of projects that were for the good of the public • Roads, Bridges • Irrigations canals • Defensive walls
Civilizations • Traditional Economy • An economic system where economic decisions are based on customs, traditions, and belief systems • Based primarily around farming
Closure • What does urbanization mean?
Civilization • Job Specialization and Social Classes • Food Surpluses allowed some people to focus on non-farming related occupations • People began to specialize in certain jobs • Social classes formed based on occupation, wealth, and influence
Civilization • Organized Religions • Early people were polytheistic • Belief in many gods • Priests and worshippers tried to gain the favor of gods through rituals • Hoped for successful outcomes in war and crop production
Civilization • Art and Architecture
Civilization • System of Writing and Record keeping • writing began to appear about 5,000 years ago • Pictographs • Pictures or symbols to represent ideas • More advanced systems developed over time that used symbols to represent abstract ideas and concepts • Calendars • Were needed to know: • when to plant and harvest • when annual floods were going to occur • Changing of the seasons