Early Civilizations Getting it all started!

Early Civilizations

Getting it all started!

What is a “civilization” anyway?

It has FIVE characteristics1. Advanced Cities2. Specialized Workers3. Record Keeping4. Complex Institutions5. Advanced Technology

Characteristics of civilizations

Large and advanced cities

Specialized workers who don’t grow their own food

Writing and record keeping

Complex institutions – like religion and law

Technology like metal and stone working

Advanced Cities

Key characteristics

Trade center• barter, bazaar

Large populace

What we have today

Network hubs – trade, transportation, finance, information

Metropolitan areas

Specialized Workers

Key characteristics

Focus on different kinds of work

• farmers, irrigation workers, artisans, bronze workers, merchants, priests

What we have today

Retail, manufacturing, communication

Assembly line

Education, training, tests, certification

Record Keeping

Key characteristics

Writing, which can lead to other purposes

What we have today

Data of sales, payments, public records

Electronic files, books, newspapers, epics, novels, poetry

Record Keeping

Complex Institutions

Key characteristics

Leads to government, religion, economy, social structure

What we have today

Government, religion, education, charities, corporations, social classes

Advanced Technology

Key characteristics

Produce new tools & techniques for solving problems

• Plows, irrigation, potters wheel, bronze

What we have today

Telecommunications, computers, science, automobiles, airplanes, spaces exploration

Where were these?

What did they have in common?

along rivers natural barriers agriculture polytheism afterlife

writing mathematics social classes dynasties

Mesopotamia

Modern-day Iraq primarily Along the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

“Land between the waters” Fertile Crescent

Polytheistic built large temples call ziggurats

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia

Main cities Ur – Sumerian city Babylon (later capital of Mesopotamia)

Controlled by various kingdoms Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian,

Macedonians, Romans, Turks, Mongols, British, etc.

Mesopotamia

Ur was a busy trade center before the Persian Gulf shore formed further downstream. In the background is the Great Ziggurat.

The Torah states that Ur was Abraham’s birthplace and where he left with his family for Canaan.

Mesopotamia

Babylon ruins in 1932 and rebuilt

ruins in 2003

Mesopotamia Babylon becomes city-state

dominant in region under Hammurabi.

The Code of Hammurabi is the first known written code of law.

The law was engraved onto pillars which were located in public places for all to see. Of course, it would help to be able to read them…. most people couldn’t read.

Mesopotamia

Cuneiform development as

a pictograph language

Egypt

Along the Nile River Two kingdoms would unite:

Upper – Nubia (to the south) Lower – Delta region connecting to the

Mediterranean Sea Major cities – Thebes, Memphis Controlled by several pharaoh dynasties

as well as Nubians, Assyrians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks, Romans

Egypt

Egypt

Hieroglyphics started as pictographs for ideas, they became more like sounds. Could be written on papyrus or carved into stone at temples.

Rosetta Stone found in 1799

Indus Valley

Along the Indus River in Pakistan and western India

Major cities – Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa Sewage system Unable to decipher ancient text Indo-European invaders brought the

foundations for later culture Religions – Hinduism, Buddhism

Indus Valley

Indus Valley

China

Along the Huang He & Chang Jiang Rivers Many dynasties by the “mandate of heaven” Large producer of silk Ethical systems

Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism Constant threat of invaders from the north,

so built the Great Wall

China

China

China

Ancient Chinese pictographic language on paper and bamboo.

Oracle Bones

scapula from an ox

turtle shell