CIVILIZATION

CIVILIZATION

Definition, Characteristics and . . .Definition, Characteristics and . . .

Where from?Where from?» From Latin civis, meaning

“citizen” or “townsman”» and so» Seen as people who live in

cities but the definition(s) more complex--maybe

Civilization defined:Civilization defined:» SIMPLE = complex society» COMPLEX = where many

people live in cities, get their food from agriculture

» BROADER = can refer to any distinct society, whether complex and city-dwelling, or simple and tribal

What characterizes?What characterizes?»government or a bureaucracy»formal social institutions»trade»technologies»arts including some form of written communication

»agriculture»generally permanent settlements»division of labor - specialization of labor»control environment»social hierarchy

EARLY CIVILIZATIONSEARLY CIVILIZATIONS

The earliest known civilizations originated in the Nile valley, China's Peiligang culture (discovered in 1977), Fertile Crescent, the Indus Valley (namely Mehrgarh, Mohenjo-daro and Harappa) and West Africa, where ancient peoples grouped together to form the first developed societies between the 10th and 3rd millennia BC.

However ongoing excavations reveal that an ancient civilization may also have originated in Jomon (Japan) at around the same time or before.

Early CitiesEarly Cities

» Jericho (Palestine)» Catal Huyuk (Turkey)» Loulan (China)

POPULATION AROUND 3000CIRCA 8000 BCE

What Brought About?

What Brought About?

»Woman?»Effeminate Men? »Beer?»Prostitutes? (Lilith)

LATER SETTLEMENTS

LATER SETTLEMENTS» Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent)» Ancient Egypt» Minoan» Indus (Harappa + Mohenjo-daro)» Yellow River Valley (Longshan +

Yangshao)» MesoAmerican + Andean