Civilizations through the Classical Period

1. First Wave—River Valley 2. Second Wave—Roman, Persian, Indian,

Chinese3. Third Wave—Arab, Mongol and Inca

ContinutiesMonarchs continued to rule most of the new civilizationsMen continued to dominate womenA sharp divide between the elite and everyone else persisted almost

everywhere as did the practice of slaveryNo technological breakthrough such as the Neolithic Revolution

occurred as landowning elites had little incentive to innovate, for they benefited enormously from taking the surplus that the peasant farmers produced

Nor would peasant farmers have any reason to invest effort in creating new forms of production when they knew full well that any gains they might generate would be seized by their social superiors.

Merchants, who were often the risk takers, might have encouraged innovations but they were dominated by powerful states and were viewed with suspicion and condescension by the more prestigious social groups.

Changes Population grew Growing size of states or empires that structured civilizations dwarfed the city-

states of Mesopotamia Rise and fall of empires represented changes to the people who experienced

them Great philosophical and religious systems emerged China was source of technological change which flowed to the West

Bellows, silk-handling machinery, wheelbarrow, better harness for draft animals, crossbow, iron casting, gunpowder, magnetic compass, paper, printer, porcelain

India pioneered the crystallization of sugar and techniques for manufacturing of cotton textiles

Roman achievements in construction and engineering as well as glass-blowing More dense and widespread networks of communication and exchange

connected many of the world’s people Long-distance trade routes represented trans-regional interaction exchanged

goods as well as ideas [religion] Spread of diseases

Forced Migration of Jews Created Diaspora Communities