First Civilizations:Cities, States, and Unequal

Societies

AP World HistoryMr. Colden

Fall 2013

Question of Question of OriginsOrigins

Developed from earlier competing chiefdoms

Why some Chiefdoms? Argument 1: Argument 2: Argument 3:

All first civilizations relied on highly productive agriculture

The Erosion of The Erosion of EqualityEquality

Hierarchies of Class First civilizations had vast inequalities in

wealth, status, and power New levels of inequality represent one of the

major turning points in the social history of human kind

Upper Classes: Free population = vast majority of population

Slaves at the bottom level

The Erosion of The Erosion of EqualityEquality

Hierarchies of Gender Civilizations everywhere undermined earlier more

equal relationships between men and women Emergence of Patriarchy

AGR based on plow and large dairy herd favored men

Declining position of women was a product of growing social complexity David Christian

Association of women with nature at a time when mankind was conquering nature

Warfare contributed to Patriarchy Assure inheritance by Father’s offspring

The Erosion of The Erosion of EqualityEquality

Patriarchy in Practice Gerda Lerner: emergence of Patriarchy in

Mesopotamia Women divided into 2 categories Written law codes codified Patriarchal family life Powerful goddess of Mesopotamia gradually

replaced by male deities Egyptian Patriarchy

Greater opportunities than in most 1st Civilizations

Royal women occasionally held political power Egyptian statues and love poetry suggest

affection between sexes

Rise of the Rise of the StateState

Coercion and Consent The state fulfilled a variety of roles in

coordinating and regulating 1st civilizations State served the needs of the upper classes by: State frequently used force to secure its will BUT force wasn’t always necessary because it

claimed its authority was normal, natural, and ordained by gods Remember Why We Study History? by Stearns

Rise of the Rise of the StateState

Writing and Accounting Writing sustained 1st cultures Writing also served functions

beyond state

Grandeur of Kings