Other Early Civilizations

A Polycentric World Developed urbanization at later time than

Sumer, Nile, and Indus civilizations

All show some evidence of state formation, long distance trade, and religious practice

These include China, Mesoamerica, and the Niger River Valley of West Africa

China: The Xia, Shang, and Zhou

The three dynasties may have The three dynasties may have coexistedcoexisted

Capital cities shifted frequentlyCapital cities shifted frequently

Dynasties were wealthy and Dynasties were wealthy and controlled large work gangs controlled large work gangs

GeographyHuang He (Yellow River) and Chiang Huang He (Yellow River) and Chiang Jiang (Yangtze) rivers flood quite often.Jiang (Yangtze) rivers flood quite often.

Early Evidence of WritingOracle bones were basis of early

writing

Cracks in heated bones were basis of predictions of the future or communications with the gods

Has long been regarded as a mythical dynasty

Need to control Yellow River flooding required development of large labor gangs

Produced carved jade, bronze weapons, and pictograms [forerunners of written script]

Xia Dynasty (Approx. 4000 yrs ago)

Shang Dynasty (1750-1122B.C.) Shang ruler controlled network of cities

from his capital city Relatives controlled other cities,

represented interests of king and shared local harvests Shang ultimately

controlled 40,000 square miles

Ongoing conflicts at edges of territory

Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 B.C.) Ancestor Worship claimed the Mandate of Heaven Linguistic unity – Mandarin was standardized Trade expanded to distant regions

The ZhouZhou reduced Shang to small warring

powerProduced written recordsBook of Songs a collection of ancient

poetry

Transformed warfare to cavalry and infantry

End of Zhou known as era of Warring States

America

Mesoamerica and South America

Early cities were religious shrine centers linked by shamans to world of spirits

Cities built on lakes, not river systems Work was more labor-intensive No writing system except for Maya These civilizations had foot in Stone

Age

Humans entered the Americas 15,000 years ago

Developed maize by 5000 B.C.E. and beans and gourds by 3000 B.C.E.

Valley of Mexico and high Andes of Peru centers of civilization

Olmecs – 1500 BCE-400 BCEOlmecs – 1500 BCE-400 BCE produced hieroglyphics, and sculpture

Stone and jade was moved to La Venta from a great distance

Reason for Olmec’s decline unknown; Lasted till 400 B.C.E.

Mayans 2000 BCE- 900 CEMayans 2000 BCE- 900 CERepresented true urban revolution Represented true urban revolution

TeotihuacanTeotihuacanPeak was 550 C.E. with 100,000 residentsPeak was 550 C.E. with 100,000 residentsStrategic location on the Yucatan peninsulaStrategic location on the Yucatan peninsulaCenter of extensive trading networkCenter of extensive trading networkCity dominated by pyramid situated above City dominated by pyramid situated above

ancient cave with religious significanceancient cave with religious significanceSacrifices and elaborate burialsSacrifices and elaborate burials

pyramid and temple emphasize pyramid and temple emphasize religious importance of religious importance of TeotihuacanTeotihuacan

Regular layout of city shows Regular layout of city shows power of governmentpower of government

City burned down in 650 C.E. City burned down in 650 C.E. and civilization vanished within and civilization vanished within a hundred yearsa hundred years

MayanSuspected reasons for decline Suspected reasons for decline

include population pressure, include population pressure, climate change, warfare, climate change, warfare, pressure on resourcespressure on resources

Few Mayan cities Few Mayan cities remained to greet remained to greet Spanish arrivalSpanish arrival

Zapotec 1400 bce – 900 ce Zapotec Civilization in Oaxaca Valley

Reached peak by 200 C.E. Religious symbolism present in temples and

pyramids

No central city but based on 2,000 terraces scattered across fifteen square miles

South America

Urbanization in the Andes MountainsUrbanization in the Andes MountainsTrade networks connected Trade networks connected

mountains and coastmountains and coastChavin are first known Andean Chavin are first known Andean

civilizationcivilization Irrigated high plains and established Irrigated high plains and established

religious ritual and administrative religious ritual and administrative practices that were preserved by practices that were preserved by successor statessuccessor states

The Nazca Forerunners of

the Inca in Peru Around 600bc

they disappear No one is quite

sure why they create the

“Nazca Lines”

A note about North America…

Agricultural Towns in North AmericaAgricultural Towns in North America Few urban traitsFew urban traits Towns in southwest influenced by Towns in southwest influenced by

MexicoMexico First fully developed towns comprised First fully developed towns comprised

mound builders along Mississippi River mound builders along Mississippi River at Cahokiaat Cahokia

All North American towns were in All North American towns were in decline before arrival of Europeansdecline before arrival of Europeans

Africa – Niger River CivilizationAfrica – Niger River Civilization

The Niger River Valley Until 1970s, all sub-Saharan towns

were seen as derivatives of outside examples (historical interpretation)

City development a result of trade with others

New evidence challenges idea of lack of innovative urban centers in west Africa

Region jumped from stone to iron ages with few examples of bronze artifacts

Jenne-JenoJenne-JenoFirst known indigenous city in Sub-SaharaFirst known indigenous city in Sub-SaharaCity developed 400 C.E. and peaked 900 C.E.City developed 400 C.E. and peaked 900 C.E.Central area was a walled city containing Central area was a walled city containing

eighty acreseighty acresWere probably ancestor worshippersWere probably ancestor worshippersWest African cities may have predated West African cities may have predated

outside influencesoutside influences In decline by 1100 C.E.In decline by 1100 C.E.

The Niger River Valley State Formation?State Formation?

Jenne-jeno may have been a collection of Jenne-jeno may have been a collection of independent cities without central controlindependent cities without central control

May have been a cooperative society with May have been a cooperative society with relative equality rather than organized by relative equality rather than organized by competition, dominance, and coercioncompetition, dominance, and coercion

Alternate reasoning suggests Jenne-jeno Alternate reasoning suggests Jenne-jeno may have developed only to level of may have developed only to level of Olmecs in Mexico Olmecs in Mexico

•Trade Across the SaharaTrade Across the Sahara•Gold, hardwoods and slavesGold, hardwoods and slaves•Linked Asian and African CulturesLinked Asian and African Cultures

Bantu Bantu migrations migrations carry carry knowledge of knowledge of iron working iron working and settled and settled agriculture agriculture

BantuMigration

s:

1000 BCE

To

500 CE