What is a Civilization?

• Civis (Latin): inhabitant of a city• 1) Cities--a population of 10,000 or more. • 2) Monumental architecture • 3) Writing

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The Hunter-Gatherers of the Paleolithic Age

• Paleolithic Age, c. 2,500,000-10,000 B.C.E.• Paleo (Greek for old) + lithic (Greek for stone)• Nomadic people– Division of labor– Fire, 500,000 years ago– Cave paintings

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Neolithic Period(Agricultural Revolution)

• Neo (Greek-new) + lithic (Greek- stone)• 10,000 BC – 4,000 BC

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Natufian Period

• 10,500 BC-8,500 BC

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The Neolithic Agriculture Revolution (c. 10,000-4000 B.C.E.)

• Characteristics: growing plants and domesticating animals

• Mesolithic Age (c. 10,000 – 7000 B.C.E.)• Independent development

– Middle East, 8000 B.C.E.– Balkans, 6500 B.C.E.– France, Central Europe, and Coastal Mediterranean, 4000 B.C.E.– Western Asia and Nile Valley of Egypt, 6000 B.C.E.– Northwestern and Central India, 7000-5000 B.C.E.– Southeast Asia and South China, 5000 B.C.E.– North China, 6000 B.C.E.– Mesoamerica, 7000-5000 B.C.E.

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1) The Oasis Hypothesis

2) The Nuclear Zone Hypothesis

3) The Population Hypothesis

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Maximum Extent of the Last Ice Age

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Nuclear Zone Hypothesis

• Peake and Fleure • They believed that agriculture would occur

first in a special zone, the nuclear zone, where temperatures and rainfall are perfect for growing grasses.

• 12-24 inches of rain• 900-5400 feet above sea level

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Nuclear Zone

Hassuna (modern Mosel)

Choga MamiChogi Mish

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Population Pressure Hypothesis

• Climate warmed, population increased, and the need for more food increased

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Catal Huyuk

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http://figurines.stanford.edu/

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Plans of megaron houses or "pier houses" from several PPNB sites in the southern Levant: Beidha Level II (a-b), Beisamoun (c), ‘Ain G hazal (d-e), Jericho (f-h), and Yiftahel (i).

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Pit-houses and other predominantly ovoid structures were the earliest form of house. Their construction involved digging a pit, sometimes inserting narrow posts at small intervals against the sides of the pit and then infilling the spaces between them with stones and mud. The examples shown here are from Jerf al-Ahmar (c), and Gilgal( d).

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Consequences of the Neolithic Revolution

• Neolithic farms and villages– Oldest in the Middle East– Shift to systematic agriculture

• Consequences– Settled in villages and towns– Çatal Hüyük, 6700-5700

B.C.E.• Walled village• 12 cultivated products• Religious shrines

– Trade– Specialization of crafts– Pottery and baskets– Flint blades– Fixed dwellings and

domestication of animals– Metalworking

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The Emergence of Civilization

Characteristics of Civilization•Urban focus•Distinct religious structure•New political and military structures•New social structure based on economic power•The development of writing•New and significant artistic and intellectual activity

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Early Civilizations Around the World

• Mesopotamia of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers• Valleys of the Indus River• Yellow River in northern China• Central Asia• Supe River valley of Peru• Why civilization developed?– Challenge and response– Material forces created specialization of labor– Management of water resources– Religion provided unity and purpose

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