Chapter1presentation

Chapter One: The Beginnings of

Civilization

Chapter One: The Beginnings of

Civilization

Cultures and Values, 6th Ed.Cunningham and Reich

Cultures and Values, 6th Ed.Cunningham and Reich

Defining “Civilized”Defining “Civilized”

• Urban life: permanent constructions • System of regulatory government• Class distinction (wealth and

occupation)

• Tools/skills --> production/trade• Written communication• Shared system of religious belief

** Not a value judgment! **

• Urban life: permanent constructions • System of regulatory government• Class distinction (wealth and

occupation)

• Tools/skills --> production/trade• Written communication• Shared system of religious belief

** Not a value judgment! **

Origins of Western Civilization


• Paleolithic World View (Old Stone Age)

• Circa 15,000 B.C.E.

• Ramapithecus – earliest form of hominid

• Homo Erectus – first direct ancestors• Homo Sapiens (Humans)

• Dominated by geography and climate• Food and shelter

• Paleolithic World View (Old Stone Age)

• Circa 15,000 B.C.E.

• Ramapithecus – earliest form of hominid

• Homo Erectus – first direct ancestors• Homo Sapiens (Humans)

• Dominated by geography and climate• Food and shelter



• Art• Cave paintings of Lascaux and Altamira

(fig. 1.1)• Venus of Willendorf (Austria) (fig. 1.2)

• Religion• Neanderthals• First to bury their dead carefully and

place funerary offerings in the grave

• Art• Cave paintings of Lascaux and Altamira

(fig. 1.1)• Venus of Willendorf (Austria) (fig. 1.2)

• Religion• Neanderthals• First to bury their dead carefully and

place funerary offerings in the grave



• Neolithic Civilizations (Late Stone Age)• Domestication of animals• Cultivation of vegetation• Community• War / Weaponry• War began as a way to raid communities’

stores of grain and food

• Pottery invented 5000 B.C.E.• Metal came soon after• 1st copper Copper + Tin = Bronze

• Neolithic Civilizations (Late Stone Age)• Domestication of animals• Cultivation of vegetation• Community• War / Weaponry• War began as a way to raid communities’

stores of grain and food

• Pottery invented 5000 B.C.E.• Metal came soon after• 1st copper Copper + Tin = Bronze

The Bronze Age (3000-1000 B.C.E.)

The Bronze Age (3000-1000 B.C.E.)

• Large scale architecture• Fortified settlements

• Mesopotamia – 2 periods:• Sumerian (3500-2350 B.C.E.)• Semitic (2350-612 B.C.E.)

• Egypt• Aegean Cultures

• Large scale architecture• Fortified settlements

• Mesopotamia – 2 periods:• Sumerian (3500-2350 B.C.E.)• Semitic (2350-612 B.C.E.)

• Egypt• Aegean Cultures

Sumerian CultureSumerian Culture• Agricultural/Urban settlements• “Fertile Crescent”• Between Tigris and Euphrates rivers

• Writing/record-keeping: Cuneiform• First system of writing• Picture signs – pictographs• Able to trade and keep records• (fig. 1.3)

• Agricultural/Urban settlements• “Fertile Crescent”• Between Tigris and Euphrates rivers

• Writing/record-keeping: Cuneiform• First system of writing• Picture signs – pictographs• Able to trade and keep records• (fig. 1.3)

Sumerian CultureSumerian Culture

• Shared system of religious belief• Temple was central focus• Gods were manifest in natural

phenomena • Holidays were linked to seasons

• Civil ruler / Religious rulers• Priests held governing power• Built better temples and dug more canals

• Shared system of religious belief• Temple was central focus• Gods were manifest in natural

phenomena • Holidays were linked to seasons

• Civil ruler / Religious rulers• Priests held governing power• Built better temples and dug more canals

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh• Gilgamesh ruled at Uruk c. 2700

B.C.E.• Sumerian ruler

• Composed in Sumerian (2000 B.C.E.) on cuneiform tablets

• Pessimistic work - Saw life as a continual struggle that would end in death

• Gilgamesh ruled at Uruk c. 2700 B.C.E.• Sumerian ruler

• Composed in Sumerian (2000 B.C.E.) on cuneiform tablets

• Pessimistic work - Saw life as a continual struggle that would end in death

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh

• Asserts universal questions about human existence• Is all human achievement futile in the

face of death?• Is there a purpose to human existence?• If so, how can it be discovered?

• “The quest of Gilgamesh is the basic human search.” p.8

• Asserts universal questions about human existence• Is all human achievement futile in the

face of death?• Is there a purpose to human existence?• If so, how can it be discovered?

• “The quest of Gilgamesh is the basic human search.” p.8

Semitic CultureSemitic Culture• Akkadian Period• King Sargon and descendants (2350-2150 B.C.E.)

• Focus on HUMAN achievement• Less submission to the gods• See Fig. 1.5 on page 8 – shows pride and self-

confidence

• Gutian invasion / return to tradition • Akkadian rule ended• Ziggurats – chief buildings, had religious

significance• Emphasis on religion (see Fig. 1.8)

• Akkadian Period• King Sargon and descendants (2350-2150 B.C.E.)

• Focus on HUMAN achievement• Less submission to the gods• See Fig. 1.5 on page 8 – shows pride and self-

confidence

• Gutian invasion / return to tradition • Akkadian rule ended• Ziggurats – chief buildings, had religious

significance• Emphasis on religion (see Fig. 1.8)

Semitic CultureSemitic Culture

• Babylonian Legacy• King Hammurabi• Authored the Code of Hammurabi• Law code that attempted to achieve social

justice by legislation • Fig. 1.9 – Stele of Hammurabi• Many provisions deal with familial

relationships• Look at the examples on page 9

• Babylonian Legacy• King Hammurabi• Authored the Code of Hammurabi• Law code that attempted to achieve social

justice by legislation • Fig. 1.9 – Stele of Hammurabi• Many provisions deal with familial

relationships• Look at the examples on page 9

Semitic CultureSemitic Culture

• Assyrians• Culmination of Mesopotamian culture• Art was often religious, but also

contained scenes of battles and hunting expeditions

• Assyrians• Culmination of Mesopotamian culture• Art was often religious, but also

contained scenes of battles and hunting expeditions

Fall of MesopotamiaFall of Mesopotamia

• Medes• Nomadic warriors• Conquered Nineveh in 612 B.C.E.• Conquered and absorbed by Persians

• Persians• Nomadic warriors• Conquered by Alexander the Great

(330 B.C.E.)

• Medes• Nomadic warriors• Conquered Nineveh in 612 B.C.E.• Conquered and absorbed by Persians

• Persians• Nomadic warriors• Conquered by Alexander the Great

(330 B.C.E.)

Fall of MesopotamiaFall of Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia never equaled Egyptian achievements in the arts

• They DID form independent city-states

• Evolved an enlightened view of human relationships (i.e., Code of Hammurabi)

• Mesopotamia never equaled Egyptian achievements in the arts

• They DID form independent city-states

• Evolved an enlightened view of human relationships (i.e., Code of Hammurabi)

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt• Lower Egypt: delta of the Nile• Upper Egypt: more isolated from

foreign contacts• Manetho’s History of Egypt• 31 dynasties / 4 groups:• Old Kingdom (2700 B.C.E.)• Middle Kingdom (1990 B.C.E.)• New Kingdom (1570 B.C.E.)• Late Period (1185-500 B.C.E.)

• Lower Egypt: delta of the Nile• Upper Egypt: more isolated from

foreign contacts• Manetho’s History of Egypt• 31 dynasties / 4 groups:• Old Kingdom (2700 B.C.E.)• Middle Kingdom (1990 B.C.E.)• New Kingdom (1570 B.C.E.)• Late Period (1185-500 B.C.E.)

Ancient Egyptian Culture

Ancient Egyptian Culture

• Unified and consistent• Resistant to change• Art, religion, language, and political

structure• Conservative and rooted in the past

• Worldview affected by external events

• Unified and consistent• Resistant to change• Art, religion, language, and political

structure• Conservative and rooted in the past

• Worldview affected by external events

Political StructurePolitical Structure• Pharaoh • Head of the central government• Regarded as a living god• Exercised absolute power

• Orders depended on a large official bureaucracy

• Ordered and controlled visible world

• Priests• Preservation of religious beliefs• Divine kingship of Pharaohs• Aton-Ra (the sun god) created the world by

imposing order, pharaoh did this in the human world

• Pharaoh • Head of the central government• Regarded as a living god• Exercised absolute power

• Orders depended on a large official bureaucracy

• Ordered and controlled visible world

• Priests• Preservation of religious beliefs• Divine kingship of Pharaohs• Aton-Ra (the sun god) created the world by

imposing order, pharaoh did this in the human world

Egyptian ReligionEgyptian Religion• Obsession with immortality / life after

death• All Egyptians were offered hope of eternal

life as a reward for a good life

• Book of the Dead – book of funeral rites and their meanings• Osiris – god who presided over ceremonies• Isis – Osiris’ wife, mourned the dead• Horus – son, symbolized spiritual afterlife

• Obsession with immortality / life after death• All Egyptians were offered hope of eternal

life as a reward for a good life

• Book of the Dead – book of funeral rites and their meanings• Osiris – god who presided over ceremonies• Isis – Osiris’ wife, mourned the dead• Horus – son, symbolized spiritual afterlife

Egyptian ReligionEgyptian Religion

• Deities, subdeities, nature spirits• Responsible for all aspects of

existence• Inspired mythology and ritual that

affected daily life• Most art was used to honor the deities

• Deities, subdeities, nature spirits• Responsible for all aspects of

existence• Inspired mythology and ritual that

affected daily life• Most art was used to honor the deities

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art

• Principal function of artists: to produce images of deities• Form of worship• Standards set forth by Pharaoh

• Artists also provided temples and shrines for honoring deities

• Individual artists had little opportunity for self-expression and own ingenuity

• Principal function of artists: to produce images of deities• Form of worship• Standards set forth by Pharaoh

• Artists also provided temples and shrines for honoring deities

• Individual artists had little opportunity for self-expression and own ingenuity

The Old KingdomThe Old Kingdom• Imhotep• First architect known to history• Built pyramid to honor his master,

the pharoah Zoser• Pyramids• Funerary monuments for pharaohs,

upper class• Guaranteed immortality for occupants

• Imhotep• First architect known to history• Built pyramid to honor his master,

the pharoah Zoser• Pyramids• Funerary monuments for pharaohs,

upper class• Guaranteed immortality for occupants

The Old KingdomThe Old Kingdom

• Mummification• Embalming was invented• Preservation of the body was

necessary for the survival of the soul

• Mummification• Embalming was invented• Preservation of the body was

necessary for the survival of the soul

Great Age of the Pyramid

Great Age of the Pyramid

• Pyramids at Giza (Dynasty IV) – built for 3 pharaohs:• Cheops, Chefren, Mycerinus

• Who built the pyramids?• Farmers• Slaves

• Perpetuate memories of upper classes and bear witness to lifestyle impossible without slaves

• Pyramids at Giza (Dynasty IV) – built for 3 pharaohs:• Cheops, Chefren, Mycerinus

• Who built the pyramids?• Farmers• Slaves

• Perpetuate memories of upper classes and bear witness to lifestyle impossible without slaves

PyramidsPyramids• Constructed of limestone blocks• Quarried, ferried, cut, dragged into place

• Center chamber contained mummified body of pharaoh surrounded by treasures

• Plundered by robbers • Size drew attention• Sometimes plundered shortly after the

burial chamber had been sealed

• Constructed of limestone blocks• Quarried, ferried, cut, dragged into place

• Center chamber contained mummified body of pharaoh surrounded by treasures

• Plundered by robbers • Size drew attention• Sometimes plundered shortly after the

burial chamber had been sealed

Chefren’s SphinxChefren’s Sphinx

• Created as the guardian for Chefren’s tomb at Giza

• Adopted as a divine symbol of the mysterious and enigmatic (Greeks)• Greek art frequently uses the sphinx

as a motif• Also appears in Greek mythology

• Created as the guardian for Chefren’s tomb at Giza

• Adopted as a divine symbol of the mysterious and enigmatic (Greeks)• Greek art frequently uses the sphinx

as a motif• Also appears in Greek mythology

Art of the Old KingdomArt of the Old Kingdom• Reflects confidence and certainty• Old Kingdom represented a golden

age• Idealized realism (see Fig. 1.13)• Portraits of the concept of divine

power, not the actual person

• Conceptual, symbolic

• Reflects confidence and certainty• Old Kingdom represented a golden

age• Idealized realism (see Fig. 1.13)• Portraits of the concept of divine

power, not the actual person

• Conceptual, symbolic

Art of the Middle Kingdom

Art of the Middle Kingdom

• Loss of trust in divine providence• Artists attempted to recapture lofty

serenity of Old Kingdom• Troubled spirit captured in weight and

somber expressions (Fig. 1.14, pg. 16)

• Loss of trust in divine providence• Artists attempted to recapture lofty

serenity of Old Kingdom• Troubled spirit captured in weight and

somber expressions (Fig. 1.14, pg. 16)

The New KingdomThe New Kingdom• Artistic traditions continued• Conceptual – depicted the idea rather

than actual appearance• Pharaoh Amenhotep IV/ “Akhenaton”• Massive religious/political reform• Replaced numberless deities with one,

the sun god, Aton• He moved the capital to Tel el-Amarna

to escape the influence of the priests

• Artistic traditions continued• Conceptual – depicted the idea rather

than actual appearance• Pharaoh Amenhotep IV/ “Akhenaton”• Massive religious/political reform• Replaced numberless deities with one,

the sun god, Aton• He moved the capital to Tel el-Amarna

to escape the influence of the priests

The New KingdomThe New Kingdom• Tel el-Amarna Art• Light and natural • Physical characteristics are depicted in detail• Scenes are relaxed and even humorous

• Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three of the Their Children• Queen Nefertiti (Figs. 1.15 & 1.16)

• Tutankhamen – Akhenaton’s succesor • Best known for treasures found in his

undisturbed tomb (Fig. 1.17, p. 18)• Howard Carter (1922-1923)• Discovered intact sarcophagus (Fig. 1.18)

• Tel el-Amarna Art• Light and natural • Physical characteristics are depicted in detail• Scenes are relaxed and even humorous

• Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three of the Their Children• Queen Nefertiti (Figs. 1.15 & 1.16)

• Tutankhamen – Akhenaton’s succesor • Best known for treasures found in his

undisturbed tomb (Fig. 1.17, p. 18)• Howard Carter (1922-1923)• Discovered intact sarcophagus (Fig. 1.18)

The Late PeriodThe Late Period

• Artists revisited earlier period styles• Recapture realism, volume• Return to pyramid-shaped tombs• Fig. 1.19, p. 19

• Artists revisited earlier period styles• Recapture realism, volume• Return to pyramid-shaped tombs• Fig. 1.19, p. 19

Aegean CultureAegean Culture• Aegean civilization sprung up in the

Bronze Age and disappeared around 1100 B.C.E.

• Crete• Minoans• King Minos / Knossos - *see myth

summary on p. 20

• Mainland Greece• Mycenaeans

• Aegean civilization sprung up in the Bronze Age and disappeared around 1100 B.C.E.

• Crete• Minoans• King Minos / Knossos - *see myth

summary on p. 20

• Mainland Greece• Mycenaeans

Aegean CultureAegean Culture• Cyclades Islands• Little is known about the Cycladic people• Bronze tools• Imaginative/humorous pottery (Fig. 1.20, p.

20)• Marble statues/idols• Produced in large quantities• Many times buried with the dead• Usually female• Purpose of idols remains uncertain

• Cyclades Islands• Little is known about the Cycladic people• Bronze tools• Imaginative/humorous pottery (Fig. 1.20, p.

20)• Marble statues/idols• Produced in large quantities• Many times buried with the dead• Usually female• Purpose of idols remains uncertain

The Bronze Age in CreteThe Bronze Age in Crete• Arthur Evans, 1894-1900• Excavated at Knossos• Found throne room of King Minos• Confirmed legendary accounts of Cretan

prosperity and power

• Early Minoan• Increasing growth• Contacts with Egypt and Mesopotamia• Scattered Towns

• Arthur Evans, 1894-1900• Excavated at Knossos• Found throne room of King Minos• Confirmed legendary accounts of Cretan

prosperity and power

• Early Minoan• Increasing growth• Contacts with Egypt and Mesopotamia• Scattered Towns

Middle Minoan, circa 2000 B.C.E.


• Evolution of large urban centers• Generally called palaces• Function was more than royal family

home• Knossos best know center (Fig. 1.22,

1.24)

• Art = lively and colorful • Painted pottery, superb jewelry (Fig.

1.25)

• Evolution of large urban centers• Generally called palaces• Function was more than royal family

home• Knossos best know center (Fig. 1.22,

1.24)

• Art = lively and colorful • Painted pottery, superb jewelry (Fig.

1.25)



• Little interest in monumental art• Greatest works are on a small scale

• Writing system of hieroglyphic signs• Used in archives of palace for

administrative purposes

• Palaces were destroyed (c. 1700)

• Little interest in monumental art• Greatest works are on a small scale

• Writing system of hieroglyphic signs• Used in archives of palace for

administrative purposes

• Palaces were destroyed (c. 1700)

[Image 1.22]Palace of Minos at Knossos

[Image 1.22]Palace of Minos at Knossos

[Image 1.25]Wasp Pendant

[Image 1.25]Wasp Pendant

Late MinoanLate Minoan• Period of rebuilding after earthquakes• High point of Minoan culture• Wall paintings – greatest treasure (Fig.

1.26, p. 24)• Spontaneity and freedom

• Religion centered upon mother goddess connected with fertility (Fig. 1.27)

• Knossos invaded and occupied by mainlanders around 1450 B.C.E.

• Period of rebuilding after earthquakes• High point of Minoan culture• Wall paintings – greatest treasure (Fig.

1.26, p. 24)• Spontaneity and freedom

• Religion centered upon mother goddess connected with fertility (Fig. 1.27)

• Knossos invaded and occupied by mainlanders around 1450 B.C.E.

[Image 1.27]Snake Goddess

[Image 1.27]Snake Goddess

Mycenaean CultureMycenaean Culture• Named after largest settlement, Mycenae• Heinrich Schliemann, 1870-1873• The Trojan War (1250 B.C.E.) Legends said

Mycenaeans attacked Troy• Found walls, gate of the city, gold, silver, &

bronze objects in Troy• Found Royal Grave Circle in Mycenae (Fig.

1.28)

• Strongly influenced by Minoan Culture

• Named after largest settlement, Mycenae• Heinrich Schliemann, 1870-1873• The Trojan War (1250 B.C.E.) Legends said

Mycenaeans attacked Troy• Found walls, gate of the city, gold, silver, &

bronze objects in Troy• Found Royal Grave Circle in Mycenae (Fig.

1.28)

• Strongly influenced by Minoan Culture

[Image 1.28]Funerary Mask

[Image 1.28]Funerary Mask

Mycenaean CultureMycenaean Culture

• Strongly influenced by Minoan Culture• Great palace complexes

• Art = preoccupied with death and war• Solemn and dignified

• Fall of the Mycenaean empire (1200 B.C.E.)• Cause of downfall unknown• Enemies? Internal strife? Natural causes?

• Strongly influenced by Minoan Culture• Great palace complexes

• Art = preoccupied with death and war• Solemn and dignified

• Fall of the Mycenaean empire (1200 B.C.E.)• Cause of downfall unknown• Enemies? Internal strife? Natural causes?

Technology

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