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3 Beginnings of Civilization
Objectives - What are the basic features of civilizations? - How did the first cities emerge? What developments can cause cultures to change?

Introduction
Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
100,000 workers Years of labor 2 million stones averaging 2.5 tons each

Prehistory melds into history


Neolithic farming villages became cities Societal organization increased Technology was advanced for its time How was ancient man capable of accomplishing such great architectural feats?

Features of Civilization
Rise of Cities
First cities emerged along fertile rivers Surplus foods aided in population growth

River Valley Civilizations


Early civilizations formed along these rivers:
Nile R. Indus R. Huang He (Yellow) R. Tigris & Euphrates R.

Teamwork and cooperation were essential

Features of Civilization (contd)


Civilizations in the Americas
Interestingly did not rise around river valleys Aztecs and Incas developed in highlands

Cahokia, Missouri

What does Genesis say?


Read Genesis 4:17-22

Organized Governments
Complex governments emerged
Perhaps religious priests wielded power Warrior kings emerged as rulers Taxes, laws, systems of defense contributed to strong governments Bureaucracies evolved from simple governments

Lex Rex
God gave rules from the beginning of time
Science Math Logic

And in the Garden


Do not eat from the tree Care for the Garden

And to Moses
Ten commandments Mosaic Law

Today society wants us to think that rules are bad for us Early civilizations knew that law was the only way to have peace and agreement among citizens

Complex Religions
Polytheism
Belief in many gods Most civilizations were polytheistic People worshipped the sun, rivers, nature Temples were built, sacrifices were offered
What is a sacrifice?

Job Specialization and Social Classes


Skilled artisans
Job specialization allowed for skill development Potters, weavers, goldsmiths, architects, etc.

Social Ranking
High: Leaders, priests, nobles Middle: Warriors, artisans Low: Farmers, peasants Pit: Slaves

Arts, Architecture, and Public Works


Art and architecture express the values of the people who created it Ancient people invested much creative energy into adding beauty to mundane things in life Public works
Roads, bridges, canals, defenses, etc. Benefited city life

Writing
Writing was a critical skill developed by ancient people Pictograms
Early forms of writing using a simple drawing to represent a word Replaced by use of symbols

Scribes were among the only people who could read and write

Spread of Civilization
First empires:
Battle for power sometimes resulted in alliances Empires, groups of territories controlled by one ruler, began to form

Interactions with nomadic peoples:


City-dwellers and nomads often traded Nomads kept sophisticated traditions in oral poetry, music, weaving, animal-raising, etc.

Civilizations and Change


Environmental changes:
Ancient people relied solely on natural resources Several factors could alter the supply of these
Volcanoes Salt in water Soil fertility

Interactions among people:


Cultural diffusion (the spread of ideas, customs and technologies) was brought about by famine, drought or other disasters Warfare also contributed to the change of society

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