1.3 The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral, and Urban Societies
*Civilization- The term refers to "large societies with cities and powerful states". Each of these early civilizations had its own complexity, but all of them shared many important key features. Each civilization produced agricultural surpluses that led to increases of population. So much surpluses that it permitted specialization of labors, where a group of people were assigned / specialized in a specific labor / skill, and produced stratified social hierarchies. Trade also developed between each civilizations and nomadic pastoralists, allowing exchanges such as diseases, technology, etc. to also occur.
"Patterns of Subsistence: Intensive Agriculture." Patterns of Subsistence: Intensive Agriculture. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://anthro.palomar.edu/subsistence/sub_5.htm>.
I. Core and foundational civilizations developed in a variety of geographical and environmental settings where agriculture flourished.
*River Valley Civilizations (Ancient core civilizations) :
*River Valley Civilizations (Ancient core civilizations) :
- Mesopotamia- in the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys
- Egypt- in the Nile River valley
- Mehenjo-Daro and Harappra- in the Indus River Valley
"What Happened With Mohenjo Daro?" ParanormalNOT. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.paranormalnot.com%2Fwhat-happened-with-mohenjo-daro%2F&safe=active&ssui=on>.
- Shang- in the Yellow River or Huang He Valley
- Olmecs- in Mesoamerica (big heads)
"OLMEC AND CHAVIN." APWorld2012 -. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <https://apworld2012.wikispaces.com/OLMEC+AND+CHAVIN>.
- Chavin- in Andean South America
II. The first states emerged within core civilizations
States- are generally are " powerful new systems of rule that mobilized surplus labor and resources over large areas". The rulers of these early states were often thought of as "divine", with claimed connections to nature and to the spirit world.
With the growing competition for land and resources, warfare favored those who had the most advance weapons, greatest access to resources, etc. This was best represented by the Hittites' (1600-1200 BC) conquest of Anatolia (Asia Minor), where they were one of the first peoples to gain access to iron technology.
Early regions of state expansion / empire building:
- Mesopotamia
- Babylonia
- Nile Valley
Pastoralists- critically impacted agrarian civilizations by transforming warfare by developing revolutionary weapons such as compound bows and iron weapons, and disseminate new modes of transportation such horseback riding and chariots.
N.p., n.d. Web. <http://resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com/Key+Concept+1.3>.
"The Hittites." - All About Turkey. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.allaboutturkey.com/hitit.htm>
"The Hittites." - All About Turkey. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.allaboutturkey.com/hitit.htm>
III. Culture played a significant role in unifying states through laws, language, literature, religion, myths, and monumental art.
Lists of early monumental architecture and urban planning
- Ziggurats
- Pyramids
- Temples
- Defensive Walls
- Streets
- Sewage and water systems
Elites- promoted arts and artisanship such as sculpture, painting, wall decoration, and elaborate weaving
Systems of record keeping arose independently in all early civilizations
- Cuneiform
- Hieroglyphs
- Pictographs
- Alphabets
- Quipu
States developed legal codes to facilitate their rule over their people. This meant that there were less confusions to what the current law actually is. Everyone who knew how to read, or knew someone who does, now can have an access to the laws and it made making up "new" rules somewhat more difficult. This in turn promoted justice. A great example is the Code of Hammurabi- "eye for an eye"
"Hammurabi's Code." Blendspace. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/QwHd64SFts56Lg/hammurabi-s-code>.
The making of religious beliefs would shape much of the events in later periods:
As the human population grew, so did the need for resources. This promoted trading, first at the local level then to the trans-regional, and promoted exchanges with different civilizations.
- The Vedic religion
- Hebrew monotheism
- Zoroastrianism
As the human population grew, so did the need for resources. This promoted trading, first at the local level then to the trans-regional, and promoted exchanges with different civilizations.
"Surkodota and Lothal." Tours: The World of Ancient Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.waa.ox.ac.uk/XDB/tours/indus11.asp>.
With the ever-increasing growth of cities and expansion of states, both the social and gender hierarchies intensified.
Literature- reflections of the many different cultures and the every day lives of the people who lived in "back then"
Literature- reflections of the many different cultures and the every day lives of the people who lived in "back then"
- Epic of Gilgamesh
- Rig Veda
- Book of the Dead