Foundations of Civilization

Foundations of Civilization - Transcript

The Beginnings of Civilization

Section 3

Foundations of Civilization
Preview
Main Idea Reading Focus From Villages to Cities The First Civilizations Change in Civilizations Quick Facts Economic Systems Visual Study Guide Quick Facts Video The Impact of Archaeology

The Beginnings of Civilization Main Idea

Section 3

Foundations of Civilization
From farming villages arose cities and with them the first civilizations marking the beginnings of recorded history

Reading Focus
Why did some early villages develop into cities What characterized the world s first civilizations and where did they develop What factors cause civilizations to change over time

The Beginnings of Civilization

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From Villages to Cities
Advances in farming and changing economies caused villages to grow in size and complexity and the first cities began to appear

Advances in Farming
New methods to increase production irrigation systems Networks of canals ditches Link fields to water supply Farm more land in drier conditions Plant more crops and produce more food Surplus or excess of food

Changing Economies
Fewer people needed to farm Began to specialize in other jobs Division of labor Traditional economy Economic decisions based on custom ritual Began to change with development of irrigation Trade increases

The Beginnings of Civilization

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Characteristics of Cities
Generally larger than villages
First known city was Uruk in what is now Iraq Home to 40 000 50 000 people Covered more than 1 000 acres

Populations more diverse than in villages
Early villages consisted of extended families Early cities included many unrelated people

More formal organization than in villages
Had defined centers with temples and marketplaces Had defined boundaries separating the cities from surrounding villages Served as centers of trade for surrounding villages

The Beginnings of Civilization

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Contrast How did early cities differ from early farming villages
Answer s Cities were larger more diverse more dense and served as trade centers

The Beginnings of Civilization

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Characteristics of Early Civilizations
Developed cities Organized government Formalized religion The first civilizations grew up independently along fertile river valleys where enough food could be produced to support a growing population

The First Civilizations
The development of cities gave rise to the first civilizations A civilization is a complex and organized society Although early civilizations differed they had several characteristics in common Specialization of labor farmers engineers soldiers artisans Social classes Record keeping and writing Art and architecture

The Beginnings of Civilization

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Draw Conclusions What was the relationship between job specialization and the development of social classes in early civilizations
Answer s The increased wealth of urban societies
brought about job specialization As people specialized social classes developed Rulers nobles warriors and priests made up the highest social and economic class In the middle were traders and merchants Artisans and farmers formed the lower classes In many societies slaves were at the very bottom of the class system

The Beginnings of Civilization

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Change in Civilizations
Once early civilizations developed they continued to change over time Some changes weakened civilizations while others strengthened them and led to growth and expansion Environmental Influences Dependence on farming Forces of nature Need for resources such as metals stone and timber Expanded trade for scarce resources Spread of People and Ideas Movement of people New languages customs Cultural diffusion Advances spread from one civilization to another Expansion and Warfare Conflicts over land and resources Civilizations expanded Some civilizations developed into states and kingdoms

The Beginnings of Civilization

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The Beginnings of Civilization

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Identify Cause and Effect How did cultural diffusion affect early civilizations
Answer s People adopted new customs skills and technologies writing metalworking and farming techniques spread artists borrowed ideas and created new designs religious beliefs spread

The Beginnings of Civilization

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The Beginnings of Civilization

Section 3

Video The Impact of Archeology

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