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CivilizationCivilization
what defines “civilization” ? whose definition counts ? and what does “civilization” mean,
anyway?
Whose Definition?Whose Definition?
18th Century European primitive vs. civilized white vs. everyone else beginnings of the concept of “race” “race” does not exist
General characteristicsGeneral characteristics
urbanization: people living in cities surplus agriculture: more than you can
eat now metal technology: not rocks writing: words in a row
Urban: cities Surplus agriculture: stored food Political/military system: governments and
armies Social stratification: differences in status Economic specialization: different jobs Religion: religious structures/persons Communications: oral or written records “Higher Culture”: art, literature, etc.
A modern definition A modern definition
Earliest CivilizationsEarliest Civilizations
in the Near (Middle) East three primary centers of origin and
diffusion Mesopotamia, Egypt, India
Primary Phase CivilizationsPrimary Phase Civilizations
ca. 3000-2500 B.C. to about 1800-1500 B.C.
either disappeared or changed by 1500 B.C.
enjoyed contact with one another
MesopotamiaMesopotamia
centrally located: Tigris-Euphrates River valley
oldest chief beneficiary of interaction between
the three
Mesopotamia: “The Land between the Rivers”
“Between the Rivers”– Tigris and
Euphrates Contemporary
Iraq, and a bit of Iran and Syria
Cultural continuum of “fertile crescent”
•Other Centers•Other Centers
Egypt: around the Nile River Indus civilization: around the Indus
River China
The Nile River
The Indus and its tributaries
Yangtze andThe Yellow Rivers
Common Characteristics ??Common Characteristics ??
water water water water water
Other CharacteristicsOther Characteristics
opportunity to adapt the environment suitable for domesticated plants and
animals relatively stable (a bit hot) climate
Other Characteristics, con’t.Other Characteristics, con’t.
adjustments in the environment create surplus grain
surplus food allows the expansion of trade and commerce
deserts of the riverine cultures are short on resources
Primary Phase CulturesPrimary Phase Cultures
have common characteristics these define a “primary phase culture” they are consistent, worldwide
No. 1: AgricultureNo. 1: Agriculture
cereal crops, especially barley bread and beer herd animals: cattle, sheep, goats meat, milk, cheese leather and natural wool for clothing
No. 2: Planned economiesNo. 2: Planned economies
require organized, mass labor (corvee) contruction and repair of canals and
irrigation ditches community labor, by central authority control of production and storage of
grain dispersion of foodstuffs among the
population Redistributive economy
No. 3: TheocraciesNo. 3: Theocracies
mobilized and directed by a ruling class of priests, who control the society by “blessings” and by “threats”– Sound familiar?
“the god(s) talks to us...not you! If you don’t do what we tell you to do, and if you don’t give us all your stuff, horrible things will happen to you!!”
theocracy: “a god-ruled state”
Theocracies, con’tTheocracies, con’t
priests function as an organized central government, parasitic on the people– as earthly representatives of the god– any modern examples?
the king is regarded as a god or as a god’s agent– an earthly representative of the god– any modern examples?
Theocracies, con’tTheocracies, con’t
palace and temple (“Church and State”) are combined
power is derived from an unchallengable, higher reality...unquestionable authority– If you question it, you are “evil”
the god’s will must be done for the community to survive
priestly class holds unlimited power
No. 4: Social ClassesNo. 4: Social Classes
priestly class is part of the beginning of social differentitation– that is, class stucture
class structure based on specialization of labor
generated class differences
Class structureClass structure
priests (“We talk to god, you don’t.) aristocrats/warriors (“We have
weapons, you don’t.”) common people (“I guess we work...?”) slaves (“We’re screwed!!!”)
No. 5: IndusturyNo. 5: Industury
pottery, textiles, beer (!), woodworking, and so forth
production of luxuries (Things You Don’t Really Need)
development and improvement of metal technology– at this stage: BRONZE
No. 6: ArchitectureNo. 6: Architecture
monumental architecture pyramids, ziggurats, big cities hugh temples and associated structures to fill the needs of a god-oriented state under the control of the priestly class
No. 7: WritingNo. 7: Writing
perhaps the most important invention: EVER
record keeping, literature land tenure religious documents political and religious propaganda
– any examples you are familiar with ???
No. 8: Organization of KnowledgeNo. 8: Organization of Knowledge learning becomes cumulative, not start-
from-scratch perpetuates the level of achivement scribes and schools medicine, astronomy, calendars,
mathematics, divination
The Information Age This is the beginning of the Information Age
Whoever controls the information can make whoever produces and controls you:
– worship like they want, tell you which gods are real and which aren’t, and make you suffer or die if you object
– work like they want, and tell you what system is best, and then make you pay them your money and thank them for the privilege
– And make you go where they want, kill who they want for the stuff those people have, and tell you “It’s all for you! I am nothing but your servant!! And God’s servant, too, of course!!”
– They decide what are “traditional family values”, values which support them and keep them in power.
– Sound familiar?
Books to read
Robert J. Wenke. Patterns in Prehistory: Humankind’s First Three Million Years
Charles Keith Maisels. The Emergence of Civilization: From Hunting and Gathering to Agriculture, Cities, and the State in the Near East
The Cambridge Ancient History: Prolegomena and Prehistory