The Birth of Civilization

Western Civ. IIntroduction

Answer This Question Answer This Question

What are some ideas that people today have about early human life?

Answer This Question Answer This Question

What might lead people to view prehistoric humans in this way?

Answer This Question Answer This Question What evidence might lead scientist to

conclude that prehistoric peoples were just as intelligent as present-day people?

Historical RecordHistorical Record People living in the past left many clues

about their lives.

These clues include both primary and secondary sources in the form of books, personal papers, government documents, letters, etc.

Historians call all of these clues together the historical record.

Answer This Question Answer This Question Think about all the activities you were

involved in during the past 24 hours. List as many of these activities as you can remember.

For each activity on your list, write down what evidence, if any, your activities might have left behind.

Review your list and answer the Review your list and answer the

following…following… Which of your daily activities were most

likely to leave trace evidence behind?

What, if any, of that evidence might be preserved for the future? Why?

What might be left out of an historical record of your activities? Why?

What would a future historian be able to tell about your life and your society based on evidence of your daily activities that might be preserved for the future?

So, What Is Civilization?Characteristics of CivilizationCities, Money and Institutions

Technology, Food and LanguageSpecialized Occupations and Government

Civilization Is Comprised of Many Civilization Is Comprised of Many

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

CitiesMoneyInstitutionsTechnologySurplus Food

Written Language

Specialized Occupations

Form of Government

The Birth Of CivilizationThe Birth Of Civilization Earliest civilization

arose in the Middle East

Located near abundant waterways and fertile fields

Mesopotamia emerged 3500 B.C. as the first recorded civilization

Civilization is a complex way of life

CitiesCities Cities

Were comprised of people who were no longer farmers but skilled workers

Cities had a recognized form of government

MoneyMoney Money/Economy

Goods were traded with local and foreign markets

Money was developed as a means of exchange

Economies developed as cities trade their surplus goods or resources with others

InstitutionsInstitutions Institutions

Organizations created to pass on a people’s belief’s customs, ideas and arts

Religion provided people with a belief system

Education passed on a ideas and arts

TechnologyTechnology Technology

Introduction of metal tools and weapons changed how people lived

Surplus Food Large production of

agriculture provided opportunity for people to specializes in a skill

Written LanguageWritten Language

Specialized Occupations Lead to the

development of artisans, tradesmen, government officials and soldiers

Written Language Emerged to record food

inventories, soldier pay and communication with other kings

Why Do Civilizations Why Do Civilizations Collapse?Collapse?

Dependence on foreign resources

Overpopulation which strains a governments ability to maintain revenues, low surpluses and resources

Internal strife caused by famines, epidemics, state breakdowns, decay of society and overpressiveness

The First Civilizations

The Mesopotamians, 3000-1000 B.C.The Sumerian and Akkadian Period, 2800-2150 B.C.

Mesopotamians, Mesopotamians, 3000-1000 B.C.3000-1000 B.C.

Mesopotamia originally not suited for human settlement

Humans must modifications to the region

Mesopotamia means between “the two rivers”

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

120° summers and only 10 inches of rainfall a year

Mesopotamians, Mesopotamians, 3000-1000 B.C.3000-1000 B.C.

The region that was located along the waterways in Mesopotamia was called the Fertile Crescent

Fertile Crescent had yearly deposit of fertile silt that provided rich topsoil

Rivers provided abundance of fish and attracted animals

Mesopotamians, Mesopotamians, 3000-1000 B.C.3000-1000 B.C.

Bronze Age born with smelting of copper and tin

Swamp marshes around rivers produced reeds for fuel and swamp mud made bricks

Abundance of plants provide food for domestic animals

Mesopotamians, 3000-Mesopotamians, 3000-1000 B.C.1000 B.C.

Mesopotamia lacked resources like stone, lumber and minerals

Humans adapted to region by using river ways to move natural resources

The development of sailed boats and the wheel helped in movement of resources across water and land

Villages settled along river ways and lead to the development of urban areas around 3,000 B.C.

Region in constant struggle because of water ways and location

Mesopotamians, 3000-1000 Mesopotamians, 3000-1000

B.C.EB.C.E Religion

Polytheistic any religion that recognizes more than one god

Ziggurat an ancient Mesopotamian temple which served as a temple, government offices, and a storehouse for grain

Worshipped gods for protection, help and no hope for an afterlife

MesopotamiansMesopotamians.. Social structure

developed in city states Military and religious

leaders became social and political elites

Skilled workers Slaves and peasants

worked for elites Male dominance in family

MesopotamiansMesopotamians Economy

Trade routes developed along the water ways

Both the Tigris and the Euphrates reached different markets because of their locations

Cities along river ways became heavily involved in commerce

The SumeriansThe Sumerians Large city states

develop like Ur, Uruk and Kish

They were constantly at war for water, trade routes and influence

Developed a large trade in textiles, animals, stone and bronze

Sumerians considered the earliest civilization

Akkadian Period, Akkadian Period, 2800-2150 B.C.E.2800-2150 B.C.E.

Sargon I (2300 B.C.) conquered Sumerians and saw an empire that stretched from Persian Gulf to Mediterranean

Used religion to unify Sumerians and Akkadians

Considered History’s first Emporer.

Akkadian Period Akkadian Period From the Arabian

peninsula who spoke the semitic language (related to Hebrew and Arabic.

Abandoned most of their culture and absorbed a majority of the Sumerian culture.

Sumerian influencesSumerian influences Head of government

Lead to writing from pictographic to scrawling picture words on wet clay (known as cuneiform.)

Monarch-like Priest King was created that headed the military, judged disputes, and engaged in religious ceremonies.

Ruled through bureaucrats, namely priests who bore the responsibility of redistributing crops and record-keeping.

Sumerian influencesSumerian influences Law

Administered by centralized authority- the accuser brings the accused to court, and court determines retribution.

The Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonia Monarch will become the basis of law of all Semitic people for centuries.

earliest legal code known in its entirety

The code is set down in horizontal columns of cuneiform writing: 16 columns of text on the obverse side and 28 on the reverse.

The text begins with a prologue that explains the extensive restoration of the temples and religious cults of Babylonia and Assyria.

The divine origin of the written law is emphasized by a bas-relief in which the king is depicted receiving the code from the sun god, Shamash.

The quality most usually associated with this god is justice.

CODE OF HAMMURABI

CODE OF HAMMURABICODE OF HAMMURABI

The basis of criminal law is that of equal retaliation, comparable to the Semitic law of “an eye for an eye.”

The law offers protection to all classes of Babylonian society; it seeks to protect the weak and the poor, including women, children, and slaves, against injustice at the hands of the rich and powerful.

Sumerian InfluencesSumerian Influences Science and Math

To measure and count produce, calendars were created, consisting of 12 lunar months, (leap month every three years.)

As well, peoples of this region dabbled in Astronomy and the first human invention of the zodiac

The SumeriansThe Sumerians Sumerian Religion

Worshipped at a ziggurat, a large temple complex where daily government business was addressed

Government and religious beliefs replace loyalty to one’s tribe or clan

Ziggurat size was attempt to reach gods

Statue of god was worshipped there and it served a symbolic purpose

Sumerian influencesSumerian influences Polytheistic, powerful, and

anthropomorphic (human characteristics)

Invented astrology to predict behavior of the Gods.

Oriented in this world, no rewards or punishments after death. “wisps within a house of dust.”

Wars we seen as fighting amongst the Gods

Myths were created to discuss the origin of man.

Ex. Man came from a earth-like plant, or clay and was given life from the goddess Nammu.

Peasants would surrender their crops to appease the gods.

A system of writing developsA system of writing develops

The earliest form of writing dates back to 3300 B.C. People back then would draw "word-pictures" on clay tablets using a pointed instrument called a stylus.

These "word-pictures" then developed into wedge-shaped signs.

This type of script was called cuneiform (from the Latin word cuneus which means wedge).

Cuneiform, earliest written language, developed by accountants which was created by using a reed on a clay tablet

Scribes were the only people that knew how to read and write cuneiform

Used for inventory, payroll of soldiers, property ownership and correspondence between monarchs

WritingWriting

Scribes wrote on clay tablets and used a triangular shaped reed called a stylus to make marks in the clay.

Marks represented the tens of thousands of words in their language.

Who used cuneiform?*Not everyone learned to read and write.

*The ones that were picked by the gods were called scribes.

Boys chosen to become scribes (professional writers) began study at age of 8. They finished when they

were 20 years old.

Writing…Writing… Tokens are small geometric clay

objects (cylinders, cones, spheres, etc.) found all over the Near East from about 8000 B.C. until the development of writing.

The earliest tokens were simple shapes and were comparatively unadorned; they stood for basic agricultural commodities such as grain and sheep.

Origins of writing…Origins of writing… Two jars of oil would be

represented by two ovoids, three jars by three ovoids, and so on.

Thus, the tokens presented an abstraction of the things being counted, but also a system of great specificity and precision.

A specific shape of token always represented a specific quantity of a particular item.

For example, "the cone ... stood for a small measure of grain, the sphere represented a large measure of grain, the ovoid stood for a jar of oil." (Before Writing 161).

CuneiformCuneiform

CuneiformCuneiform

Egyptian CivilizationEgyptian Civilization The first settlements

in the Nile Valley began around 7,000 years ago

The first peoples to inhabit this region called their land Kemet, which means “ black lands.” This name comes from the rich black soil that was found there.

Geography and People of Egypt

Nile is the Longest River (4184 miles)

Without the Nile Egypt would be a Desert

River floods regularly and brings in fertile soil

Ancient Egyptians built reservoirs and used canals to carry water to fields.

Invented new technology and carefully planned and organized large irrigation projects.

Devised a calendar to predict floods

Excellent for transportation

Uniting EgyptUniting Egypt The farming villages

along the Nile gradually were united into two Kingdoms Upper and Lower Egypt.

About 3100 B.C.E. the ruler Narmer (Menes) conquered lower Egypt and brought all of Egypt under his rule.

Built the capital city of Memphis

Narmer’s rule began the first dynasty and thus, the “Pyramid Age,” or “Old Kingdom”

Class System in Ancient

Egypt

PHARAOH-Earthly leader; considered a god

HIGH PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES-Served gods and goddesses

NOBLES-Fought pharaoh’s wars

MERCHANTS, SCRIBES, AND ARTISANS-Made furniture, jewelry & fabrics for pharaohs & nobles, & provided for other needs

PEASANT FARMERS AND SLAVES--Worked in the fields and served the pharaoh

Religion Pharaoh was believed to be

a god as well as a monarch.

Belief in eternal life after death.

Relied on the Book of the Book of the DeadDead to help them through

the afterworld.

Practiced mummification, the preservation of the body for use in the next life.

Pyramid texts were written in Hieroglyphics (picture writings)

Religion Polytheism

Sun, stars, and the Nile were seen as god or as dwelling places of gods.

King of the Gods was Amon-Re, a Pharoh saw himself the son of the Sun God. Represented by a cartouche.

Worship of animals as cats and crocodiles

Out of interest…how to

mummify!

1. All of the internal organs, except the heart, were removed.

2. The body was packed and covered with natron, a salty drying agent, and left to dry out for forty to fifty days.

3. The body cavity was stuffed with resin, sawdust, or linen and shaped to restore the deceased's form and features.

4. The body was then tightly wrapped in many layers of linen with numerous amulets wrapped between the layers. The most important amulet was the scarab beetle, which was placed over the heart.

Old Kingdom (2575-2134 BC) 1st Intermediate- (2134-

2040 BC)- Chaos and disunity, rival aristocratic families (nomarchs) competed for the throne

Pharaohs organized a strong central state, were absolute rulers, and were considered gods. “Mu-at”

Pharaoh was seen as the son of the sun-god Amon-Re

Egyptians built pyramids at Giza. Built obelisks

Power struggles, crop failures, climate disasters and cost of pyramids contributed to the collapse of the Old Kingdom.

The SphinxThe Sphinx• Was it build doing the Old

Kingdom?

• How did it erode?

• A solar symbol, Body of lion=power, head=intelligence and consciousness

Middle Kingdom 2040-1640 BC

Re-establishment of Kingdom with Thebes as political center.

Culture and trade flourished 250 years. Known as the “Golden Age” More democratic, increase power of the Priests.

Large drainage project created arable farmland and Traders had contacts with Middle East and Crete.

During the New Kingdom, Egypt conquered Nubia.(Sudan)

Nubians served in Egyptian armies and influenced Egyptian culture.

Corruption and rebellions were common.

Hyksos (HIK-sahs) , combo of Indo-Europeans and Semites ruled Egypt for 100 years.

Known as the 2nd Intermediate period.

New Kingdom (1570) After overthrowing

the Hyksos (1570) a new dynasty was established

Pharaohs built an empire, conquered land eastward in Mesopotamia to the Euphrates

New Kingdom lasted about 500 years

Leaders… Queen Hatshepsut

(hat-SHEP-soot) (1473 BCE) 1st female leader set up large trade; built lots of temples.

Thutmose III (thoot-MOH-suh) (1490 BCE)- Led Military Expansion and Built Empire to its great size.

Change in religion? Amenhotep IV (ah-

mun-HOH-tep) (1300s BCE)

Wanted to worship a single god, Aton and reduce the power of the priests. Closed all temples

Renamed Akhenaten (“it is well with Aton”) and his wife, Nefertiti ordered the removal of all Gods.

Religion left little, impact as his son in law, King Tutankhamen destroyed all monuments to Aton.

The Decline… Rameses II (RAM-ih-

seez) (1304 - 1237 BCE) was Last effective ruler.

However, The Hitties (Located in Asia Minor “Turkey”) invaded, fight lasted for 20 years.

Rameses II married a daughter of the Hittites to helped to restore peace.

Invasions by Land and Sea

Egyptians Attacked by invaders called “Sea People” Philistines who did great destruction

In the east the tribes of Palestine often rebelled

In the west the vast desert no longer served as a barrier against Libyan raids.

After these invasions, Egypt never recovered its previous power.

The Egyptian empire broke apart into regional units and eventually fell to their neighbors.

By 332, Egypt is conquered by Alexandar the Great

Contributions… Developed a form of picture

writing called hieroglyphics (from the papyrus plant)

Doctors diagnosed and cured illnesses, performed surgery, and developed medicines still used today.

Developed 12-month calendar on which modern calendar is based.

Astronomers mapped constellations and charted movement of the planets.

Developed practical geometry.

Skilled in design and engineering.

Statues, paintings, and writings tell us about ancient Egyptian values and attitudes.

Developed painting style that remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Wrote hymns and prayers to the gods, proverbs, love poems, stories of victory in battle, and folk tales.

Built pyramids and other great buildings, such as temple of Ramses II.