The Origins of The Origins of CivilizationsCivilizations

A long period of time:A long period of time:

A short class period to A short class period to discuss it indiscuss it in

What is History and Why do it?What is History and Why do it?

Mankind’s effort to reconstruct the pastMankind’s effort to reconstruct the past Uniquely human endeavor Uniquely human endeavor involves the study and analysis of primary involves the study and analysis of primary

sources sources The study of history leads almost The study of history leads almost

inevitably to the study of civilization: What inevitably to the study of civilization: What is a civilization? What is a citizen? is a civilization? What is a citizen?

The study of history provides students The study of history provides students with answers to these and other questions. with answers to these and other questions.

PrehistoryPrehistory

Paleolithic Age- the Old Stone AgePaleolithic Age- the Old Stone Age– Earliest primitive toll making humans Earliest primitive toll making humans

east Africa nearly three million years east Africa nearly three million years agoago

– Hunters and Gatherers Hunters and Gatherers Nomadic lives with temporary homes Nomadic lives with temporary homes

– Ended about 10,000 years ago as Ended about 10,000 years ago as humans turned to an agricultural humans turned to an agricultural lifestylelifestyle

Developing a “Social Contract”Developing a “Social Contract” Prior to a more permanent settlement Prior to a more permanent settlement

groups of families formed bands of around groups of families formed bands of around 30 people30 people

Groups that did not cooperate would not Groups that did not cooperate would not survivesurvive

They worked together to provide life’s They worked together to provide life’s essentials- food, shelter, clothingessentials- food, shelter, clothing– Plato’s RepublicPlato’s Republic– Aristotle and the role of the state in regard to Aristotle and the role of the state in regard to

human development (happiness)human development (happiness) Changes at the end of the Paleolithic Changes at the end of the Paleolithic

changed the human condition permanentlychanged the human condition permanently

Language and TechnologyLanguage and Technology

What is Technology?What is Technology? Paleolithic humans began to make simple tools Paleolithic humans began to make simple tools

out of bone, wood, and stoneout of bone, wood, and stone They were able to use these tools for killing, They were able to use these tools for killing,

skinning, making clothes, shelter, and fishnetsskinning, making clothes, shelter, and fishnets They next learned how to control fireThey next learned how to control fire

– Cooking food, warmth, and protectionCooking food, warmth, and protection The cooperation required to survive brought The cooperation required to survive brought

about the development of a languageabout the development of a language This enabled humans to share knowledge, ideas, This enabled humans to share knowledge, ideas,

feelings, experience, etc.feelings, experience, etc.– Decisive factors in the development of civilizationDecisive factors in the development of civilization

ReligionReligion Paleolithic man developed mythic-religions to Paleolithic man developed mythic-religions to

explain nature (birth, sickness, death, etc.)explain nature (birth, sickness, death, etc.) They felt that powers operated beyond their own They felt that powers operated beyond their own

physical world and sought establish cordial physical world and sought establish cordial relationships with these powersrelationships with these powers

Eventually, shamans, medicine men, witch Eventually, shamans, medicine men, witch doctors, and priests became powerful members doctors, and priests became powerful members of the societyof the society

They also began to bury their dead with offerings They also began to bury their dead with offerings which shows a belief in the afterlifewhich shows a belief in the afterlife

ArtArt Between 30 and Between 30 and 12,000 years ago 12,000 years ago man began to man began to paint skillful and paint skillful and perceptive perceptive representations of representations of animals on cave animals on cave wallswalls

Some believe that Some believe that this was done to this was done to bring luck on the bring luck on the hunthunt

This one is from This one is from France (15,000-France (15,000-10,000 years ago)10,000 years ago)

The Neolithic Age The Neolithic Age

Humans discovered farmingHumans discovered farming– How can you imagine this happening?How can you imagine this happening?

With the discovery of farming came With the discovery of farming came other improvements in the Neolithicother improvements in the Neolithic– Domestication of animalsDomestication of animals– VillagesVillages– Polished stone toolsPolished stone tools– PotteryPottery– Woven clothWoven cloth

An Agricultural RevolutionAn Agricultural Revolution

Neolithic hunters and gatherers were Neolithic hunters and gatherers were confined to the things that nature confined to the things that nature provided themprovided them

Now women and children could plant Now women and children could plant grains and men could raise and slaughter grains and men could raise and slaughter their own animalstheir own animals

Farming brought about a new kind of livingFarming brought about a new kind of living– They had to live near their fields and had to They had to live near their fields and had to

store their cropsstore their crops– Permanent settlements emergedPermanent settlements emerged

Village LifeVillage Life

Patterns of life were changedPatterns of life were changed Surplus food allowed people to have Surplus food allowed people to have

spare timespare time They were able to hone their skills as They were able to hone their skills as

craftsmencraftsmen Craftsmen and artisans required raw Craftsmen and artisans required raw

materials and soon trade between materials and soon trade between villages emergedvillages emerged

The Idea of Private PropertyThe Idea of Private Property

As nomadic hunters and gatherers man As nomadic hunters and gatherers man aquired little possessionsaquired little possessions

Permanent settlement allowed them to Permanent settlement allowed them to amass propertyamass property

Villages became protective of their Villages became protective of their boundaries in regard to other villagesboundaries in regard to other villages

Individuals became protective of their Individuals became protective of their boundaries with respect to other peopleboundaries with respect to other people

Soon a ruling elite emerged that Soon a ruling elite emerged that possessed wealth and powerpossessed wealth and power– Plato and Aristotle on EqualityPlato and Aristotle on Equality

The End of the NeolithicThe End of the Neolithic

Invention of PotteryInvention of Pottery– Genesis and the creation of manGenesis and the creation of man

Tools became sharperTools became sharper Metals were usedMetals were used The wheel and the sail were inventedThe wheel and the sail were invented Food supply became stable, villages Food supply became stable, villages

expanded and families with wealth gained expanded and families with wealth gained social statussocial status

Religion became more formalized and Religion became more formalized and structuredstructured

CivilizationCivilization What is civilization?What is civilization? Cities emerged and these were separate Cities emerged and these were separate

from but relied on the agricultural towns from but relied on the agricultural towns that were adjacent to themthat were adjacent to them

City people were involved in City people were involved in nonagricultural worknonagricultural work

Society became much more complexSociety became much more complex Writing is invented for record keeping Writing is invented for record keeping

– They were able to expand and preserve They were able to expand and preserve knowledge for the benefit of future generationsknowledge for the benefit of future generations

Laws emergeLaws emerge

What does it mean to be civilized?What does it mean to be civilized?

The differences between the The differences between the Neolithic settlements and the first Neolithic settlements and the first civilizations are:civilizations are:– CitiesCities– Specialization of laborSpecialization of labor– WritingWriting– Organized governmentOrganized government– Monumental architectureMonumental architecture– Complex religious structuresComplex religious structures

The Hydraulic TheoryThe Hydraulic Theory Civilizations developed around some of the world’s most Civilizations developed around some of the world’s most

important rivers.important rivers.– Tigris and EuphratesTigris and Euphrates– IndusIndus– NileNile– GangesGanges

People realized that irrigation systems would improve People realized that irrigation systems would improve productivityproductivity

Two reasons: Two reasons: – Too much water- swampsToo much water- swamps– Not enough- desert conditionsNot enough- desert conditions

Engineering projects demanded education (like Engineering projects demanded education (like mathematics and record keeping) and cooperation of mathematics and record keeping) and cooperation of large numbers of peoplelarge numbers of people

Also demanded a legal system, an army, police force, Also demanded a legal system, an army, police force, central government, etc. central government, etc.

The Dark SideThe Dark Side Disease was more easily spread in the cityDisease was more easily spread in the city Rotting garbage could contaminate water Rotting garbage could contaminate water

suppliessupplies The power wielded by wealthy elites could The power wielded by wealthy elites could

be used for negative reasonsbe used for negative reasons– Power was used to war with neighbors to gain Power was used to war with neighbors to gain

more powermore power– Warfare was much more brutal than those in Warfare was much more brutal than those in

the Neolithicthe Neolithic– Records show warrior kings boasting of their Records show warrior kings boasting of their

conquests and that military heroes were held conquests and that military heroes were held in high esteemin high esteem