Origins of Society Origins of Society and Governmentand Government

““Life was nasty, brutish and short” Life was nasty, brutish and short” - Thomas Hobbes- Thomas Hobbes

2.5 Million to 100,000 BC….2.5 Million to 100,000 BC….

No Society No Government No CultureNo Society No Government No Culture

Homo Habilis Neanderthal Homo Sapiens Homo Habilis Neanderthal Homo Sapiens (Modern Human)(Modern Human)

The Paleolithic age of early Hominids, Near Humans and Archaic HumansThe Paleolithic age of early Hominids, Near Humans and Archaic Humans

•Tiny family bands of hunter-gatherersTiny family bands of hunter-gatherers

•Leadership spontaneous and temporaryLeadership spontaneous and temporary

•Tools of sharpened stone, bone or hornTools of sharpened stone, bone or horn

•11stst evidence of intentional burial 120,000 BC by Neanderthals evidence of intentional burial 120,000 BC by Neanderthals

•Little cultural evolutionLittle cultural evolution

•World population very lowWorld population very low

100,000 to 20,000 BC 100,000 to 20,000 BC Neanderthals die out, Modern Humans dominate circa 30,000 BC Neanderthals die out, Modern Humans dominate circa 30,000 BC FIRST SIMPLE SOCIETIES FORM CULTURAL EVOLUTION BEGINSFIRST SIMPLE SOCIETIES FORM CULTURAL EVOLUTION BEGINS

•Hunter gather bands grow into Clans Hunter gather bands grow into Clans •Division of Labor – sophisticated tools, better dietDivision of Labor – sophisticated tools, better diet•Semi-permanent “territory” Semi-permanent “territory” •Organized violence – evidence of executions, human sacrificeOrganized violence – evidence of executions, human sacrifice•The birth of Art and possibly MusicThe birth of Art and possibly Music

Cave Paintings appear 32,000 BCCave Paintings appear 32,000 BC

Sign of religious ideasSign of religious ideas

JewelryJewelry

Mining of red ochreMining of red ochre

Possible evidence of tradePossible evidence of trade

““The Big Man” – Earliest start of GovernmentThe Big Man” – Earliest start of Government

Most influential, feared or respected warrior or elder

•Informal authority•War leader or organizer of hunts•Arbitrates disputes

15,000 to 3000 BC 15,000 to 3000 BC Complex Societies Form Complex Societies Form

THE AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTIONTHE AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTIONSingle most important event in human historySingle most important event in human history

Domestication of wild grains allows population explosionDomestication of wild grains allows population explosion

Accelerates human settlement into villages, towns and citiesAccelerates human settlement into villages, towns and cities

Civilizations coalesce along major rivers Civilizations coalesce along major rivers – Nile, Tigris & – Nile, Tigris & Euphrates, Indus and YaluEuphrates, Indus and Yalu

Complex society causes an explosion of Cultural EvolutionComplex society causes an explosion of Cultural Evolution•Pottery – 10,000 BC JapanPottery – 10,000 BC Japan•Brick Walls – 8000 BC TurkeyBrick Walls – 8000 BC Turkey•Domestication of cattle 8000 BC IraqDomestication of cattle 8000 BC Iraq•Metal tools 6000 BC IraqMetal tools 6000 BC Iraq

The Rise of the TribeThe Rise of the TribeClans of hundreds grew into Tribes of tens of thousands

Chiefdoms – Chiefs as supreme leaders in war – later become “sacred” as well

Tribes based on kinship networks, plus “adoption”

Tribesmen become raiders of settled, farming, peoples. Invaders and looters.

The tribe is the most durable social organization ever invented – and one of the most dangerous

A culture based on blood ties, family honor, personal bravery and customary traditions

Before the Industrial Revolution and gunpowder, only the most powerful empires were able to crush the barbarian tribes – and then only for a time

MONARCHYMONARCHYRise of Kingdoms circa 6000 -3000 BC

Egypt, Sumeria, Babylon

Grew from the first true cities – Ur

Monarchs were God-Kings

Advent of writing with picture symbolsThen an alphabet

Strict caste system and slavery

Complex, polytheistic religion

Wars are now fought by armies

Knowledge preserved and passed on

Historical period begins