Download Slide 1

Topic: From Human Pre-History
to the Early Civilizations
Civilizations have a number
of elements in common.
You might want
to make a note
of these as we
go along.
Hint, hint!
Elements of civilization include:
1) Cities
Mohenjo Daro
It’s the
law
2) Central governments
And Law codes
Pharaohs
Hammurabi’s
Law Code
Elements of Civilization include:
1) Cities
2) Central governments
and law codes
Can you identify
the society
represented
by each of these two
writing samples?
4) Highly organized religions
3) Writing and
record keeping
Elements of Civilization include:
1) Cities
2) Central Governments
and law codes
3) Writing and
record keeping
5) Specialized Jobs
4) Highly organized
religion
Full-time monk
6) Social Classes
Assyrian slaves
In Egypt
Elements of Civilization include:
1) Cities
2) Central governments
and law codes
3) Writing and
record keeping
7) Complex
Technologies
4) Highly organized
religion
Chariot
5) Specialized jobs
6) Social classes
Bronze Sword
Check your answers below:
Good job if your list includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Good job,
huh?
Cities
Central governments and law codes
Writing and record-keeping
Specialized jobs
Social classes
Complex technologies
Highly organized religions
By 3,000 BCE, societies in Southwest Asia and Egypt
were developing elements of complex societies.
About 1000 BCE,
there were several
well-established
civilizations in
Afroeurasia.
There were
also two new
ones in the
Americas.
At least two civilizations in
Afroeurasia, the Minoan in the
Mediterranean region and the
Harappan in the Indus River valley
had already come and gone.
Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent)
• Babylon (land between waters)
• Sumerians created first large scale civilization
• Many ethnicities achieved political dominance over
the area (8000 B.C.E. – 1600 B.C.E)
• Sumerian culture, religion, language, was major
influence
• Urban center – Babylon
• Governed by ruling priest
class and Lugal (King)
• First written language –
cuneiform (2000 B.C.E.)
– Epic of Gilgamesh
• First law code –
Hammurabi’s Code (very
harsh)
• Ziggurats built of clay
honoring Gods
• High level of Mathematical
knowledge (base-60 number
system)
• Economic center with
extreme wealth
EGYPT formed in 3000 B.C.E.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nile River
Divided into periods of history
Less open to invasion
Government directed economy
Pharaoh was considered a god
More advanced mathematics then Mesopotamia (day of day
divided into 24 hours)
Less urban than Mesopotamia
Women were sedentary in terms of power to men but did enjoy
privileges (divorce, alimony, ownership of property, could
become queens)
Hieroglyphics produced on papyrus
Architecture and irrigation was very skilled
365 day calendar