5 Characteristics of a Civilization Unit 3 Early

5 Characteristics of a Civilization Unit 3 Early Civilizations

Advanced Cities • Cities are key features of civilizations • Center of trade for a large area and usually high in population • Cities are also centers of political. economic, and religious life

Specialized Workers • Surpluses of food allow people to specialize in jobs outside of agriculture (jobs besides farming) • Specialization- the development of skills in a specific kind of work • Examples are artisans that make tools, jewelry, weapons and pottery, and traders, government officials and priests

Complex Institutions • Complex institutions include government (law codes), religion, and the economy. • High Populations made governments and systems of ruling necessary because the help organize, unite, and help civilization to prosper

Record Keeping • As Government, religion, and the economy became more complex, the people recognized that there was a need to keep records (write them down). • Most civilizations developed a form of writing while others devised different methods of record keeping • Allows people to record history, ideas, and literature that can then be shared

Advanced Technology • New tools and techniques invented to aid with farming and to help make other tasks easier (working with metals, pottery, etc. ). • New tools and weapons developed that made the world more orderly