Characteristics of Civilization The Neolithic Era Begins Mesopotamia

Characteristics of Civilization The Neolithic Era Begins: Mesopotamia and Beyond

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution Agricultural food production increased. Food Surpluses. People trade surplus food. People build homes and granaries. People live in towns and villages. (Need laws) People specialize in new works and crafts. People develop better tools and ways to record their products. Valuable plants are grown for food, flax, and cotton Civilization Social Classes and hierarchies evolve. Gender Roles developed. Population increases

What does the word civilization mean? -- a more advanced form of organized life; with more complex forms of social, political, military, and religious life. Civilizations are supported by advanced technology and specialized work.

What are the five Characteristics of Civilization? • • • Advanced Cities Complex Institutions Specialized Workers Advanced Technology Record Keeping and Writing

United States as a Civilization 1. What are some characteristics of the advanced cities of the U. S. ? 2. What are some specialized occupations? 3. What are the religious, political, and social characteristics of the U. S. ? 4. What is a method that is used for communication? 5. What are some advanced technologies in use?

Cradle of Civilization What is a cradle? Why is it called this? What does it represent?

Located in the Middle East

Let’s study one of the earliest civilizations: Mesopotamia • Where? • Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is modern day Iraq.

Mesopotamia • “Land between the rivers” – Greek

• Mesopotamia • “Land between the Rivers” – (Greek)

Ideal or not so Ideal Place • Eastern edge of the Fertile Crescent which was an area of rich soil and abundant crops, and variety of useful animals for domestication. • Alluvial plane – area around a river that receives nutrients when rivers overflow yearly. • Dry land with mild temperatures and fertile soil.

Modified the environment. • Rivers flood regularly, but unpredictably. • The source of the rivers was melted upland snow. • Control the rivers – Irrigation – Drainage

Ur : Advanced City of Mesopotamia • • About 3000 B. C. At the banks of the Euphrates Population 30, 000 Mud-brick walls Small, single story, windowless homes. City bazaar for trade (barter) Little wood or stone city-state: operated as its own country

Ur : Advanced City of Mesopotamia

The Royal Standard of Ur - 2, 500 B. C

Ur : Advanced City of Mesopotamia • Ziggurat “mountain of god” – – – – City within a city 100 stairs 70 feet tall Religious rituals/sacrifice Storage areas; food, woven goods, gems Center of political, religious, and social life. Believed that gods and goddesses owned the cities • Nanna – Goddess of the Moon – They also gave power to kings.

Ur

Ur

Ur’s Thriving Trade • Surplus food leads to trade • No money – no currency • Bartering – trading of goods or skills for other goods or skills. (wheat for wine) • Leads to specialization of workers.

Ur’s labor force. (2500 B. C. ) • Traders/Merchants – Goods from distant regions; leads to new cities – Cultural diffusion – spread of ideas from culture to culture • Artisans – Jewelry, metal-work, pottery, clothing, weapons. • Scribes – Educated – understood writing system and record transactions • Priests – carryout and maintain religious tradition

Government & Religion • Theocracy – a government ruled by religious leaders • Agriculture depends on blessing of gods • Ziggurat – city hall and temple • Priests managed irrigation and collected taxes • Polytheism – belief in many gods – Gods controlled nature – Gods behaved like humans, but all-powerful

Hammurabi’s Code (1792 B. C. ) • • Uniform Code of Laws for all. Unity Collection of current laws Copies engraved on stone Displayed publicly 282 laws Protect: family, property, business, good “rule of righteous…destroy the wicked”