FEAT

URES OF

CIVILI

ZATIO

N

KE

Y P

OI N

TS

AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION

Coordination of irrigation

Building drainage systems

Calendar system for planting and harvesting

Secure food supply…leisure time

CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT

Passes laws and regulates society

Power concentrated in a small group

Initially a citizen assembly of elders

Early on consensus was important

In crisis a leader would emerge

Over time changes in leadership develop (divine right of monarchs, democracies etc.)

Warfare, righting wrongs etc becomes the domain of the state

SPECIALIZATION IN OCCUPATIONS

People had surplus food and time

Engage in other pursuits

Specialists emerge (tax collectors, government officials, record keepers, judges, weavers, coppersmiths, tanners, bakers, brewers, teachers)

People start to enjoy art, architecture, poetry, legends & music

CLASS STRUCTURE

As Centralized governments developed, equality was lost

No longer have equal access to land- private ownership develops

Leads to desire to own more, hire others to work land, slavery

Unequal distribution of wealth follows- formation of classes

Nobles and commoners- no middle class

Wealthy nobles control government

MERCHANTS AND TRADE

Nature of trade changed

No longer between bands for natural goods and raw materials like obsidian, shell or amber

Now there was a focus on manufactured goods

Luxury items are status symbols for wealthy (rare dyes, precious stones)

The merchant class emerges (traders who earned their money by facilitating the exchange of goods)

Bartering with the merchant class becomes complex and leads to the development of currency

Long distance trade moved people from place to place and civilization to civilization…exchange of not only goods but ideas= cultural diffusion

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND WRITING

Time to explore natural world

Advancements in metallurgy, wheel, baked bricks, mortar, simple machines and specialized tools

Writing is linked to the concept of ownership of goods- records

Needing to measure amounts= weights & measures

Recording of laws and taxes

STATE RELIGION

Strong link between religion and authority of government

Religion often legitimized the government

Government therefore promoted religion

Although early religions were based upon legitimate expressions of beliefs and spirituality the idea of gods made people accept their positions in society

Not needed for a civilization but show complexity