8 Features of a Civilization8 Features of a Civilization

CitiesCities

As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, they began to grow surplus or extra food. they began to grow surplus or extra food.

This extra food increased the population This extra food increased the population of the settlements. of the settlements.

In time, the settlements grew into cities, In time, the settlements grew into cities, such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

City of Ur

© 2005 U.S. Army (http://www.usarc.army.mil/99thrsc/Photo_Gallery.htm).

• The remains of Ur are called today "Tell el-Mukayyar" and can be found near the city of Nasiriyah, south of Baghdad, Iraq

Agricultural SurplusAgricultural Surplus Producing more food and goods than a society Producing more food and goods than a society

needs.needs. This is the most important thing that a civilization This is the most important thing that a civilization

can have. can have. All people need food, and if they don't make All people need food, and if they don't make

enough of it, then they have to go find more of it. enough of it, then they have to go find more of it. If they spend all of their time looking for food, If they spend all of their time looking for food, what else do they have time to do? The surplus what else do they have time to do? The surplus allowed some people in the group to do other allowed some people in the group to do other things besides look for food, and then they could things besides look for food, and then they could become specialized.become specialized.

Job SpecializationJob Specialization

Breaking down jobs into simpler tasks.Breaking down jobs into simpler tasks. As civilizations became more complex, As civilizations became more complex,

artisans artisans and and craftsmen craftsmen were needed to were needed to maintain specific items and tasks. No maintain specific items and tasks. No longer could individuals do all the work. longer could individuals do all the work. Now some concentrated on teaching, Now some concentrated on teaching, scribingscribing, stonecutting, and so forth., stonecutting, and so forth.

Artisans: skilled workersArtisans: skilled workers

Artisan in Cameroon

Mates in Argentina

Sushi in Japan

Bread and Sandwiches in New Zealand

Why is specialization important to the success of a society?

What was Canadian society like when we were first founded?

What is Canadian society like now?

Do you want to go back to the “good ‘ol days”?

THINK ABOUT THIS:

Well-Organized Central

Government

• As cities developed and expanded, the food supply and irrigation systems needed to be maintained. Governments, such as councils or religious leaders, began to oversee the business and existence of the cities. The Laws of Hammurabi are the longest

and best organized of the law collections that survive from ancient Mesopotamia (NOT the oldest). This stela is almost

seven-and-a-half feet tall and they were placed in temples throughout the

kingdom.

Complex Religion

• A shared system of complicated rules, beliefs and goals.

• Religious leaders would conduct elaborate ceremonies to appease the gods (polytheism) and ensure a bountiful harvest. Floods and droughts were blamed on the gods’ anger so rituals were conducted in the temples.

These carved stone figures were placed in Mesopotamian temples by worshippers to stand in perpetual prayer on their behalf.

Social Classes Different levels of people who have similar

social, economic or educational status. As jobs became specialized so did the status

and needs of certain individuals. The need for a knowledgeable and educated religious leader was more respected than an unskilled worker.

Ex.- Herders were needed and respected for the food, while masons were needed for building. The slave was on the lowest rung

of the social ladder and warriors and kings

were on top.

Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture

Art expressed the Art expressed the beliefs and values of a beliefs and values of a civilization. Different civilization. Different styles were developed styles were developed and copied by societies. and copied by societies. Often the art was used Often the art was used to impress visitors and to impress visitors and people about the beauty people about the beauty and power of a king or a and power of a king or a community.community.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon - 16th Century Engraving (Dutch artist

Martin Heemskerck)

WritingWriting

Writing was needed because the Writing was needed because the information became too great.information became too great.

Records were needed to keep Records were needed to keep accounts on trade goods and food accounts on trade goods and food storage. In addition, one needed to storage. In addition, one needed to express more complex ideas such as express more complex ideas such as "belief" and "social order" where "belief" and "social order" where pictures and words simplypictures and words simply would not would not suffice.suffice.