CivilizationCivilization

what defines “civilization” ? whose definition counts ? and what does “civilization” mean,

anyway?

Whose Definition?Whose Definition?

18th Century European primitive vs. civilized white vs. everyone else beginnings of the concept of “race” “race” does not exist

General characteristicsGeneral characteristics

urbanization: people living in cities surplus agriculture: more than you can

eat now metal technology: not rocks writing: words in a row

Urban: cities Surplus agriculture: stored food Political/military system: governments and

armies Social stratification: differences in status Economic specialization: different jobs Religion: religious structures/persons Communications: oral or written records “Higher Culture”: art, literature, etc.

A modern definition A modern definition

Earliest CivilizationsEarliest Civilizations

in the Near (Middle) East three primary centers of origin and

diffusion Mesopotamia, Egypt, India

Primary Phase CivilizationsPrimary Phase Civilizations

ca. 3000-2500 B.C. to about 1800-1500 B.C.

either disappeared or changed by 1500 B.C.

enjoyed contact with one another

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

centrally located: Tigris-Euphrates River valley

oldest chief beneficiary of interaction between

the three

Mesopotamia: “The Land between the Rivers”

“Between the Rivers”– Tigris and

Euphrates Contemporary

Iraq, and a bit of Iran and Syria

Cultural continuum of “fertile crescent”

•Other Centers•Other Centers

Egypt: around the Nile River Indus civilization: around the Indus

River China

The Nile River

The Indus and its tributaries

Yangtze andThe Yellow Rivers

Common Characteristics ??Common Characteristics ??

water water water water water

Other CharacteristicsOther Characteristics

opportunity to adapt the environment suitable for domesticated plants and

animals relatively stable (a bit hot) climate

Other Characteristics, con’t.Other Characteristics, con’t.

adjustments in the environment create surplus grain

surplus food allows the expansion of trade and commerce

deserts of the riverine cultures are short on resources

Primary Phase CulturesPrimary Phase Cultures

have common characteristics these define a “primary phase culture” they are consistent, worldwide

No. 1: AgricultureNo. 1: Agriculture

cereal crops, especially barley bread and beer herd animals: cattle, sheep, goats meat, milk, cheese leather and natural wool for clothing

No. 2: Planned economiesNo. 2: Planned economies

require organized, mass labor (corvee) contruction and repair of canals and

irrigation ditches community labor, by central authority control of production and storage of

grain dispersion of foodstuffs among the

population Redistributive economy

No. 3: TheocraciesNo. 3: Theocracies

mobilized and directed by a ruling class of priests, who control the society by “blessings” and by “threats”– Sound familiar?

“the god(s) talks to us...not you! If you don’t do what we tell you to do, and if you don’t give us all your stuff, horrible things will happen to you!!”

theocracy: “a god-ruled state”

Theocracies, con’tTheocracies, con’t

priests function as an organized central government, parasitic on the people– as earthly representatives of the god– any modern examples?

the king is regarded as a god or as a god’s agent– an earthly representative of the god– any modern examples?

Theocracies, con’tTheocracies, con’t

palace and temple (“Church and State”) are combined

power is derived from an unchallengable, higher reality...unquestionable authority– If you question it, you are “evil”

the god’s will must be done for the community to survive

priestly class holds unlimited power

No. 4: Social ClassesNo. 4: Social Classes

priestly class is part of the beginning of social differentitation– that is, class stucture

class structure based on specialization of labor

generated class differences

Class structureClass structure

priests (“We talk to god, you don’t.) aristocrats/warriors (“We have

weapons, you don’t.”) common people (“I guess we work...?”) slaves (“We’re screwed!!!”)

No. 5: IndusturyNo. 5: Industury

pottery, textiles, beer (!), woodworking, and so forth

production of luxuries (Things You Don’t Really Need)

development and improvement of metal technology– at this stage: BRONZE

No. 6: ArchitectureNo. 6: Architecture

monumental architecture pyramids, ziggurats, big cities hugh temples and associated structures to fill the needs of a god-oriented state under the control of the priestly class

No. 7: WritingNo. 7: Writing

perhaps the most important invention: EVER

record keeping, literature land tenure religious documents political and religious propaganda

– any examples you are familiar with ???

No. 8: Organization of KnowledgeNo. 8: Organization of Knowledge learning becomes cumulative, not start-

from-scratch perpetuates the level of achivement scribes and schools medicine, astronomy, calendars,

mathematics, divination

The Information Age This is the beginning of the Information Age

Whoever controls the information can make whoever produces and controls you:

– worship like they want, tell you which gods are real and which aren’t, and make you suffer or die if you object

– work like they want, and tell you what system is best, and then make you pay them your money and thank them for the privilege

– And make you go where they want, kill who they want for the stuff those people have, and tell you “It’s all for you! I am nothing but your servant!! And God’s servant, too, of course!!”

– They decide what are “traditional family values”, values which support them and keep them in power.

– Sound familiar?

Books to read

Robert J. Wenke. Patterns in Prehistory: Humankind’s First Three Million Years

Charles Keith Maisels. The Emergence of Civilization: From Hunting and Gathering to Agriculture, Cities, and the State in the Near East

The Cambridge Ancient History: Prolegomena and Prehistory