What is civilization?

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CIVILIZATION

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Culture: a people’s unique way of life, as shown by its tools, customs, arts, and ideas

Civilization: a complex cultureCivilizati

onadvanced

cities

specialized

workers

complex

institutions

record keeping

advanced

technology

Institution: a long-lasting pattern of organization in a community including government, religion, and the economy

Cultural diffusion: the process in which a new idea or a product spreads from one culture to another

religious beliefs

information

ways of living

art

ideas

Traders spread

the use of skill and imagination in the creation of beautiful objects

How do we communicate hopes, dreams, and beliefs?

Literature - Epic Poems (Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer’s Iliad & Odyssey, Mahabharata)

Architecture – columns, arches, pyramids, Hanging Gardens, the Parthenon

http://www.pbase.com/terraxplorer/visit_europe_ii&page=5

Fashion - jewelry, cosmetics, ornamentation and dye

Sculpture - Greek art set standards for future generations of artists around the world; Figures were graceful, strong, perfectly formed; values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion.

Drama – theaters, tragedy, comedy

Through Rome, Greek-style drama, architecture, sculpture, and philosophy became the core of Western civilization.

individuals living together as members of a community

Who is in our community?How do we live together?What are the norms and expectations of behavior?

Social classes emerged with varying degrees of wealth, power, and influence.

Kings, landholders, priests, wealthy landowners, government officials, priests, & army commanders Merchants and artisans

Unskilled workers and peasant farmers

Slaves

the science, art, practice, or profession of government

Who should lead the community?How should the community be led?

Theocracy: a type of government in which rule is based on religious authority

Monarchy: a government in which power is in the hands of a single person

Aristocracy: a government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility

Oligarchy: a government in which power is in the hands of a few people – especially one in which rule is based upon wealth

Democracy: a government controlled by its citizens, either directly or through representatives

Theocracy

Monarchy

Aristocracy

Oligarchy

Democracy

state ruled by priests

rule is based on religious authority

power based on fear of the supernatural

state ruled by a king

rule is hereditary

some rulers claim divine right

state ruled by nobility

rule is hereditary and based on social rank and wealth

social status and wealth support rulers’ authority

state ruled by a small group of citizens

rule is based on wealth or ability

ruling group controls military

state ruled by its citizens

rule is based on citizenship

majority rule decides vote

Rule of Law: Code of Hammurabi, Twelve Tables

Dynasty: a series of rulers from a single family

City-state: a city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independent political unit

Republic: a form of government in which power is in the hands of representatives and leaders are elected by citizens who have the right to vote

Empire: a political unit in which a number of peoples or countries are controlled by a single ruler

Bureaucracy: a system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the work of government

Dictator: in ancient Rome, a political leader given absolute power to make laws and command the army for a limited time

Civil war: conflict between groups within the same country

beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, usually involving ritual practices, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs

Where do we come from?How should we live?What lies beyond life?

Polytheism: belief in more than one godMonotheism: belief in one god

the power of thinking and acquiring knowledge

What do we know?What do we believe?What is the nature of the universe?

• Astrology• Astronomy• Base 60• Calendar• Geocentric theory (Earth at center of the solar

system)• Geometry• Libraries• Museums• Philosophy (encouraged people to question

themselves and their moral character and forced them to think about their values and actions)

• Written histories

the creation and use of tools How do we make our

lives easier?How do we improve the quality of our lives?

Writing – cuneiform, hieroglyphics, alphabet

USES OF WRITING

tax collection

calendar

historic records

business records

document grain storage

passage of laws

Bronze PapyrusChariots PlowGlass RoadsIron Working SailMedicine WheelNumbers

the management of the resources of a community

How do we prosper?How do we acquire and allocate resources?

Agricultural economy - plentiful supply of food could support larger populations

Early trade routes were along the Mediterranean and between Africa, Arabia, and India

One could travel from the Mediterranean Sea to South and East Asia either by a land route through Central Asia or by a sea route which crossed the Arabian Sea.

Trade was made easier within empires by use of standardized coins