The first Civilizations

What does it mean to be civilized?


Historians commonly use the term, civilization represents a new and particular type of human society made possible by the immense productivity of the agricultural revolution.
Differences in economic function, skill, and wealth divide us in to different civilizations. Our actions and behavior within these separate cultures.
- 3500b.c-3000b.c = Cradle, middle Eastern civilization
- They gave rise to the early form of writing in the temples.

3000b.c a third civilization was being developed along the central coast of Peru.
- Norte Chico- archeologists have found monumental architecture in the form of eastern platform mounds.
- this was a huge part of urban life ( structure and stone buildings were constructed).
- There largest food source was in the water (fish).
- The Norte Chico were not as developed in subjects such as writing and the arts.

We may ask how did all this get started?

 Civilizations had their roots in the agricultural revolution. It was gradually an evolution process.
- Early water irrigations are discovered by archeologists which shows us their sense of survival.
- Not many opportunities for territorial expansion were already available.
- Relied on the natural suroundings as food was not man made.

The urban Lifestyle


First civilizations in the middle east built stepped pyramids for worship and keeping food.
-Teotihuacan culture housed nearly 200,000 people in the middle of the first millennium.
- They created broad avenues, dozens of temples, two huge pyramids, and much more.
- For a new visitor this would be seen as another highly developed world.

These cities were the center of productivity as culture such as art, architecture, literature, ritual, and ceremony took place. The people were always at work to keep creating more.

Social Role


Equality was a huge an played a huge role in the daily activities.

- Different hierarchies of class
- Many inequalities in wealth, class, status, and power took place.
  Upper class were able to dodge physical labor and were distinguished by the clothing they wore.
At the bottom of the social hierarchies were the slaves. (male and female).
- Women were involved with spinning, weaving, and making pots.
- Men were in charge of labor such as building and gathering food for the civilizations.
- As time went on, civilizations began to grow with their skills and knowledge.
- Writing became more efficient as language grew throughout the cultures.

The First Farmers

This  chapter is dealing with the Industrial Age.
-Becoming established within the agricultural revolutions and how this changed the future.

The industrial age was a dramatic decline in the number of people directly earning their livings as farmers.
Neolithic or agricultural era= cultivation of particular plants as well as herding animals.

• This provided the foundation for growing populations, settled villages, warfare, civilizations, writing and a bunch more.
• Farm lands now had boundaries, hillsides, irrigation ditches, and canals which would help control water sources. 
• Animals would be used as source of income- sheep wool, cow milk, chicken eggs, etc.
• These farmers became dependent on their farm land and animals for the future.

- Climate changes were playing a huge part in the agricultural revolution.

• Different crops were being grown due to different climates.

Fertile Crescent

• First people to experience a full agricultural revolution.
• Numerous amounts of plants and animal species gave them an advantage.
• This area in Egypt increased in settlement size and were using sun dried bricks, better tools, creating better homes, and proper burials. 
• They had to adapt to climate changes within the animals, homes, etc.

Globalizing agriculture

Diffusion: spread of agricultural techniques. 

                 Slow coloniazation or migration of agricultural people as growing populations and pressures       to expand had pushed outward.

The logic of farming was becoming global but at the same time it was hard to settle due to climate changes.

Cultural advantages were being learned by different group to grow farming skills.

This was also being used to rapidly increase human population. 

Negative side of farming

Although farming was benefiting these several cultures their was also negative outcomes.

- Life expectancy 

- New diseases

- Epidemics

- Drought

Living close to animals was a large reason for these diseases. 

Chiefdoms = Inheriting positions of power and privilege (kings) Seen in Tigris river called Mesopotamia. They were in charge of irrigation systems and nearby trade.

This chapter was interesting to learn and become familiar with ancient forms of agricultural. It helps us gain an understanding as to why we work the way we do today as technology improves over time. Certain cultures have an advantage due to technology, population, and climate changes.

First Farmers

The industrial age- A dramatic decline in the number of people directly earning their living as farmers.

Agricultural Revolution
- consisting of the growth of plants and breeding of animals.
- consciously directing the process of evolution.

Biological anthroplogy

• Hypothesis that the first homo sapiens were living in Africa over 2 million years ago.
• -evidence is found within research ancient fossils. (writing was not yet discovered). 

      First Stone tools

•   The Leakeys found Zinjanthropus in 1959 they found tools and fossils that was not a part of there creation.
• They believed that they tools were far to sophisticated for there kind.

      Physical features

• The different in looks between the Neandertals was not that extreme.
• Brow ridges were far more broad but much smaller then the h. erectus. 
• Indigenous people of Australia still carry features from past species.( Large brows and such).

Evolution Question: Did humans replace archaic populations in other areas or did we interbreed?

I seem to believe that we evolved through multiregional evolution. Existing populations of the h. genus exchanged genes throughout the world in different cultures. Genes flow as a result of migration. The three C's of history are connection, comparison, and change. These terms may not have been understood during that time period but the concept was happening. If a neandertal couldn't build a hunting tool correctly it would be a natural instinct to attempt to recreate it.