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Introduction
Introduction
This consists of eight aspects of civilization that historians use to distinguish between the oldest civilizations and what came before. Scholars measure how advanced a society is by examining the traits of the civilization using these eight features.
Cities
Organized Central Governments
Job Specialization
Complex Religions
Social Classes
Art and Architecture
Writing
Public Works
1.) Cities
1.) Cities
As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, they began to grow surplus or extra food. This extra food increased the population of the settlements. In time, the settlements grew into cities, such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in Mesopotamia.
Examples: (Modern day)
• Paris
• London
• Charlotte
• Rome
• Lima
• Los Angeles
• Boston
• Beijing
2.) Organized Central Government
2.) 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.
Examples:
• Athens (Democracy)
• Great Britain (Constitutional Monarchy)
• Roman Empire (Republic, later Imperial)
• United States (Democratic-Republic)
3. Job Specialization
3. Job Specialization
As civilizations became more complex, artisans and craftsmen were needed to maintain specific items and tasks. No longer could individuals do all the work. Now some concentrated on teaching, scribing, stonecutting, and so forth.
Examples:
• Chef
• Doctor
• Teacher
• Sanitation Worker
• Scribe
• Warrior
• Artist
4. Complex Religions
4. Complex Religions
A set of spiritual beliefs and practices shared by most, if not all of society. These can be both Polytheistic (multiple deities) or Monotheistic (one deity). This might be seen in elaborate ceremonies to appease the gods (polytheism) and insure a bountiful harvest. These would have been conducted by religious officials in response to previous floods or droughts that were blamed on the gods anger. These rituals would have been conducted in the temples built in a god's honor.
Examples in the modern world:
• Christianity
• Buddhism
• Judaism
• Islam
5.) Social Classes
5.) Social Classes
A broad group in society having common economic, cultural, or political status/Distinguished from other groups by such things as wealth property, and rights.
In an ancient civilization, 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. 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, while warriors and kings were on top.
Examples:
• Upper Class (Wealthy)
• Middle Class (Doing Okay)
• Lower Class (Struggling to get by)
6.) Art and Architecture
6.) Art and Architecture
The arts and artwork of a thing, place, time, person, etc.; human creations intended to express beauty and convey messages Architecture: the buildings and style or architecture of a thing, place, time, person, etc.
This expressed the beliefs and values of a civilization. Different styles were developed and copied by societies. Often the art was used to impress visitors and people about the beauty and power of a king or a community.
Art
Art
Painting
Pottery
Sculpture
Mosaics
Architecture
Architecture
Tower of Pisa
Pyramids
The Coliseum
The Great Wall of China
Cathedral of Notre Dame
7.) Writing
7.) Writing
The ability to trace or form characters, letters, words, etc on the surface of some material, as with a pen, pencil, or other instrument.
Records were needed to keep accounts on trade goods and food storage. Writing was needed because the information became too great. In addition, one needed to express more complex ideas such as "belief" and "social order" where pictures and words simply would not suffice.
Examples:
• Pictograms
• Hieroglyphics
• Spanish
• Latin
• Cuneiform
8.) Public Works
8.) Public Works
Structures, such as roads, dams, or post offices, paid for by government funds for public use.
The government would order these, although costly, to aid and benefit the community. Such things as a wall to protect from attack or a canal to aid in irrigation would help insure the survival of a people.
Examples:
• Building Roads
• Bridges
• Water Treatment Plants
• Sewer Systems
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