9/5/2014In your opinion,

what makes people civilized?

Why?

The Foundations of Civilization

Characteristics of a Civilization:A complex culture that has the following

things:Ability to produce extra foodEstablishment of towns/cities with a form

of governmentPeople performing different jobs (instead

of each person doing all the same thing)

Where in the World Are Civilizations?

Bad climates for farming were still hunter-gatherers

Permanent settlements developed in four specific regions:

The Nile River Valley in AfricaThe Valley of the Tigris and Euphrates

Rivers in southwestern AsiaThe Indus River Valley in southern AsiaThe Huang River Valley in eastern Asia

Surplus Food and IrrigationWhat do the four major rivers have in

common?Flood their banks during periods of heavy

rainIn areas that are warm/hot = little rain in

dry seasonsFarmers need water from rivers during

dry season….Irrigation

Led to more and better food and increases in population

Government and LaborGovernments made and enforced rules to

guide behavior to help plan, direct, and regulate work

Division of Labor:People could do any kind of work

Cultural Diffusion: By trading, we were able to spread ideas

and other aspects of culture to new areas

Other Characteristics of Civilizations…..

A CalendarDeveloped calendars so farmers would

know when the yearly floods would start and stop

Lunar MonthFrom flood to flood was a yearFull moon to the next was a month

Problem?Lunar month only lasts 29 ½ days so total

calendar = 354 days when a solar year is 365 ½ days

The Use of Metals6,000+ years ago – used copper to make

tools and jewelry5,000 years ago - bronze (a mixture of

copper and tin) became more useful since it was harderMarks end of Stone Ages and beginning of

Bronze Age

Iron is stronger than copper or bronzeBut making Iron is a long and difficult

processNot 100% sure when/how people

discovered to use iron3,200 years ago, Southwestern Asia

learned to make iron and the Iron Age began

Family and ReligionWomen actually managed the family

Cared for children, cooked food, made clothing, and crafted - pottery and weaving

Initially did all the farming (Suggested by the rise of goddesses during this time)

When the plow was invented and animals harnessed to pull it, men took over

People believed in many gods and goddessesPeople worried about the rain not coming

They would pray for water and offer sacrifices

When it rained, they would pray and give thanks believing that their prayers had been answered

Some Form of WritingA new form of communication was

needed to keep and pass on information and ideasWriting began around 3,000 B.C.

By developing written languages the early river valley civilizations created records of their cultures and societies, in other words….history had begun!!!

So, how did writing develop?

Cave PaintingsDrawn imagesCompletely

made up?

Instructions

Looking at your name, choose one item that

represents you or something you enjoy, to

stand for each letter of your first name.

The pictures need to be neatly drawn,

colored, and understandable.

On the back of the paper, include your name

and why you chose each object in your name.