The First Civilizations

The First Civilizations

How did it get started?All civilizations arose from earlier competing chiefdomsA slow process which lasted centuriesall civilizations need an agricultural surplus whichSupports large populationsAllows for the development of specialists and elites

How did it get started?Competition for limited farmland (after population reaches certain level) leads toInnovations in technologyThe rise of states to protect against warfareWinning states increasing their land-baseEnslavement of losing populationsHow did it get started?States organize agriculture(irrigation, drainage, terracing, flood control)Religion (priests, temples, give rulers often a divine status)Warfare (class of warrior specialists under the rulers leadership)How important were cities? What impact did they have on society and culture?Cities concentrate economic and political power, lead to the rise of social inequalities (social class replaces kinship)Examples:Mesopotamia: Ur, Uruk (50,000 inhabitants around 2500 BCE), city walls, cities dominated by ziggurat (made from clay bricks)Great Ziggurat of Ur

How important were cities? What impact did they have on society and culture?Mohenjo-Daro(2600-1900 BCE): indoor plumbing, sewage system, huge public baths, citadel, cities follow grid patternTeotihuacan (200 BCE): population of 200.000, two huge pyramids, dozens of temples, mansions for the wealthyCity planning in the Indus Valley CivilizationGreat Bath at Mohenjo-DaroStreet drain in Harappa

Granary, Mohenjo-Daro

TeotihuacanPyramid of the Sun

Lay out of La Venta, center of the Olmec culture

How did society change?Social classes and social hierarchies developed:Urban societies continue and magnify this trend started in the Neolithic AgeUpper classes have great wealth in land, occupy top positions in government, the military, and religionPeasant class, lower classes, slavesHow did society change?Shang China (1600-1100 BCE): Chinese kings give special clothing (silk), banners, chariots, weapons to government officials, value of gifts depends on rankMost peasants worked on land owned by aristocratic landlordMesopotamia: Code of Hammurabi (around 1700 BCE), punishment for a crime based on social class and genderSlaves (frequent wars!) help with irrigation (males) or in weaving enterprises (females) or as domestic slaves Slavery less common in Egypt and Indus Valley, children of slaves could become free, slavery not connected to raceEgyptian Social Hierarchy

How were gender relations affected by early civilizations?Most civilizations saw the rise of patriarchyPossible causes: Plow based agriculturePlow based agriculture, heavy labor done by men (produce more food than women), but not all civilizations use plowWomen have more children, tied down with child rearing and secondary tasks, have less personal resources

How were gender relations affected by early civilizations?Possible causes: SpecializationSocieties became more specialistSpecialist work usually done by men (can leave home easier than women)Priests, kings, merchants usually men (have higher status than women)

How were gender relations affected by early civilizations?Possible causes: WarfareMost civilizations lead large scale wars with a professional armyMilitary specialists were menMany civilizations had a powerful warrior class (got rewarded with land)

How were gender relations affected by early civilizations?Examples of Patriarchy: MesopotamiaLaws in give women paternalistic protection, but under male guardianshipLaws punish female adultery harder than male adulteryFemale deities replaced by male deitiesDivorce much easier for husband than wifeAll rulers were malerespectable women veiled in public (female slaves were not allowed to be veiled)

How were gender relations affected by early civilizations?Examples of Patriarchy: EgyptMost rulers male (exception Hatshepsut 1472-1457 BCE)Government officials, officers, soldiers maleBut women were allowed to own their own property, signed their own marriage contracts and could initiate divorceNot veiled in public

Colossal kneeling statue of Hatshepsut, showing male attributesHatshepsut is depicted in the clothing of a male king though with a feminine form. Inscriptions on the statue call her "Daughter of en:Re" and "Lady of the Two Lands."

Statue of Menkaura and Queen Khamerernebty II.What does this statue tell you about gender relations in Egypt?

How did states rise? How did they legitimize their power? How did they stay in control of power?Common characteristics of states in all civilizations:Almost all civilizations ruled by kings (monarchy)Ranked government officialsDefended against enemiesControlled societySome groups benefit more than othersHow did states rise? How did they legitimize their power? How did they stay in control of power?Benefits of states:Organize large scale irrigationSolve conflicts among citizens (laws, judges)Defend against enemiesKeep public orderProvide help in times of famine (granaries in Egypt, temples in Sumer)How did states rise? How did they legitimize their power? How did they stay in control of power?Coercion:States have authority to coerce obedienceCollect taxesForce common population to work on large scale projects (pyramids, irrigation)How did states rise? How did they legitimize their power? How did they stay in control of power?An Egyptian teacher describing to his students what happens to peasants not able to pay their taxes: Now the scribe lands on the shore. He surveys the harvest. Attendants are behind him with staffs, Nubians with clubs. One says: Give grain. There is none. He is beaten savagely. He is bound, thrown into a well, submerged head down. His wife is bound in his presence. His children are in fetters. His neighbors abandon him and flee.What does this tell us about the power of the state? How credible is this account?What was the relationship between kingship and religion?Social and gender differences seen as natural, given by the godsShang China: Kings seen as Son of Heaven, only one who can perform rituals to keep the cosmic balanceMesopotamia: Kings as stewards of their citys patron godEgypt: pharaohs seen as divine, their power ensures the yearly flooding of the NileReligion could also limit the power of the wealthy:King Hammurabi rules so that the strong will not harm the weakChina during the Zhou dynasty follows the Mandate of Heaven -> a kings bad behavior justifies him being overthrownTien MingThe Mandate of HeavenThe leader must lead by ability and virtue.

The dynasty's leadership must be justified by succeeding generations.

The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important.TheDynasticCycleA new dynasty comes to power.Lives of common people improved;taxes reduced;farming encouraged.Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.Farming neglected.Govt. increasesspending; corruption.Droughts,floods,famines occur.Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels& attack landlords.Rebel bands findstrong leader whounites them.Attack the emperor.Emperor isdefeated !!The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it moreefficient.Start here

Hammurabis [r. 1792-1750 B. C. E.] CodeWhat role did writing play in the development of a civilization?Writing in all ancient civilizations, except the AndesLiteracy sign of elite statusSome commoners who were taught writing could rise in status (scribes)What role did writing play in the development of a civilization?First use of writing:to record economic transactions, keep inventory (Sumerian cuneiform around 3500 BCE)Writing to stabilize and support the government:Propaganda (on steles, temples, etc to celebrate military victories, other successes of the king)Codify lawsDiplomatic treatiesOther bureaucratic uses such as recording harvests and taxes, correspondence between center and local officials, etc. (first royal libraries)Other uses:- Literature (epic of Gilgamesh in Sumer, Mahabharta in India, Egyptian love poetry)- Religious (Hebrew Bible, Vedas in India, recording of myths of creation in Egypt, Book of the Dead in Egypt, Mesopotamia)- calendars

Cuneiform Writing

Gilgamesh Epic Tablet:Flood Story

Hieroglyphic Cartouche

Oracle Bones

Oracle Bones CalendarBison Seal, Mohenjo-Daro

Cascajal Block, 900 BCE, first evidence of Olmec script, undeciphered

What art and architecture did early civilizations create? How did it help to strengthen the government?Elites live lavish life styles (palaces, elaborate clothing such as silks in China, many servants)Elaborate burial rituals:- Egypt: mummification, pyramids, murals in tombs, funerary goodsShang China: tombs with funerary goods, sacrifice of servants and concubinesSumer (Mesopotamia): tombs with funerary goods and human sacrifice

Giza Pyramid Complex

Abu Simbel:Monument to Ramses II

1279-1213 B. C. E.King Tutankhamuns Tomb

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses:The Sacred Trinity

Osiris Isis HorusPreparation for the Afterlife

Axe Scepter 1100 BCE - jadeCeremonial Dagger 1028 BCE

ShangUrn

Shang Bronzes

Zhou Coins - bronzeA Priest-King, Mohenjo-Daro

CitadelOfMohenjo-Daro

Olmec Stone Head, between 1500 and 400 BCE, probably showing an Olmec ruler

How did trade routes expand?Governments sought to take control of resources not found in their area:Egypt took control of Nubian minesImport of luxury items for elites: incense from Arabia to Egypt, Mesopotamia, gold from Nubia to Egypt, precious stones from Iran to Egypt, Mesopotamia, main Egyptian export is grainLeads to exchange of culture as well (for example Nubians in Egypt, Egyptian culture adapted in Nubia)

Nubian Pyramids at Meroe

Nubian archers, From the tomb of Mesehti, a prince from the region of Assiut (Middle Dynasty, about 2000 BC).Nubians bringing tribute to the pharaoh

What technology did early civilizations utilize?Calendars in each early civilization (Egypt develops solar calendar, solar/lunar calendar in China with leap years)Use of bronze for weapons, armor, ritual vessels, tools, etc. Shang bronzes most advanced, used casting instead of hammeringWar chariots in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Shang China (led to the rise of a warrior aristocracy)Papyrus in Egypt

Papyrus Paper

Papyrus Plant

Hieratic Scroll PieceRamses II at the Battle of Kadesh