10 10 Characteristics Characteristics of a Civilizationof a Civilization

Key Terms – Culture and Key Terms – Culture and CivilizationCivilization

CultureCulture CivilizationCivilization Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion CitiesCities Social ClassesSocial Classes ReligionReligion TechnologyTechnology Writing SystemsWriting Systems

Arts and Arts and ArchitectureArchitecture

Job SpecializationJob Specialization GovernmentGovernment Public WorksPublic Works Eight Features of Eight Features of

CivilizationCivilization

What is a society?What is a society?A group of people living together, dependent on A group of people living together, dependent on one another, is a society.one another, is a society.

There are no other requirements to make a society.There are no other requirements to make a society.

We are not studying societies in class this year.We are not studying societies in class this year.

We are studying civilizations.We are studying civilizations.

Civilizations are Civilizations are a society in an advanced state of a society in an advanced state of social developmentsocial development..

What do we mean when we say an advanced state What do we mean when we say an advanced state of social development?of social development?

There are 10 Key Elements that make a society There are 10 Key Elements that make a society advanced enough to be considered a civilization.advanced enough to be considered a civilization.

Culture and CivilizationCulture and Civilization Culture → wide range Culture → wide range

of ideas, feelings, of ideas, feelings, beliefs and habits an beliefs and habits an individual shares with individual shares with other members of his other members of his or her society.or her society.

Civilization → Civilization → collection of many collection of many cultures within a large cultures within a large communitycommunity

Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion When two people from different cultures When two people from different cultures

encounter each other, ideas tend to be encounter each other, ideas tend to be exchanged which can become brand new exchanged which can become brand new ideas or adaptations of other ones.ideas or adaptations of other ones.

This exchange of ideas and beliefs This exchange of ideas and beliefs between two different cultures is referred between two different cultures is referred to as cultural diffusion.to as cultural diffusion.

Examples of this can be Hispanic Examples of this can be Hispanic individuals making Italian pizza, Chinese individuals making Italian pizza, Chinese people making Mexican food, Asian people making Mexican food, Asian cultures following Roman Catholicism.cultures following Roman Catholicism.

Elements of Civilization - CitiesElements of Civilization - Cities When many cultures When many cultures

gather together and gather together and their populations grow, their populations grow, they move from being they move from being communities, to towns, communities, to towns, to cities.to cities.

Cities → larger areas that Cities → larger areas that have political centers, have political centers, social centers, and social centers, and financial centers.financial centers.

CitiesCities

As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, they began to grow surplus or extra food. they began to grow surplus or extra food.

This extra food increased the population of This extra food increased the population of the settlements. the settlements.

In time, the settlements grew into cities, In time, the settlements grew into cities, such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

City of Ur

© 2005 U.S. Army (http://www.usarc.army.mil/99thrsc/Photo_Gallery.htm).

• The remains of Ur are called today "Tell el-Mukayyar" and can be found near the city of Nasiriyah, south of Baghdad, Iraq

• What do you think their agricultural systems were like in this climate?

Agricultural SurplusAgricultural Surplus Producing more food and goods than a Producing more food and goods than a

society needs.society needs. This is the most important thing that a This is the most important thing that a

civilization can have. Why is this? civilization can have. Why is this? All people need food, and if they don't All people need food, and if they don't

make enough of it, then they have to go make enough of it, then they have to go find more of it. If they spend all of their find more of it. If they spend all of their time looking for food, what else do they time looking for food, what else do they have time to do? The surplus allowed some have time to do? The surplus allowed some people in the group to do other things people in the group to do other things besides look for food, and then they could besides look for food, and then they could become specialized.become specialized.

Elements of Civilization – Elements of Civilization – Job SpecializationJob Specialization

Job specialization → Job specialization → clearly defined & clearly defined & different occupations different occupations within a societywithin a society

Allowed for individuals Allowed for individuals to become specialists to become specialists within a field rather within a field rather than attempt to work than attempt to work many jobs without any many jobs without any special skillsspecial skills

Job SpecializationJob Specialization

Breaking down jobs into simpler tasks.Breaking down jobs into simpler tasks. As civilizations became more complex, As civilizations became more complex,

artisans artisans and and craftsmen craftsmen were needed to were needed to maintain specific items and tasks. No maintain specific items and tasks. No longer could individuals do all the work. longer could individuals do all the work. Now some concentrated on teaching, Now some concentrated on teaching, scribingscribing, stonecutting, and so forth., stonecutting, and so forth.

Artisans: skilled workersArtisans: skilled workers

Artisan in Cameroon

Mates in Argentina

Sushi in Japan

Bread and Sandwiches in New Zealand

Why is specialization important to the success of a society?

What was American society like when we were first founded?

What is American society like now?

Do you want to go back to the “good ‘ol days”?

Elements of Civilization - Technology

Technology → any invention or item that can help make other aspects of life easier

The use of technology has been associated with the level of civilization within a culture.

The higher the level of technology, the more advanced the culture

Elements of Civilization - Government

Government → system of rule over a community or civilization

Governments are necessary for the protection of citizens from each other and outside forces

People subscribe to government to benefit from the rule of law.

Well-Organized Central

Government• Why would this help a society?• 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. The Laws of Hammurabi are the longest

and best organized of the law collections that survive from ancient Mesopotamia (NOT the oldest). This stela is almost

seven-and-a-half feet tall and they were placed in temples throughout the

kingdom.

Elements of Civilization - Religion

Religion → system of beliefs which usually involve a belief in a higher power or supernatural force

Religion has been a unifying force in many civilizations while in others it has served to divide.

Complex Religion

• A shared system of complicated rules, beliefs and goals.

• Religious leaders would conduct elaborate ceremonies to appease the gods (polytheism) and ensure a bountiful harvest. Floods and droughts were blamed on the gods’ anger so rituals were conducted in the temples.These carved stone figures were placed in

Mesopotamian temples by worshippers to stand in perpetual prayer on their behalf.

CultsNot Organized Religion

Elements of Civilization – Social Classes

Social classes → breakdown of populations and civilizations according to social standing or level of wealth

Societies began to rank their citizens as a means of separating certain groups from others

Social Classes Different levels of people who have similar

social, economic or educational status. 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 and warriors and kings were on top.

Is this what we mean by social classes developing in early civilizations?

Are social classes a good thing for a society?

Can we avoid social classes? Should we try to? Why?

Elements of Civilization – Arts and Architecture

Arts and Architecture → the defining characteristics of a culture's creativity.

Allows historians and other people to see the unique features of a culture.

Distinguishes one culture from another

Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture

This expressed the This expressed the beliefs and values of a beliefs and values of a civilization. Different civilization. Different styles were developed styles were developed and copied by societies. and copied by societies. Often the art was used Often the art was used to impress visitors and to impress visitors and people about the beauty people about the beauty and power of a king or a and power of a king or a community.community.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon - 16th century engraving by Dutch artist

Martin Heemskerck

Elements of Civilization – Elements of Civilization – Writing SystemsWriting Systems

Writing systems → Writing systems → systems that use systems that use symbols to represent symbols to represent spoken sounds.spoken sounds.

Writing systems are Writing systems are crucial for cultures crucial for cultures since they are used since they are used to keep records.to keep records.

WritingWriting

Writing was needed because the Writing was needed because the information became too great.information became too great.

Records were needed to keep Records were needed to keep accounts on trade goods and food accounts on trade goods and food storage. In addition, one needed to storage. In addition, one needed to express more complex ideas such as express more complex ideas such as "belief" and "social order" where "belief" and "social order" where pictures and words simplypictures and words simply would not would not suffice.suffice.

What do you think these symbols might mean?

• If you can't communicate, how can you write down your laws? How do you write down any copies of your scientific work?

• While very few manuscripts are available from that time, it would seem to be beneficial to have some sort of record-keeping system so that the people can keep track of what they learn. – Taxes– Religious Texts

Elements of Civilization – Public Works

Public Works → systems or amenities provided by a government to assist in the daily life of its citizens

Public Works range from subways to sewer systems to sanitation.

The 10 Elements or Features of Civilization

Historians can classify civilizations when they are able to distinguish these eight features:

Cities Agricultural Surplus Government Social Classes Technology Religion (sometimes) Arts and Architecture Job Specialization Public Works Writing Systems

Review•With these 5 Key Elements of

Civilization are: Centralized Government, Organized Religion, Job Specialization, Social Classes, Arts, Architecture, and Public Works and Writing. In at least 5 sentences answer the following question. How are the Five Key Elements found in American civilization?

The 5 Key Elements and the U.S.

•Government • Type: Republic• Federal Government

centralized in Washington, DC

• States governed from their individual capitals

• Counties, cities, and towns governed locally

The 5 Key Elements and the U.S.

•Organized Religion

• Main type: Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism)

• Other types: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and many others

The 5 Key Elements and the U.S.

• Job Specialization and Social Classes

• Job Specialization: American jobs are specialized. Primary focus of many jobs is in the areas of technology and the service industries.

• Social Classes: American society is broken into Upper Class, Middle Class, and Lower Class

The 5 Key Elements and the U.S.

•Arts, Architecture, Public Works

• Arts: Many styles of paintings and sculpture. American music styles include Rock and Roll, Hip Hop, Jazz, Blues, Country.

• Architecture: Famous architecture includes Empire State Building, White House, Golden Gate Bridge

• Famous Public Works include Smithsonian Museums and Yellowstone Park

The 5 Key Elements and the U.S.

•Writing • Americans use the English language to write.

• Famous documents include the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

• The US has newspapers, magazines, literature, and internet writers.

Assessment1. Name your civilization.2. Tell where your civilization was or is located.3. Tell the years of your civilization’s existence.4. Describe the style of government for your civilization.5. Describe the religious views of your civilization.6. Describe the specialized jobs in your civilization and

how society is split up.7. Describe the styles of art, the types of structures that

are built, and the kinds of infrastructure projects that are made in your civilization.

8. Describe or show the style of writing used in your civilization.

Help for your Civilization Creation

Types of major world religions

• Christianity• Judaism• Islam• Hinduism• Buddhism• Taoism• Sikhism

Types of Government

•Republic•Direct Democracy

•Oligarchy•Monarchy•Dictatorship

AIM: What advances in government, technology, and culture did early civilizations make?

DO NOW: Write down three words associated with the word civilized. (5 minutes)

HW: In one paragraph (5-7 sentences), discuss two negative (bad) and two positive (good) consequences of civilization building. What types of issues do complex societies deal with???