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Big Idea

The Neolithic Revolution led to the first civilizations.

Essential Question

What are the characteristics of a civilization?

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Words To Know

Civilization – A civilization is a complex society in which a large number of people live.

Polytheism – the belief in many gods.

Monotheism – the belief in one god.

Economy - the buying and selling of goods.

Let’s Set The Stage…

The establishment of Neolithic villages such as Catal Huyuk and Jericho were a big step in the development of humans (people). The Neolithic Revolution gave birth to our earliest civilizations. The hunter-gatherer way of life was over. Small villages soon became cities and generations later, civilizations existed throughout the world.

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The earliest civilizations were all near river valley’s. These River Valley Civilizations include Sumer, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Middle East and Egypt along the Nile River.

River Valley Civilizations

The next two River Civilizations we will learn about is the Indus civilization, along the Indus River in India and the Shang civilization along the Yellow River (Huang) in China.

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While cities are the main feature of civilizations, many historians study other features of most early civilizations.

Cities

In many of the world’s farming villages elders (older adults) or chiefs were the rulers.In cities, more powerful organized governments existed.Governments collected taxes and organized armies for defense.

Organized Governments

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Governments were in charge of making sure people had enough food to eat.They also organized projects like digging out canals for irrigation.

Religions existed in civilizations.Most ancient people were polytheistic, which means that they believed in many gods.

Religion

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Specialization of labor is when everyone has a different job.

Specialization of Labor

ArtisansPottersMerchantsSoldiersSingersDancersStorytellersFarmer

Social classes emerged during the Neolithic Revolution.Social classes are when people are divided based on status or importance (rich vs. poor or the job you have).

Social Classes

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Farmers sold or traded crops and craftsworkers made pottery and cloth to sell.

Economy

Much of the early art and architecture from ancient civilizations consisted of temples and palaces, symbols of the power of rulers.

Art and Architecture

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Writing may have first developed in temples.Early writing was picture writing, consisting of simple drawings.The first writing systems was used in different places around the world at different times.

Writing

Essential Question Answered

What are the characteristics of a civilization?

Cities, organized governments, religion, specialization of labor, social classes, an economy, arts and architecture and writing are all characteristics of a civilization.