Civilization Flashcards
What economic changes resulted from food
surpluses in agricultural villages?
- freed some villagers to persue other jobs
- the creation of many jobs started a social structure and an organized religion
- growth in population
Why did the growth of civilization make
government necessary?
- to maintian order
- keep people in check
- leads to an organized and better civilization
Why did a system of record-keeping
develop in civilizations?
- governer officials had to document
- tax collections
- the passage of laws
- the storage of grain - for preists to keep track of
- the calendar
- important rituals - merchants had to record
- accounts of debts and payments
their system of writing was called cuneiform
Specialization
people specialized in jobs once there was a surplus in food
artisan
skilled workers who made goods by hand
craftspeople
- created value products
- pottery
- metal objects
- woven cloth
institution
a long-lasting pattern of organization in a community
- an established law, practice, or custom
- like government, religion, economy
scribe
- Professional record keepers
- Invented cuneiform
cuneiform
- A system of writing
- Means “wedge-shaped”
Bronze Age
- “people began using bronze, rather than copper and stone, to fashion tools and weapons.”
- started in Sumer around 3000 BC
barter
Trading goods and services without money
ziggurat
- temple
- Monument
- Pyramid-shaped
- Means “Mountain of god”
tools they used
- Hoes
- Sickles
- Plow sticks
A civilization is defined as a complex culture with five characteristics
- Advanced cities
- Specialized workers
- Complex institutions
- Record keeping
- Advanced technology
The difference between a city and a civilization
- Cities were birthplaces of the first civilizations
- A city is the center of trade for a larger area
During the old stone age
“prehistoric people’s religious beliefs centered around nature, animal spirits, and some idea of an afterlife.”
During the new stone age
“farming peoples worshiped the many gods and goddesses who they believed had power over the rain, wind, and other forces of nature.”