Civilization Begins Flashcards
Civilization
“A common culture where a large number of people share a number of things in common”
4 Major Civilizations
Mesopotamia–Sumerians
Egypt / Nile River Valley
Indus River Valley
Yellow River Valley
7 things that define civilization
Values Cities Government Writing Art Social structure Specialization of labor
The productivity/surplus of the Neolithic Revolution led to
Civilization
First four civilizations in
River valleys
Why were the civilizations in River valleys?
Soil was fertile, farming had already taken place
Civilization: staying —– with ——-
Staying sedentary with style
Why staying?
Not wandering like hunter gatherers, not just staying in small streetless towns like Catal Huyuk
Why style?
Art, writing, government, ways of relating to each other, values and more
People had time and resources to do things that
Don’t mean anything, unecessary things
City state
A city with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside
Pantheon
All the gods of a people or a religion
Stylus
An ancient writing implement used in scratching marks into wax or clay tablets, a BC pencil, made of reed
Irrigation
The watering of lands by artificial means to foster plant growth
Ziggurat
A temple built on a massive stepped tower
