Final exam for anth Flashcards
what is ceramic techonolgy
mix of clay, water, temper (inclusions addded to the clay) that is fired
sherd
broken pieces of ceramic
steps to make ceramic
Extraction and mixing of clay
fashioning of ceramics (handmade, wheelthrown,pressing against mold or paddle and anvil)
firing (open fire or kiln closed fire)
what were ceramics used for
storing, preparing, serving food,, art and commodites like floor bricks
earlisest pottery in the world name the countries
xiandrong cave china used by mobile hunter gatheres for cooking, jomon huntere gather japan for processin cooking storing marine resources, iraq, mali and brazil
oldest cermaics were made by
hunter gatheres and date to upper paleotholic used for artistic representation
oldest pottery were made by
hunter gatherers as well for cooking and preparing foods
defination of state
A centralized political institution
where ruling elites govern a population.
* Provides support and protection
during crises (e.g., famine, warfare) in
exchange for revenues like tribute or
taxes.
defination of city
A large population (10K+ people) in
a defined place
* Structures and spaces for diverse
social function
states archolelogical features
Large scale (size,
resources, and labour)
2. Monumental, elaborate
buildings
3. Elite propaganda (e.g.,
statues, palaces, tombs)
4. Wealth and power
inequities (e.g., luxury
objects)
hypothesis for the emergence of states
the urban revolution:states emerged to manage food surplus distribution, technology and craft specialization played key roles
Hdyrlic managment: Early civilizations appeared in areas with large-scale irrigation agriculture
* Centralized coordination and
bureaucracy for irrigation led to states
Circumstion hypothesis: Geographic limits (e.g., mountains,
deserts) restrict movement of people
* Populations are forced to stay in place,
leading to pressure on resources
* Eventually, competition and warfare
drive state formation
name of earlier cities
eridu and yuruk
Eridu main archealolgical features
Central temple as a religious-civic
institution
* Dedicated to Water God Enki
* Continuous cult: larger, more elaborate
temples built atop one another
* Priests managed
land, labour, and
food distributio
Uruk archalogical features
Standardized material culture (bevel-
rimmed bowls, seals)
* Artistic style
* Large trade networks (ceramic, bitumen)
* Administrative apparatus: seals and early
writing
* Institutional architectural forms: Temples
and Ziggurat
what is state cycling
The process where states emerge , grow, and eventually collapse into new systems, state formations are dynamic not permanent or linear
Why are states unstable?
Internal: civil wars, corruption breakdown of institutions
External: conflicts with neighbours, invasions, or competation over resources
Environmental: resource depletion, climate change or natural disasters
why did angkor collapse?
climate: drought and intense storm disrupted the irrigation system
politics: elite gradually abandoned the city for more profitable Mekong Delta trading sites
agriculture: overused caused erosion, deforestation and declining agricultural yields
Cheifdom
Ranked society based on genealogical distance to the chief, hierarchy based on kinship, no formal bureaucracy, economy relies on redistribution of surplus or ritual gift giving
States
Ranked societys based on wealth, power and prestiage (kind and royal family at top, class of bureaucrats, craftsmen and traders then commoners
adminstration bureaucracy
taxation and tribute system
collapse of maya
Gradual abandonment of maya cities during the terminal classic period, centered on the southern lowlands loss monomental art and other traditions, causes: overpopulation, warfare, resource over use and drought.
