Elements of Civilization
In 10,000 BCE, the Neolithic Revolution ended the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and implemented foundations of agriculture, permanent settlements, and aspects of civilization. A civilization is an advanced state of human society that has achieved a highly defined and recognizable culture, government, science, and industry. In order to be considered a civilization, there is a set standard of characteristics that must be met.
DIRECTIONS: On the document provided, write the definition for the vocabulary terms in the top portion of the circle. In the bottom portion, answer the question or follow the prompt to demonstrate your understanding of the aspects of civilization.
Large Urban Centers
Large urban centers developed when food production became more reliable. As food became more abundant, and populations grew, people began living in heavily populated areas that had diverse jobs and services.
Use Google to identify some of the major urban centers of the following ancient civilizations:
Use Google to identify some of the major urban centers of the following ancient civilizations:
- Mesopotamia
- Indus River Valley
- Nile River Valley
Religion
All of the emerging civilizations developed religions to explain the forces of nature and their roles in the world. They believed that gods and goddesses were important to the community’s success. To win their favor, priests supervised rituals aimed at pleasing them. This gave the priests special power and made them very important people. Rulers also claimed that their power was based on divine approval, and some rulers claimed to be divine.
List the names of as many different religions as possible.
List the names of as many different religions as possible.
Common Language
Written communication is another element that all civilizations share. Writing allows systems for trade, government, and intellectual thought to develop. Written language also allows civilizations to record their own history and maintain as much accuracy as possible..
Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write down and preserve their history. Modern societies use emojis to describe their feelings. Using emojis, describe what you do during an entire day.
Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write down and preserve their history. Modern societies use emojis to describe their feelings. Using emojis, describe what you do during an entire day.
Government & Administration
As their control over territories spread, rulers of a civilization usually left local leaders in power to administer, or oversee, the law in their territories. They also instituted a common language to make communication between leaders and citizens easier. Many times, they also built networks of roads to make travel to problem areas easier.
Who is the leader of your school? What about your town? What about your state?
Who is the leader of your school? What about your town? What about your state?
Art
Everyday life has a significant impact on the artwork a civilization produces, especially during the Neolithic period. Humans began creating smaller and more intricate works of art, like sculptures and ceramics. After the invention of the pottery wheel in Mesopotamia, the demand for special shapes and designs increased. The pictures below depict examples of Neolithic art.
Using the images provided above, draw your own example of art that represents the time period you live in.
Social Hierarchy
.The last element that is key to the development of civilizations is the division of people into social classes. This is a complex idea that can be broken down into two parts: income and type of work performed. This means that different people perform specialized tasks, like farming, cooking, and hunting. In complex civilizations, farmers may cultivate one type of crop and depend on other people for clothing, shelter, and other necessities. Changing classes has traditionally been difficult and happens over generations.
List three jobs that every city NEEDS to have in order to function.
List three jobs that every city NEEDS to have in order to function.