8 Features Of A Civilization

Slides for the eight features of a civilization, 9th grade class.

1. 8 Features of a Civilization8 Features of a Civilization

2.  
 
 
 
 
 
 Additional Notes: (Examples, How it connects with a civilization, etc.)
 
 
 Additional Notes: (Examples, How it connects with a civilization, etc.)
Note Study Guide
1.“Feature”
(Picture)
2. “Feature”
(Picture)

3.      
CitiesCities
As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, As farmers settled in fertile river valleys,
they began to grow surplus or extra food. they began to grow surplus or extra food.
This extra food increased the population This extra food increased the population
of the settlements. of the settlements.
In time, the settlements grew into cities, In time, the settlements grew into cities,
such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in
Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

4. City of Ur
© 2005 U.S. Army (http://www.usarc.army.mil/99thrsc/Photo_Gallery.htm).
•The remains of Ur
are called today
"Tell el-
Mukayyar" and
can be found
near the city of
Nasiriyah, south
of Baghdad, Iraq
•What do you think
their agricultural
systems were like
in this climate?

5. Agricultural SurplusAgricultural Surplus
Producing more food and goods than a society Producing more food and goods than a society
needs.needs.
This is the most important thing that a This is the most important thing that a
civilization can have. Why is this? civilization can have. Why is this?
All people need food, and if they don't make All people need food, and if they don't make
enough of it, then they have to go find more of enough of it, then they have to go find more of
it. If they spend all of their time looking for food, it. If they spend all of their time looking for food,
what else do they have time to do? The surplus what else do they have time to do? The surplus
allowed some people in the group to do other allowed some people in the group to do other
things besides look for food, and then they could things besides look for food, and then they could
become specialized.become specialized.

6.      
Job SpecializationJob Specialization
Breaking down jobs into simpler tasks.Breaking down jobs into simpler tasks.
As civilizations became more complex, As civilizations became more complex,
artisans artisans and and craftsmen craftsmen were needed to were needed to
maintain specific items and tasks. No maintain specific items and tasks. No
longer could individuals do all the work. longer could individuals do all the work.
Now some concentrated on teaching, Now some concentrated on teaching,
scribingscribing, stonecutting, and so forth., stonecutting, and so forth.
Artisans: skilled workersArtisans: skilled workers

7. Artisan in Cameroon
Mates in Argentina
Sushi in Japan
Bread and
Sandwiches
in New
Zealand
Why is specialization
important to the success
of a society?
What was American
society like when we
were first founded?
What is American society
like now?
Do you want to go back
to the “good ‘ol days”?

8. Well-Organized
Central
Government
•Why would this help a society?
•As cities developed and
expanded, the food supply and
irrigation systems needed to
be maintained. Governments,
such as councils or religious
leaders, began to oversee the
business and existence of the
cities. The Laws of Hammurabi are the longest
and best organized of the law collections
that survive from ancient Mesopotamia
(NOT the oldest). This stela is almost
seven-and-a-half feet tall and they were
placed in temples throughout the
kingdom.

9. Complex Religion
•A shared system of
complicated rules, beliefs
and goals.
•Religious leaders would
conduct elaborate
ceremonies to appease
the gods (polytheism) and
ensure a bountiful
harvest. Floods and
droughts were blamed on
the gods’ anger so rituals
were conducted in the
temples.
These carved stone figures were placed in
Mesopotamian temples by worshippers to stand in
perpetual prayer on their behalf.

10.    
Social Classes
Different levels of people who have similar
social, economic or educational status.
As jobs became specialized so did the status
and needs of certain individuals. The need for
a knowledgeable and educated religious leader
was more respected than an unskilled worker.
Herders were needed and respected for the
food, while masons were needed for building.
The slave was on the lowest rung of the social
ladder and warriors and kings were on top.

11. Is this what we mean by social classes developing in early civilizations?
Are social classes a good thing for a society?
Can we avoid social classes? Should we try to? Why?

12.      
Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture
This expressed the This expressed the 
beliefs and values of a beliefs and values of a 
civilization. Different civilization. Different 
styles were developed styles were developed 
and copied by societies. and copied by societies. 
Often the art was used Often the art was used 
to impress visitors and to impress visitors and 
people about the beauty people about the beauty 
and power of a king or a and power of a king or a 
community.community.

13.      Hanging Gardens of Babylon - 16th
century engraving by Dutch artist
Martin Heemskerck

14. WritingWriting
Writing was needed because the Writing was needed because the
information became too great.information became too great.
Records were needed to keep Records were needed to keep
accounts on trade goods and food accounts on trade goods and food
storage. In addition, one needed to storage. In addition, one needed to
express more complex ideas such as express more complex ideas such as
"belief" and "social order" where "belief" and "social order" where
pictures and words simplypictures and words simply would not would not
suffice.suffice.
What do you think these
symbols might mean?

15. •If you can't communicate,
how can you write down
your laws? How do you
write down any copies of
your scientific work?
•While very few manuscripts
are available from that time,
it would seem to be
beneficial to have some sort
of record-keeping system
so that the people can keep
track of what they learn.
–Taxes
–Religious Texts