Ch. 2 First Civilizations

This chapter was very interesting and started off by addressing the seven First Civilizations:

  • the Sumerian civilization- most likely gave rise to written language
  • Nubia-unified territorial state, cities were less prominent 
  • Notre Chico-cities were smaller than those of Mesopotamia and show less evidence of economic specialization
  • Indus- generated no palaces, temples, elaborate graves, kings, or warrior classes
  • China- created a distinctive political ideology, Son of Heaven
  • Oxus- distinctive cultural style expressed through its architecture, ceramics, burial techniques, seals, and more.
  • Olmec-based on an agricultural economy and many ceremonial centers
This chaptered questioned the rise of civilizations and wondered where they come from. It is believed to be that civilizations had their roots in the agricultural revolution. Civilizations created their cities from agricultural resources. 


As civilizations developed, so did classes. People did work outside of agriculture and that eroded equality. Upper classes were created and people focused on their levels of wealth, status, and power. With classes also comes gender. Men were seen as superior to women and it was favored to have a son instead of a daughter. Public life had roles for men and roles for women, but women had more roles in the household.

As time went on women developed a higher standard and were put on a more equal playing field with men in the relationship.

Apart from individual roles and classes the state also had its place. Early civilizations had to have someone to organize the irrigation systems and regulate the communities. Rulers worked on creating officials, police, and attendants.

As the civilizations developed so did writing. Being able to read/write is what gave people an elite status. Writing was used as propaganda or celebration.

When civilizations developed more there were big differences between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Some differences of Egypt was its Nile river compared to open environment and free security from the external attack that Mesopotamia lacked. Another difference was politically and culturally. While Mesopotamia was organized in a ton of independent city-states, Egypt was a unified territory and cities in Egypt were less important than in Mesopotamia. Although different, that didn't stop interaction between Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Through the development of civilizations these places developed new living styles, lifestyles, and advancements.

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