The Rise of Civilization

1
The Rise of Civilization

• Robert Rhoades
• Dept. of Anthropology
• University of Georgia, Athens

2
What is CIVILIZATION?

• Societies in which large numbers of people live
  in cities, are socially stratified, and are
  governed by centrally organized political systems
  called states

3
Catalhöyük Earliest City
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Catalhöyük
5
Catalhöyük
6
Wheat Landrace
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Modern Turkish Farmers
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Six main characteristics of Civilization

• Writing
• Monumental architecture
• Taxation
• Sciences
• Art
• Trade

9
Cities and Cultural Change

• Improvement in agricultural techniques
• Diversification and specialization of labor
  priests, kings, soldiers, farmers
• Social stratification
• Burials
• Size of dwellings (architecture)
• Written documents
• correspondence
• Central government

10
Why Did Civilization Develop?

• Irrigation
• Trade networks
• Environmental and social circumscription
• Religion

11
New World Development

• e.g. Tehuncan Theory
• 12,000 - 9,000 B.P. Hunting and gathering stage
• 8,700 - 7,000 Slightly increased reliance on
  cultivated plant food (squash)
  
• 5,400 Relied heavily on agriculture
• 3,500 Complex village life
• 2,000 Irrigation arose
• 1,000 Civilization at its height