Cultural Universals

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Cultural Universals

• Ancient Civilizations

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What is culture?

• the characteristic features of everyday existence
  shared by people
• the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and
  practices that characterizes a group of people
• things all people and civilizations need in
  order to survive.

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Cultural Universals

• To unite all people in a common bond of humanity.
• We will study various ancient civilizations and
  identify trends through history.

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What do ALL Civilizations have?

• Shelter and Clothing
• Communication
• Family
• The Arts
• Recreation and Games

• Food
• Government
• Religion
• Technology
• Economy

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Food

• What can be grown, hunted, raised, and traded?
• Food Storage (i.e. rice and corn)
• How did they prepare the food and eat?
• Utensils, hands
• Serving (how and by whom)
• Meals for special occasions/days of the week

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Government

• System of laws, rights
• What are they?
• How were they made?
• Providing military for defense
• Interacting with other civilizations
• Trade agreements, allies, war
• Taxation

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Religion

• Strongly influences daily life and beliefs
• One god or multiple gods?
• Power(s) of the god(s)
• Celebrations and practices
• Religious leaders (roles, duties, how selected)

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Technology

• Makes life easier
• Types farming, weaponry, building, tools,
  medical, transportation
• What materials are available?

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Economy

• A common system of money
• Jobs
• Taxation to support government
• TRADE, TRADE, TRADE
• Goods and Services
• Ideas (customs, language, religion)

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Shelter and Clothing

• Style and construction of homes, buildings and
  clothing
• What materials were used?
• Specialty buildings (temples, markets, palaces)
• Specialty clothing (VIPs and special occasions)

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Communication

• How to communicate over distances?
• Writing system and materials? (pen, paper)
• How did they learn to read and write?
• What was written?
• Laws, religious texts,
• stories, events/news

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Family

• The rights, roles, duties, and privileges of men,
  women, boys, and girls.
• Household duties
• Jobs
• Community roles
• Caring for children
• Education
• Rights
• Marriage

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The Arts

• Dancing, singing, music,
• painting, sculpture, drama
• Things to find out
• How was it created?
• Who made it?
• Why did they do it? Special occasions?
• Who taught them?

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Recreation and Games

• What was their entertainment?
• Why were the games played? Special occasions?
• How were they played?
• Who got to play? Observe?