Building Monuments, Building Society: Collective Labour as Social Identity

A collection of flashcards reviewing key concepts and facts from the lecture on monuments and collective labor in society.

What is the significance of the Giza pyramids in the context of community unity?

They are monuments to social unity and have captured human imagination for thousands of years.

What is defined as a monument?

A statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a notable person or event.

How long have societies constructed monuments?

For at least 10,000 years.

What distinguishes monuments from other buildings?

They are distinguished by their shared meaning and purpose across a social collective.

What key concepts unify communities through monuments?

By serving as focal points for collective identity.

What role did labor play in the construction of the Giza pyramids?

Required the labor of a generation, with thousands of workers and their families involved.

How do landscapes relate to monument building?

Can be monumental and become places of congregation, shaped by the builders of the monuments.

What form of communal activity is associated with Neolithic herders' astronomical monuments?

These gatherings involved cattle sacrifice and communal meals.

What was the purpose of Stonehenge in Neolithic Britain?

Served as a monument that helped sustain social community, marking important calendrical events.

What archaeological evidence supports the function of Hopewell Earthworks?

The discovery of burials and offerings within the mounds suggests they served as ceremonial focal points.