14 - civilization

Civilization

Traditionally referrred to the larger social order , including states related by language, traditions, history, economic ties and other shared cultural aspects

Why dont we use the term civilization anymore

Difficult to find a meaningful definition since civilizations developed independently and took different paths

• new world civilization → lacked characteristics of old world civilizations like writing, draft animals and the wheel

• Previous list of characteristics only describes the civilizations that emerged around Mediterranean

What does civilization imply

Implies a judgment: uncivilized is a derogatory term

• theres no right or wrong way to be human

• Hunter gatherers are not lagging behind civilizations

City

An urban center that supports and is supported by hinterland of smaller communities

4 characteristics of a city

1. Non kin social organization

2. Craft and administrative specialists

3. Production, trade, religion and administration centers

4. Prominent ceremonial or civic buildings

What is the oldest city and its importance

Catalhoyuk in turkey

• extensive agriculture

• Importance in salt trade

• Substantial portion of subsistence based on hunting and gathering

Art at catalhoyuk

• had their own distinct arts

• Figures almost like Venus figurines

What did catalhoyuk lack in terms of modern cities

• Egalitarian - no social hierarchy, no ruling class

• Only residential - no shared public spaces

• therefore not considered a true city

Uruk

Earliest true city

• once part of the Sumerian civilization that occupied the southern part of the Tigris Euphrates valley

• Found in modern southern Iraq

Ziggurat at Uruk

religious / administrative building in Uruk

• this makes it a true city

Cuneiform writing system

• Wedged shaped impressions in wet clay - used to keep track of products and to share information

• writing systems came much after language development used for business related stuff

3 hierarchy of political organizations

1. Egalitarian - no social classes; informal leadership

2. Rank - social differentiation but no social classes

3. Stratified - social classes

Social stratification

Class structure or hierarchy, usually based on political, economic or social standing

2 types of social stratification

1. Closed - born into a class and cant move

Ex. Indian caste systems - Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras and untouchables

2. Open - move into a higher or lower class but social pressures might make this difficult

Ex. Lower, middle, upper class; blue collar/white collar

The state

Political entity that regulates a population with a defined territory

Has

• centralized government

• Monopoly on force

• Social stratification

City state

• urban center with its supporting territory that forms an autonomous sociopolitical unit

• Farmers and other food producers tended to live in the urban center and work their fields on the outskirts of the city

• citystate is no longer used, now we use territorial states

Territorial state

Form of state political organization with multiple administrative centers and one or more capitals

• cities tend to house the elite and administrative classes, while food producers lived and worked in the surrounding hinterland

Nation state

The state and the nation are congruent

Nation

Community with shared national identity

Civilizations

Larger social order and set of shared values in which states, nations and cities are all culturally embedded

Ex. Western civilizations

Traditional view of why civilizations formed

Civilizations grew out of increasing economic productivity and social complexity’s

• but not applicable to all early civilizations

Traditional traits that make civilizations

• writing

• Mathematics

• Draft animals

• Wheeled carts and plows

• Irrigation

• Sailing boats

• Standards of weight and measure

• Metallurgy

• Surplus production

• Craft specialization