From+Hunter-Gatherers+to+Civilization

Homework 1.1 : Define Civilization Civilization: A usually large group of settled, agricultural people with similar culture ,diet, etc... Most often identified by it's own language/writing system,geographic location and economics.
 * A civilization can also be defined by it's population density, organization and ability to smelt metal.

Homework 1.2: ESPIRIT Chart on Civilization in General/Neolithic Revolution

Economics: Trade offered some contact between early civilizations, though most trading kingdoms did not share direct borders.As larger empires developed, leaders would attempt to tie their territories together economically. New trade routes were often encouraged by social changes, new industry, and technological advancement in general.Major civilizations also set up strong internal trade routes which allowed each region within the empire to produce crops more suitable to it's ecologywhile trading for other necessities as most peasants at the time supported themselves through subsitence farming.Occasionally, even nomadic peoples would help facilitate trade between different civilizations, even to the point of conflict.
 * Being that most civilizations were highly unorganized during the Neolithic period, formal economies had not yet begun to form.While the basic Neolithic economy was based on agriculture and animal husbandry, it did not come into play on a very large scale until Mesopotamia.

Homework 1.3 ESPIRIT Chart on Mesopotamia

Economics: During the 3rd Millenium BCE, Babylon developed from the Sumerian and Akkadian peoples, but would only truly rise into power under Hammurabi, around 1800 BCE.Though he was a very effective ruler, establishing a beaureaucracy, a central government run by taxes, and gave the region of mesopotamia stability after chaotic times.Because of the high availability of farmland, Babylonian society was highly centered around agriculture, However, there was also an integral trade system, as a king could not collect enough money to fund the government by taxing the poor peasants. Social: Babylonian society was heavily divided between the rich and the poor.The King was at the top, with nobles and free citizens next on the hierarchy level.This part of the class structure was very rigid, though occasional movement was possibly. Lowest on the list were slaves, which came in several different types. The Debt slave could one day hope to regain his freedom by paying off his debt. However, POW slaves could never hope to rise in class.It was also socially acceptable to sell your children into slavery to pay your debts. Political: Babylonian political system was a basic monarchy, as described in the S- section. The King ruled through a number of high ranking officials who reported directly to him, and whom he was directly responsible for, though he could intervene at any level of the government.For example, Hammurabi was known for intervening in the Larsa property system after conquering that territory.Monarchies were controlled through bloodlines, though the king was the chief authority in all subjects except for religion. The High Priest's power was very important in babylonian society, as exemplified by the fact during a new years ceremony, to symbolize the power of religion, the high priest would get to slap the king. Interaction: During the time of king Sennacherib of Assyria, Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt, lead by Musheib-Marduk, which was only suppressed by the complete destruction of the capital city.Even after rebuilding for 42 Babylon fell victim to assyrian influence once again. The Babylonians saw Assyria's subsequent defeat as divine justice.This allowed Babylonia to flourish again under King Nebuchadnezzar, the official start of the neo-babylonian/chaldean empire. Religion: Babylonian religion is best described in i's creation myth, the Enuma Elis.It tells the story of Apsu and Tiamat, gods of fresh and saltwater respectively. Several younger gods were then created from their union, and reside inside Tiamat's body.They annoyed Tiamat and Apsu to the point Apsu wishes to kill them. However, Tiamat warns the strongest of the young gods, Ea, who then uses magic to kill Apsu in his sleep.Ea then has a son named Marduk, who uses his powers over wind to annoy Tiamat, who then tries to get revenge for Apsu. She creates 11 powerful monsters and gives her new husband/son supreme power.Marduk then kills Tiamat, becoming the main god, and uses her body to create the solar system. He then uses the power of her husband, Kingu, to create human beings to serve the gods. Intellect:Most Babylonian literature was written on clay tablets or Papyrus. Knowledge was highly valued by both men and women, and both genders were allowed to learn reading and writing with a very complicated and extensive alphabet of over 200 characters.Most Assyrian culture came from Babylonia. Babylonian philosophy was highly centered on morals and ethics, as well as religion. The Babylonian math system(base 60) also heavily influenced the modern system of time as well as that of the ancient greeks, with 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in 1 hour, etc... Technology: The people of babylon inherited many of the technological achievements of the Sumerians, especially in irrigation. Maintaining the complex system of dikes, reservoirs, and weirs, caused the babylonians to allso develop considerable engineering skills.Babylonians were skilled in metallurgy,paint, cosmetics, and medicine.The Babylonians also invented an accurate calendar, and developed the first early form of toilet.This allowed the population to grow as greater standards of cleanliness became more important, lessening the rate of infection.

Homework 1.4: APPARTS Chart on Hammurabi's Code

Author: Hammurabi, the king of Babylon, who took power around 1800CE. Though the tablets containing this code were discovered in 1901 AD.This is the oldest known record of such a set of laws.Being that it was believed that the king was an envoy of god, religious beliefs at the time would've greatly influenced Hammurabi's decisions when making these codes. Place: In Babylonia, around 1800CE. Discovered in Iran. Prior Knowledge:Societies First emerged in the area where this book was created.This is the oldest known example of a formal set of laws. Hammurabi was the 1st to unite the kingdoms in this area, and the political system was extremely male-centric. Audience: The people of Hammurabi's kingdom. I believe they would be "scared straight", unwilling to commit crimes due to the harsh punishment.With such an extreme set of rules,people would be less likely to commit crimes, knowing the consequences."Give justice to the land,and let them have good governance" Reasons for Creation: The reason for the code's creation would probably be the new king's attempts to try to assert his power over the kingdom.I belive that one of the reasons the penalties in Hammurabi's code were so harsh was the king was trying to assert his government's power over the people." When Marduk commanded me to give Justice to the people, I set forth truth throughout the land and prospered the people" Main Idea: The most famous quote from Hammurbai's Code, an eye for an eye, and that everyone is equal under the law. The only real discrepancy is with slaves., in which an aggressor must pay money to the owner of the injured slave."If a man puts out the eye of a free man, they shall put out his eye. If he breaks the bone of a free man, they shall break his bone. ..etc Significance: While Hammurabi's tactics were quite brutal, they were very effective in keeping order, which would greatly influence dictators throughout history.Because the king was seen as an envoy of God, the king had much more to worry about if he failed,meaning both his life and his soul.I also connected this strong religious overtone in Hammurbai's code to the American legal system's tradition of swearing on the bible in court.

Homework 1.5:Vocabulary

Neolithic Age- The first agricultural revolution, which allowed for more elaborate social organization and the creation of cities. Brought an end to the stone age, and the transition to agriculture from the previous hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Bronze Age- period of civilization around 3000 BC during which metal tools gradually replaced stone ones. This could either have been based on the localssmelting of copper and tin from ores, or trading for bronze from production areas elsewhere. Many, though not all, Bronze Age cultures flourished in prehistory. Catal Huyuk: A Neolithic village in Southern Turkey around 7000 BC, covering around 32 Acres and was made primarily of mud-bricks. Ziggurat- A large stone tower,pyramid like in structure similar to egyptian obelisks. These were used for purposes of worship, a contrast to the egyptians. City-State: A city which also functions as an independant country ex) The Vatican. Sumerians: people who invaded the fertile crescent sround 3800BCE, and developed a cuneiform writing system of over 2000 charatcers. which they later shortened to 300. Hammurabi-A babylonian King who introduced the most famous code of early law. This was also the first known set of recorded laws in history. Huangehe-A major waterway in china *see below for additional details on uses* Indus River: A major river, used for cooking, washing,waste disposal, recreation, etc...

Homework 1.6: Chapter Summary

The major development during the classical period of history was the formation of large regional civilizations in China, India,Mediterranean and the Middle East.However, except for brief interludes, the main civilizations did not share direct borders and were largely connected through trade.Much of the development of these civilizations was separate, and the establishment of unique cultural and institutional patterns was a key feature of this period in history.While occasionally, interactions were more direct, such as when Alexander the great conquered the mediterannean to India.Despite the lack of a clear transition, classical civilizations that began to emerge were radically different from their river/valley predecessors.Each of the classicla civilizations had it's own social structure, religion, politics, science, and art, whic all play a vital part in differentiating them throughout the perios. The major difference is that in classicla civilization, cultures began to leave longer-lasting effects. At a certain point, each of the classical civilizations conquered, and expanded, effecting the surrounfing peoples. The story of the decline of these civilizations is unique and distinct, but the overall pattern of change carries several common features.