1D.+Basic+Features+of+Early+Civilizations

=BASIC FEATURES OF EARLY CIVILIZATIONS: Shang, Mesoamerica and Andean South American=

AGMSPRITE Conclusion
ART: The Shang contributed works of pottery as well as silk cloth, and the teqniques used to make them were passed down through Chinese culture. This has made the art techniques (especially silk-making), somewhat of a tradition and a distinctly Chinese craft.

MILITARY: The military during this time period tended to be directed towards the non-urban population in China, with the hope that the state would be one empire. Although the semi-unified state of China fell into ruin and entered the time of warring states, the Shang established that idea of one unified nation.

SOCIETY: The main characteristic of the Shang was its patriarchal society. Emphasis on the power of men not only gave them the power, but this structure put a lot of value in respecting your family and retaining to their traditions. This concept of honoring family members, particularly the male and older members, still holds true in China today.

POLITICS: Aspects of the Shang politics had unstable elements. City states constantly vied to be the political capital, so the center of the dynasty was always changing. This somewhat led to the downfall of the Shang because it wasn’t particularly organized between city states, so invasion was made easier.

RELIGION: Religion was of the utmost importance within the Shang Dynasty. To its people, the gods controlled all and were everywhere. Positions of power had great religious significance, and people believed that in calling upon their ancestors they could find help in daily life as well as good fortune as the spirits watched over them. The importance of religion is something that is still prominent in China today.

INTELLECTUAL: The Shang was heavily involved in advancements such as math. Both a decimal system and a calendar were created during the time of the dynasty.

TECHNOLOGY: The dynasty utilized many inventions that are still commonplace within today’s society. They worked heavily with bronze, and established techniques in working the metal that continued to be used and refined in China. They also used horse-drawn chariots and the spoked wheel, which improved methods of transportation for the people.

ECONOMY: The economy of the Shang dynasty was trade-centered, but only within the Chinese city-states. There were also minimal amounts of trade with Mesopotamia.

** Early civilization: China ** · Idea of a centralized state was obvious and persisted over the years to the classical era and to modern times. · ** Xia dynasty (2200-1766 B.C.E) ** Ø Leader: Wu   Ø Organized flood control projects- controlled water ways and manipulated them to flow in great channels. (interaction with environment) · ** Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 B.C.E) ** Ø Arose in the Hwang Ho River Valley (Yellow River Valley)- permitted a stable and bountiful supply of agriculture to support a large, growing civilization (interaction with environment). Ø The river was a source of transportation that allowed trade amongst the civilization. Ø Its isolation from other civilizations limited interaction and trade with other cultures. Ø Although it was a long distance away, it did trade with Mesopotamia. 

Ø Called their civilization “All Under Heaven” due to their superiority and seclusion to other civilizations Ø Thought themselves to “be at the center of the world” Ø Advanced Civilization/Technologically advanced v Perfected the craft of metallurgy - advanced weaponry v Skilled bronze workers: art v Developed spoked wheel v Talented makers of pottery and silk v Intelligent- formulated a decimal system and a very accurate calendar v Horse-drawn chariots - powerful military v Had job specialization Ø Religion- polytheistic Ø Gods governed all parts of peoples’ lives Ø Received help with the gods from their deceased ancestors whom the Chinese called on from the spiritual world. Ø Class Hierarchy v Kings v Nobles v Land Owners v Peasants/Commoners v Slaves (very few) · ** Zhou Dynasty (began approximately around 1100 B.C.E.) ** Ø Continued to display traditions and customs from the Shang dynasty. Ø Zhou ruled China for about 900 years. Ø Political ideology emerged: Mandate of Heaven. Heaven provided the Zhou with power, and the Zhou retained power as long as the ruler governed sagely and with justice. Ø Ruler known as Son of Heaven Ø Served as a mediator between heaven and earth Ø Government: developed feudal system (similar to the one seen in Europe during the Middle Ages). Ø King ruled the entire empire but designated some power to nobles to govern smaller regions due to China’s large size. Ø After time, nobles gained more wealth and power and the regions that they governed separated themselves and formed independent states. Ø Some intricate states constructed bureaucracies which helped stabilize and organize the government; the popularity of this type of government continued in China for thousands of years. Ø War ensued amongst the states which lead to the downfall of the Zhou dynasty in 256 B.C.E.   Ø Led to the “Warring States” · ** Writing ** Ø Oracle bone script Ø Pictographs: stylized drawings, no phonetic meaning Ø Used to predict future and help the Shang Dynasty govern Ø Direct ancestor of modern Chinese characters (showing continuation over time) 

· ** Similarities and differences to other major civilizations during this time ** Ø China, like other civilizations during this time, was largely based upon a patriarchal society. Ø Men possessed all the power v Eldest male led the family v All government positions given to males Ø Centralized state like Egypt and Mesopotamia Ø Possessed few slaves as compared to Egypt and Mesopotamia Ø Similar social hierarchies Ø Rulers often buried in elaborate tombs and with human sacrifices (were meant to escort rulers to the after life) Ø Polytheistic religion · ** Continuities and changes over time ** Ø The Chinese, like many other cilizations, always strived to conquer the environment. They manipulated and controlled flooding so that they could produce a stable economy based upon agriculture (see Xia dynasty). Ø The Chinese are driven to engineer new technology to make work easier and more efficient (Chariots, spoked wheel, metal weaponry). Ø Patriarchal society- China, through history, still had a civilization based upon male dominance. This is seen as more beliefs developed like Confucianism; the Chinese were expected to respect their elders. Women had to respect men. Chinese women were used as entertainers, but nothing else, as seen in art during the classical era. Ø China still remains one of the most major and influential civilizations today. Ø After the collapse of the Zhou Dynasty, China was divided into several warring states; they were no longer unified. The kingdoms remained independent for some time until the Qin united them once again. · ** POV ** Ø The Chinese, isolated from other civilizations, viewed themselves to be superior to other races and considered themselves to be at the center of the world. They did not know of nothing else. Mesopotamia, the only civilization that China traded with, was a mixture of warring city-states. They were not unified as China was and therefore made them inferior. **MESOAMERICA**

[[image:MesoAmericasMap_Main.jpg width="275" height="224"]]
[]
 * __ General location and climate of Mesoamerica __**
 * Mesoamerica is the area from central Mexico to northern Central America.
 * Know as “Extraordinary diversity compressed in to a relatively small space.”
 * Separate from Africa and Eurasia
 * Due to this separation there was not much interaction between them.
 * African and Eurasian culture is not seen in Mesoamerican cultures.
 * Made up of many different climates and geography
 * Lowland rainforests
 * Highland plateaus
 * Mountains and valleys
 * The different climates contributed to the diversity of the people.
 * Those who lived in the steamy rainforests would live differently than those who live and the cold and windy highland plateaus.
 * The majority of the Americas population resided in Mesoamerica and the Andes.
 * Even though this is true there was very little interaction between the civilizations of Mesoamerica and the Andes
 * There was no direct path between them like the Silk Road in Eurasia.

The first complex society in Mesoamerica was the Olmec Civilization.
 * __ The Olmec __**
 * The Olmec civilization extended from the Tuxtlas mountains in the west to the lowlands of the Chontalpa in the east.
 * Characterized by swampy lowlands punctuated by low hills, ridges, and volcanoes.
 * They [[image:olmec_art.jpg width="135" height="188" align="left"]]traded amongst var ious small states and chiefdoms.
 * They exchanged luxury goods which showed social status or for rituals.
 * Much of the art that was created by the Olmec was religious
 * **__[]__**
 * Much of it was made of clay, jade, and stone
 * Hand carved
 * Job specialization
 * Large, 3-D
 * Valued art which shows they had the time to spend on making the art. Suggests an advanced culture.
 * Olmec art depicts at least 10 distinct gods.
 * Such as the corn/maize god, fire god, and rain god.
 * Religious activities were guided by a shaman or priest
 * Made sacrifices to the gods
 * Olmec goods and art have been found all over Mesoamerica.
 * Showed that they valued trade with other civilizations.
 * They were very influential
 * This civilization laid the foundation for many of the civilizations that followed it.
 * Began to decline when the population began to drop. This depopulation was likely the result of "very serious environmental changes that rendered the region unsuited for large groups of farmers." This basically means there was over farming of the land.
 * __ Maya __**


 * They were located in present day Guatemala and the Yucatan region of Mexico.
 * They had many achievements intellectually and artistically.
 * Created the concept of zero
 * Advanced astronomical understanding. They plotted the cycles of the planets and made calendars.
 * Creation of elaborate writing system
 * Used pictographs and phonetic elements.
 * Carved in stone or written on bark paper.
 * The writing system recorded historical events, astronomical data, and religious/ mythological texts.
 * Agriculture supported a rapidly growing population
 * The Maya drained swaps, terraced hillsides, flattened ridge tops and constructed an elaborate water management system.
 * Shows advanced civilization. All of these projects would require job specialization.
 * This technology supported everyone.
 * Advanced civilization.
 * []
 * There were many different types of jobs. There were elites, nobles, priests, merchants, architects, sculptors, artisans and the labor force. Shows that they had time to devote to the arts.
 * All of these achievements were created under a decentralized government.
 * Highly fragmented political system of city states
 * There was frequent warfare and there was capture and sacrifice of the prisoners.[[image:P-7mayavisionserpent.jpg width="176" height="250" align="right"]]
 * No one succeeded at creating a unified Maya empire.
 * Resembled the city s tates of Mesopotamia or classical Greece.
 * There were however, ceremonial centers that were in densely populated areas.
 * Theses were run by powerful kings who were “state shamans” or divine rulers.
 * It is said that the divine rulers were able to mediate between humans and the gods.
 * []
 * They had many different gods
 * These centers rose and fell frequently and there were many different alliances between them.
 * The Elite class sought goods from far away Civilizations.
 * Jade, gold, shells, feathers and cocoa were valued.
 * Possession of these goods was a sign of social status.
 * The Maya civilization collapsed rapidly. The rate of the collapse is not often seen in world history.
 * A long term drought dramatically affected the population of the low-lying southern heartland. The population dropped by 85 percent or more. This was due to famine, epidemic, and warfare.
 * The culture was unable to recover from this catastrophe.
 * All construction and art projects were ceased.
 * Many different theories on the reason for the rapid collapse.
 * Not because of foreign invasion or internal rebellion
 * Could be because of ecol ogical or political factors.
 * Rapid population gr owth outstripped the available resources, which resulted in deforestation and erosion of hillsides. This could contribute to climate change which caused the draught.
 * Political disunity and rivalries prevented a coordinated effective response to the catastrophe.
 * As the disaster got worse warfare continued and got more frequent. They were competing for scarce land.
 * Proved that fragmented civilizations are very fragile. Just like the Olmec civilization they collapsed partly because they did not use their land correctly.

__Teotihuacán__

 * Began to flourish at roughly the same time as Maya.[[image:teotihuacan.jpg width="366" height="245" align="right"]]
 * Located in the Valley of Mexico
 * The population was estimated to be between 100,000 to 200,000.
 * Very little is known about this civilization.
 * Physically the city was very large.
 * Know as the “city of the gods”
 * []
 * There were broad avenues, plazas, marketplaces, temples, palaces, apartment complexes, slums, waterways, reservoirs, drainage systems, and murals,
 * Cave was found with bodies of people with hands tied behind their back.
 * Shows a belief in sacrifice for the gods.
 * Made blades out of obsidian.
 * Skilled labor=> job specialization.
 * There were sections of the city that were for foreigners. Workers from other civilizations would come and live there.
 * Buildings of all types were decorated with murals, sculptures and carvings.
 * The art was abstract geometric
 * Depicted gods and goddesses
 * Looked like starfish, jaguar (important god much like in the Maya), warriors or flowers.
 * The art depicted happy people it also glorified warfare.
 * Unlike Maya there is not a lot of art that glorifies rulers and there were no written public inscriptions.
 * The city was very powerful from 330 to 600 C.E.
 * It had a very strong military
 * Completely took over a Maya city, Kaminalijuyu (more than 600 miles to the east), and organized it as a colony.
 * Used their military to gain commodities from far away places. Long distance trade can be seen by the food products and the presences of foreigners in the city.
 * The size and prosperity of Teotihuacán influenced others across Mesoamerica to imitate the architecture and artistic styles of the city.
 * The reason for its collapse is still unknown.
 * __ Similarities between civilizations __**
 * Mesoamerica was distinctively spit up yet there were elements of common culture.
 * Agricultural technology was very important
 * Raised maize, beans, chili peppers, and squash.
 * Economies were based on market exchange and agriculture.
 * They practiced similar religions
 * Similar deities
 * Belief in cosmic cycle of creation and destruction
 * Human sacrifice
 * Large ceremonial centers
 * 260 calendar days and uses hieroglyphic writing
 * The achievements made by these cultures were without the help of large domestic animals and iron working.
 * Focus on art and education between all of the civilizations.
 * Uncertain to the details of collapse but most were due to a large population growth and over farming except for Teotihuacán where the reason for its collapse is unknown. The humans abused their environment.
 * These cultures all interacted through trade but also went to war against one another. For example, Teotihuacán traded with Maya and allowed people from Maya to live there yet they took over a city in Maya.
 * The class structure was also very similar.
 * Powerful rulers/religious leaders
 * Nobles/Elites
 * Merchants
 * Artisans
 * commoners
 * Slaves
 * __ Humans and the Environment: Continuity over time __**

It can be seen in some of the earliest civilizations that humans abuse their environment. Even today humans continue to abuse the environment even when they know that it is what caused the down fall of some of the greatest civilizations. With the poor treatment of the land in Olmec and Maya, the climate began to change; much like our climate today is changing. This sends a message to the people of today. We need to look back at history to see what will happen if we continue to abuse our environment.


 * __ The Rulers: A Continuity and Change __**

Mesoamerican civilizations were ruled by a religious leader or strong ruler. Today there are some countries that are still ruled in the same way. However, there are also other ways countries are run. A lot of governments today are more secular with the separation of church and state, even if there is only one central leader. There are also governments that are not ruled by one strong governing figure but, by many or the people themselves. The textbook has somewhat of a Euro centric bias. This can be seen when the book talks about Mesoamericans worshiping multiple gods and the topic of sacrifice. The book uses words like forcibly, horrific and against their will to describe the sacrifices. To the Mesoamericans sacrifice was part of their religion and highly accepted. There were also only a few pages devoted to Mesoamerica which shows that the book did not view them as importantly. It did not go into very much detail when discussing the different Civilizations of Mesoamerica.
 * __ What’s the Bias? __**

**AGMSPRITE CONCLUSION**

ART: The Mesoamericans used stone and sometimes murals to depict art. The pieces tended to have a religious undertone, showing that to Mesoamericans religion and worship of their gods was of the utmost importance.

MILITARY: The military also held religious significance. Before battle, religious rituals took place. Also, in terms of the Mayans, leaders often went into battle with their armies. This shows the relevancy of the elites to the lower class citizens. Although they were considered more respected, they were not disconnected from their people. The purpose of Mayan war was usually in the attempt to gain more slaves. This attitude of enslaving “lesser” people is one that has been transferred to most civilizations in the history of the Earth.

SOCIETY: The majority of people within Mesoamerican society, as in most others, were peasants and slaves. The social pyramid was also one that is pretty standard for civilizations of this time. Kings, Priests and nobles were at the top of the pyramid while commoners were at the bottom. Mesoamerican merchants, unlike the Chinese, were held to a relatively high status. The significance of this structure was that it was the standard of the time. It also set us a system for future societies that to some extent, still exists today.

POLITICS: In terms of Mayan politics specifically, there was one king. This leader resided over numerous city states, and usually was sad to have some sort of link to the gods. This absolute power over a large group of people was sustained by the idea that the gods ordained their king to rule over them.

RELIGION: Religion was intertwined with essentially all aspects of life in Mesoamerican culture Society, military strength and politics all intertwined with some aspect of religious practice. Those practices tended to be worship of multiple gods (such as the feathered snake), which meant not only praying, but ritual sacrifice as well. The sacrifices were significant because of the reaction it received from Europeans later on in history. It planted the idea of inferiority by adding to the illusion that Mesoamerican societies were primitive, hostile and barbaric.

INTELLECTUAL: Mesoamerican intelligence, although not focused on traditional learning, was expansive. Astrology was heavily practiced, and this yielded calendars as well as predictions for the future. These forecasts of the future are (sometimes) still heeded today, although there is debate of the validity of the predictions. There was also a system of writing (in Mayan civilization) using symbols and pictures that greatly resembled hieroglyphics, showing further the intelligence of Mesoamerica.

TECHNOLOGY: In terms of technology, efforts were put into agriculture due to the lack of larger domesticated animals. Farmers figured out methods to cultivate cotton and maize, including ridged fields that allowed more irrigation to crops. Also, the massive temples and pyramids within urban structures showed great innovation.

**ANDEAN SOUTH AMERICAN** __Interaction between humans and the environment__ Even though the region had deserts along the coast, the people used the rivers for irrigation and cultivation to grow cotton for fishing nets and food crops such as squash and beans, to trade for essential items, and to fish heavily. The complexity of irrigation systems would vary on the city-states. The steep slopes of the Andes mountain chain were carved out by the people into huge staircase terrace systems. __Development and interaction of cultures__ Civilizations within the Andes region like the Norte Chico were unusually self-contained. The only interaction from the outside world in the Andean civilization was the import of maize, which came from Mesoamerica, but there wasn’t a direct interaction between the two regions. Although there wasn’t really any interaction between cultures, Norte Chico apparently “lighted a cultural fire” in the Andes that established a pattern for the following civilizations like Chavin, Moche, Nazca, and the Inca. The Nazca was known for their polychrome pottery and textiles. Mocha’s culture was derived from their own craftspeople, such as metal-works, potter, and paintings. There’s little on what influenced Chavin’s religious practice. Since none of the civilizations developed writing to record the chronology of things, the preceding of each culture is hard to infer. __State-building, expansion, and conflict__ There wasn’t really any expansion on Norte Chico’s part. Its cities were smaller and there was little evidence of warfare, which would indicate the expansion of taking over other civilizations. The Chavin Empire has never really emerged; instead a widespread of religious cult emerged. The Mocha civilization incorporated thirteen river valleys. The people of Mocha were extremely war-like. Incas was the civilization that had finally consolidated the area into one unified empire. The Andean South American civilization had ended when it was conquered by European empires across the sea. __Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems__ The cities were smaller and showed less evidence of economic specialization. The economy was based on the fishing industry in anchovies and sardines. Trading would take place by the inland people in the river valleys. There was interaction of trade between Mesoamerica and the Andes for the crop, maize. The Chavin civilization had trade routes to the coastal region to the west and the Amazon rain forest to the east. __Development and transformation of social structure__ Since Norte Chico showed less evidence in economic specialization, there was probably a lack of job specialization, which would include distinction in class. Everyone had the same job or status. In Chavin, they were irrigation projects that suggested the growing authority of religious leaders. Chavin was a small town with clear distinctions between an elite class, who lived in stone houses, and commoners who lived in adobe dwellings. The Moche was governed by warrior-priests, some lived in huge pyramids. They had shaman-rulers, but the lower class consisted of laborers and servants. The Chavin civilization’s elite live in structures of stone houses obviously portray wealth and status in comparison to adobe dwellings. Similar to America, wealth and power can be portrayed through the type of living one has, the assets of a nice car or a nice house in comparison to a poor living standard. A change that has occurred over time would be the government system and who would come into power. The Incas’ civilization was an empire. Modern Nations of today, like America, have a democratic system. The societies within the Andean civilization have grown in complexity. Beginning with the Norte Chico, there was a lack of job specialization and the community size was small, consisting of 2,000 to 3,000 people. After each succeeding civilization, religion came about as one can see in the Chavin civilization and even a social hierarchy begins to form. The Mochas has a larger degree of a social hierarchy, making the gap between the elite and the labor class larger. Nazca, the following civilization, was more developed, creating underground irrigation canals and polychrome textiles and pottery. The final civilization, the Inca, was able to unify the entire area. All these societies within the Andes took over with more complexity each time. These civilizations are different in comparison to Mesopotamia and Egypt, who interacted with each other, instead of being isolated or rarely interacting with Mesoamerica.
 * 5 Major Historical Themes**
 * The Continuity and Change over time**
 * Comparing within and among societies/comparing societies’ reactions to global processes**

**AGMSPRITE Conclusion**

ART: Work with precious metals existed, but there is little evidence due to the fact that conquistadors melted such artifacts down. Ceramics were also common, with depictions of the environment of the area as well as distinctive patterns and significant members of society.

GEOGRAPHY: In terms of geography, one of the most distinct features was that it wasn’t a River Valley civilization. Residing on the coast, the Andes civilization depended more on the ocean, and also proved that a river was not the only factor in a thriving society. There was little farmland, so terraces were cut out and irrigation methods were used in order to have proper fields.

MILITARY: The military was one that maintained a fairly large size due to the fact that every male citizen could serve and were subject to the draft. The idea of a draft in wartime is one that has remained a constant throughout most societies in the modern world.

SOCIETY: The more well-known society associated with the Andean region is the Incas. The Incas tended to follow the universal pyramid in terms of social structure, but also placed a lot of power within different clans, showing the importance of family within the community.

POLITICS: The Incan civilization was divided into four sections that were each ruled by a designated governor, and these governors were under the rule of one all-powerful king. Also divided based on clan to some degree.

RELIGION: It is known that Andean society practiced polytheistic religion, as was common during this time period. Specifically in the Inca society, religion was synonymous with power, and leaders were said to be descendants of gods.

INTELLECTUAL: Recording system called quipu, using knots in ropes.

TECHNOLOGY: Metallurgy (with bronze) and weapon making were practiced within the civilization, showing advanced skill and also the possibility of job specialization. The Incans also had great feats of architecture such as Machu Pichu, which was built with no mortars.

 Works Cited Armstrong, Monty, David Daniel, Abby Kanarek, and Alexandra Freer. // Cracking the AP World History Exam 2011 Edition //. New York: Random House, 2010. Print.Strayer, Robert W. // Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources //. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011. Print.