MIDTERM REVIEW NATS 1775
Lecture 2
Early Civilization
Characteristics: high populations, centralized political and economic authority, regional states, stratified societies (hierarchies – political and economic – most people with least power at bottom), complex architecture, higher learning
- Why did they develop? Larger populations needed intensified agricultural production
- Simple agriculture replaced by field agriculture
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Hydraulic Hypothesis
Irrigation on such a large scale thus “causes” the emergence of centralized and hierarchal political system (those in control of water)
- Civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, etc… are therefore types of “irrigation civilizations” o Common features develop in a similar way – need to adapt env. Via large scale irrigation hot climates, easier to produce large amount of crops o Feed more people BUT need organized society maintain system, distribute goods, settling water disputes, controlling surplus
Authoritarian state to control water
- Mass labor had to be coordinated, disciplined when necessary, and “led” by higher political authority Criticisms of Hydraulic Hypothesis
• Centralized power not just around irrigation Mesopotamia already had large cities o Irrigation more of a “product” than a “cause” for hierarchy
Early Science and Tech in Ancient Civilizations
• Bronze age bronze metallurgy metal weapons mining ore, smelting etc o Silver and gold metallurgy decorative more trade in minerals, specialization of labour o New energy sources wind power, boats, ox plow, horse and wheeled cart, camel
• Mesopotamia writing astronomy & calendars Babylonians (solstices, equinoxes, sun and moon cycles solar/lunar eclipses, info about planets rising, setting, visibility) tower of babel, temples Early Civilization vs. Greek Civilization
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Early sci. knowledge used for practical purposes record keeping, calendars, astronomical predictions engineering, architecture, health, religion o •
Only higher up’s had
Early Civilization
Characteristics: high populations, centralized political and economic authority, regional states, stratified societies (hierarchies – political and economic – most people with least power at bottom), complex architecture, higher learning
- Why did they develop? Larger populations needed intensified agricultural production
- Simple agriculture replaced by field agriculture
-
Hydraulic Hypothesis
Irrigation on such a large scale thus “causes” the emergence of centralized and hierarchal political system (those in control of water)
- Civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, etc… are therefore types of “irrigation civilizations” o Common features develop in a similar way – need to adapt env. Via large scale irrigation hot climates, easier to produce large amount of crops o Feed more people BUT need organized society maintain system, distribute goods, settling water disputes, controlling surplus
Authoritarian state to control water
- Mass labor had to be coordinated, disciplined when necessary, and “led” by higher political authority Criticisms of Hydraulic Hypothesis
• Centralized power not just around irrigation Mesopotamia already had large cities o Irrigation more of a “product” than a “cause” for hierarchy
Early Science and Tech in Ancient Civilizations
• Bronze age bronze metallurgy metal weapons mining ore, smelting etc o Silver and gold metallurgy decorative more trade in minerals, specialization of labour o New energy sources wind power, boats, ox plow, horse and wheeled cart, camel
• Mesopotamia writing astronomy & calendars Babylonians (solstices, equinoxes, sun and moon cycles solar/lunar eclipses, info about planets rising, setting, visibility) tower of babel, temples Early Civilization vs. Greek Civilization
-
•
Early sci. knowledge used for practical purposes record keeping, calendars, astronomical predictions engineering, architecture, health, religion o •
Only higher up’s had