The development of ancient civilizations

Civilization (noun): (a) an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture,
science, industry and government has been reached. (b) Those people or nations that have
reached such a state. (c) Any type of culture, society, of a specific place, time, or group.

Advanced civilizations developed in many regions of the world and on all of the continents
(excepting Australia and Antarctica). Below is a chart of the major civilizations that will be
studied this year and where they were located.

Location of some major civilizations

Civilization Region Countries occupied

Egypt Northeast Africa Egypt, Sudan
Mesopotamia Western Asia Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria
Aztec Southern North America Mexico
Inca Western South America Colombia, Ecuador, Peru,
Chile, Bolivia, Argentina
Maya Central America Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula),
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras,
El Salvador

Elements and features of ancient civilizations

Many ancient civilizations shared similar elements or characteristics. Each of these

characteristics had some features that marked them as being advanced and worthy of being
considered ‘civilized’. The chart below gives a guide to these characteristics which many ancient
civilizations shared.

Major elements of ancient civilizations

Elements Examples of typical features

Government Distinct leaders (emperor, king, prince). Public officials. A security force
(army and/or police). Clear levels of power and authority in the
government structure.

Social Structure Distinct social classes. A number of social classes. Privileges for the elite
classes.

Religion Priest class. Worship centres (usually a temple). Complex belief systems.
Clear ideas about a supreme being and the afterlife.

Public Planned cities and towns. Stone structures. Roads. Bridges. Dams and
Infrastructure aqueducts.

Legal Systems Written laws. Judges.

Science and Widespread use of the wheel. Metal tools (bronze, copper or iron).
Technology Advanced medicine. Winches and pulleys.

Culture Many musical instruments. Finely woven and decorated clothing.

Sculptures. Fine paintings.

Education Schools. Alphabet. Number system.

Economic System Surplus agricultural production. Developed trade system. Monetary system.

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While many of the civilizations being studied shared these features, their forms varied widely
and in some instances, did not develop some elements as fully as others. The Amerindian
civilizations (Aztec, Inca, Maya), for example, never developed metal tools, nor did they use the
wheel widely in many of their tools. The Egyptian, Inca and Aztec civilizations were highly
organised politically, but developed only basic monetary systems.

The role played by rivers in the development of civilizations.

Rivers played an important function in the emergence and development of civilizations. They
were the main source of water for domestic use by man; they helped to irrigate fields; they
carried human and other waste away from the settlements; they provided fish and other animal
protein and useful plants for man. Rivers also proved to be a major transportation route linking
communities and fostering trade. They also provided power for simple machines, such as water
mills.

The Nile, Tigris and Euphrates rivers played unique roles in the development of civilizations in
their respective areas. This was possible because of similar features they shared. Both rivers
flood annually (June to September for the Nile and March to May for the Tigris and Euphrates).
They carry down silt which is deposited in a flood plain and the rivers flow through dry and
desert landscapes for significant distances. Significant stretches of the Nile and Tigris rivers are
navigable. The Nile flows through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Kenya. The Tigris and Euphrates flow through
Iraq, Syria and Turkey.

The similar features of the river systems lead to the development of the earliest civilizations in
the world along their banks (Egyptian civilization for the Nile and Mesopotamian civilization for
the Tigris and Euphrates). The annual floods constantly renewed the flood plains created by the
rivers, adding nutrients to the soil. This encouraged agricultural development and increased food
production in both areas. Wheat in Egypt and barley in Mesopotamia became the major crops
and both regions grew flax for producing cloth.

Settlements grew and developed along the rivers in both regions, leading to a significant
population growth. More people became sedentary as a result.

The navigable nature of the rivers encouraged the growth of trade in both regions, leading to
greater productivity among the communities and the exchange of a wide variety of foodstuffs, art
and craftwork and other items.

The reliability of the flow of the rivers allowed mankind to develop irrigation schemes and
domestic water supplies for their settlements.

The role played by specialised occupations and sedentary communities in the development
of civilizations.

In early human societies, most people in the group carried out most of the tasks needed for
survival. This method had its drawbacks however, as not all persons were equally skilled in
every task. Societies learned over time to make the persons who were best at a particular task
carry it out almost exclusively. Those who were good at growing crops, focused on farming,
while hunters improved their skills, without having to worry about farming.

Over time, some hunters captured live animals and domesticated them, making them able to
acquire meat, milk, hides or wool when desired. The occupation of herdsmen was thus invented.

The development of agriculture meant that mankind did not have to remain nomadic. Permanent
shelters were built and more groups joined with each other, encouraging population growth.
Populations became sedentary. Only some people were needed to grow food and raise animals.

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The rest could, hunt, make and repair tools and specialise at the jobs they were best at. As they
had more leisure time, they became more skilled.

When the villagers had a surplus of goods, they exchanged them with other villages for goods
they needed. Trade developed as a result and competition between villages led to each craftsman
trying to become more skilled than his neighbour.

Over time, the groups of persons with specialised skills lived together in their own communities
in the towns. This led to the development of social classes and a social order in the society.

The development of sedentary communities meant that human societies began to create more
complex social and physical organizations. Settlements developed because of an adequate source
of food and meat. Agriculture was the prime factor that encouraged this. An adequate water
supply also encouraged people to settle in one location.

Permanent settlements also developed in areas where people could take advantage of trade routes
between other settlements. Settlements also sprung up where there were important mineral and
natural resources to take advantage of. Since safety was a constant concern of all societies, some
settlements were established where people felt secure from the extreme forces of nature and from
their enemies.

The growth of sedentary communities encouraged powerful persons to seek control over
villages, towns and even cities in a general area. The need to control food and water supplies,
trade routes and important resources were often the primary reasons for this. This was especially
so as the villages, towns or cities grew in size, because of their importance. The area controlled
by the powerful could be called a city-state, kingdom or empire, depending on its size.