Eight Characteristics of Civilization

1. Chapter 1.3

2. Cities
 Center of trade
 centers of cultural
diffusion

3. Central Governments
 needed to oversee
irrigation projects and
other public works
 ensure steady supply of
food
 create and uphold laws
 defend citizens
 collect taxes

4. Complex Religion
 gods controlled forces of Indus Valley Prayer Statuettes
nature
 priests were needed to
convey the will of the
gods
 it was everyone’s
responsibility to make
sure the gods were happy

5. Job Specialization
 rapid technological Weaving
advance makes mastery in
all skills impossible
 people will focus on the
task or craft they are best
at
 artisans emerge who are
efficient in their field
 artisans develop
techniques and
technologies to make their
task easier and more
efficient

6. Social Classes
 people were ranked in
society based on the
importance of their job
 priests and warriors were
typically considered the
most important

7. Arts & Architecture
Ziggurat
 art was created in order
to express beliefs and to
honor important figures
and deities
 most major construction
were building for
religious purposes –
temples, tombs – to
honor their gods

8. Public Works
 projects that the
government needed to
provide in order to help
society run more
efficiently – irrigation,
temples, construction of
walls, and more
 ensured that all task –
even undesirable tasks –
were completed

9. Writing
 usually originated with Cuneiform
priests
 initially used to create
calendars and keep
records of offerings to
the gods
 government will use
writing to keep track of
public records – taxes,
treaties, “official”
documents