There are many definitions of "Civilization".  The word itself comes frm the Latin word "civis" which meant "citizen."  And for most of human history, "civilization" has been associated with city life.  Some historians take the view that "civilization" occurs only when societies produce enough surplus - food, and everything else, - which results in social classes and inequalities.  Others say that it requires this surplus, but also more - the appearance of political organizations [i.e., states] which are quite different in size and scale from the family and tribal or clan organizations typical in hunter/gatherer societies as well as in most early agricultural societies too.

Marvin Harris, a well-known anthropologist, gave another view about the emergence of the very first "states" and what they inflicted on homo sapiens sapiens.  [note to designer - this link goes in "b", upper right.].  What do you think of his statements?  Not a very optimistic or positive view of "states" and the "civilization" they produce or represent!

The authors of our textbook, on pp. 6-7, offer a more positive view, and one that is more likely useful for our understanding of the ancient past.  They identify six important elements of early "civilization", and indeed, one might orgue that all six are still important parts of most "civilizations" today.  You should look at these six carefully as you read about the early "civilizations" in the Middle East, East Asia and the Americas over the next several units; and particularly in this unit, as you read about and then write about those civilizations which emerged in Mesopotamia and Egypt.  We will bring this list back in the units on ancient India, ancient China, and the Americas.

• an urban focus
• a distinct religious structure
• new political and military structures
• a new social structure based on economic power
• development of writing
• new and significant artistic and intellectual activity

You might want to print out the chart on this link - and then use it to keep notes about each of the early civilizations that we will be studying over the next several units.  It will allow you more easily to make the comparisons that some of the writing assignments will ask you to submit.

Each of the early civilizations were characterized by these six features.  As you read the textbook on Mesopotamia and Egypt, note down how each of these six help us to understand This is an exercise that you should do for each of the units.

In this unit we will focus on the fifth of these features - the development of writing.  Click on Mesopotamian and Egyptian writing  [designer - please put this link in "c", lower right] to follow this discussion.