Neolithic Era

Key Concept 1.3 Core & Foundational Civilizations                                              

Key Aspects of Civilizations 

• Produced agricultural surpluses 

• Significant specialization of labor

• Contained cities

• Governments or political bureaucracies and armies

• Religious beliefs

• Stratified social relationships

• Economic exchange

Core and foundational civilizations developed in  a variety of geographical and environmental settings where agriculture flourished including:

• Mesopotamia in the Tigris and Euphrates River valleys

• Egypt in the Nile River valley

• Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa in the Indus River valley

• The Shang in the Yellow River or Huang He valley

• The Olmecs in Mesoamerica

• Chavín in Andean South America.

The first states emerged within core civilizations in Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley.

• States were powerful new systems of rule that mobilized surplus labor and resources over large areas.  Rulers of early states often claimed divine connections to power. Rulers also often enjoyed military support. 

• As states grew and competed for land and resources, the more favorably situated —including the Hittites’ access to iron - had greater access to resources,  produced more surplus food, enabling them to undertake territorial expansion and conquer surrounding states.

• Pastoralists were often the developers and disseminators of new weapons and modes of transportation that transformed warfare in agrarian civilizations.

Culture played a significant role in unifying states through law, language, literature, religion, myths and monumental art.

• Early civilizations developed monumental architecture and urban planning 

  • ziggurats

  • pyramids

  • temples

  • defensive walls

  • streets and roads

  • sewage and water systems