Chapter Three: First Civilizations: Cities, States and Unequal Societies

Chapter three: First Civilizations: Cities, States, and Unequal Societies 3500-500 B.C.E. 

The Agricultural Revolution led to the development of Civilizations. It was a form of settling without a leader. There had to be ground rules to live by. In order to keep food and enough water for all the cities and states there was a form of irrigation that went on to keep water flowing and food for everyone. The beginning Civilization was composed of six. Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley. Olmec, Andes, and Norte Chico. Each civilization had different sources of survival and food. The book pointed out

            “However, not all agricultural societies or chiefdom developed into civilizations,             so something else must have been involved.” (Strayer, page 61)

Civilization was the development of advanced technology that led to productivity. It wasn’t just a form of settling it was a form of irrigation to continue productivity among the city and states. Law were established. One of the most advanced civilizations was Mesopotamia. It was a big urban city. They were more advanced then say the Norte Chico that relied on fishnets and corn to have more food. Both Indus Valley and Mesopotamia were organized and planned out the formation of their cities. They had sewers, running water and flushing waters. They were far more advanced then the on growing civilizations that were forming through out the world. This chapter covers hierarchies of class which basically meant that their inequalities that were determined by status, wealth, and power. I believe that there are inequalities today that have much to do with the development of civilizations back then. If you have more power and wealth today, yes one’s status is high but I believe that they are limited in what they can do. Where as a country that is limited and has very little status, is available to explore different avenues then a country or state that has more status can. Since they have less to lose they can explore and experiment more. Longevity doesn’t die out. Which is why we know of the irrigation and development of civilizations has been successful because we have been rooted and successful in what was laid out for us in the 3500 B.C.E.