AGMSPRITE - Early Civilizations
A : Use of geometric shapes to help form sculptures and design pictures showed a high level understanding of math. Much of the art concerned royalty, hunting, war, and religion, showing emphasis on power. This can be seen to this day, with much of the world's most famous art regarding war and elite people. The emergence of cities and written languages as well as the development of better techniques for utilizing bronze allowed for many famous pieces as Mesopotamian briefs, Egyptian Pyramids, and Shang ritual bronzes.
G : The major continuity between all of these civilizations is that they formed around rivers (Olmecs - Coatzacoalcos River, Harappa - Indus, Mesopotamia - Tigris/Euphrates). The rivers allowed the civilizations to produce food and trade efficiently and then thrive. The settling near rivers led to densely populated civilizations and with the civilization booming, led to the emergence of classes. Job specialization was much more prevalent and the rich had money to spend, so with the rivers, they traded for items from other civilizations to show their wealth. Still today, the biggest cities are around rivers and many spawned from these civilizations.
M : Bronze weapons were a major part of all of the civilization's arsenals. Bronze weaponry such as spears, swords, and bows were very common. Chariots were also used very efficiently and led to the success of many civilizations such as the Shang. Walled cities also played a major factor in letting the civilizations thrive as they had a defense from nomads and other peoples. Even today we see counties. Unions and alliances between cities were formed for the first time and led to the spread of culture and trade. The same can be seen today.
S : With the abundance of resources and types of jobs, social classes started molding, and with the wealth of some giving the rich much power over the poor.
P : Politics wise, we see the first written laws in Hammurabi's code (which set the groundwork for governments everywhere for the rest of time) and civilizations where people who ruled were held to an almost worship like level. The rulers past down their right to family members and this led to some inefficient rulers. Central planning played a major rule in letting the civilizations thrive, the cities were all connected and everything was done at an efficient rate because of preplanned work. This is also a continuity to today. The rulers had many sculptures and art made for them and in the end, their word was final.
R : Many of the early civilizations did not have recorded or state religions. The first religion to be recorded was the Mesopotamian religion. The majority were polytheistic and idol or environment worshipers, some believed in great beings (Zoroastrianism). Rulers often incorporated themselves into religion and had themselves worshiped. This led to major inclusion of the church with the state and thus justification of laws through religion. We see that continuity even today.
I : Very important breakthroughs were made during this time. The use of math in art/architecture, writing systems, and city layouts all show massive intellect. These advancements are all still used today.
T : Major technological advancements were made in this period as well. The ability to weave cotton, create sewage systems, build defensive structures, and use steel and bronze efficiently were advancements that affected the world for much time to come.
E : The rivers made it so that civilizations could trade with each other. This led to some items being worth more than others and social classes forming. Items like silk and bronze were valued more than others and used to trade and build up civilizations. The creation of currency allowed economies to thrive and allowed different items to change hands.
G : The major continuity between all of these civilizations is that they formed around rivers (Olmecs - Coatzacoalcos River, Harappa - Indus, Mesopotamia - Tigris/Euphrates). The rivers allowed the civilizations to produce food and trade efficiently and then thrive. The settling near rivers led to densely populated civilizations and with the civilization booming, led to the emergence of classes. Job specialization was much more prevalent and the rich had money to spend, so with the rivers, they traded for items from other civilizations to show their wealth. Still today, the biggest cities are around rivers and many spawned from these civilizations.
M : Bronze weapons were a major part of all of the civilization's arsenals. Bronze weaponry such as spears, swords, and bows were very common. Chariots were also used very efficiently and led to the success of many civilizations such as the Shang. Walled cities also played a major factor in letting the civilizations thrive as they had a defense from nomads and other peoples. Even today we see counties. Unions and alliances between cities were formed for the first time and led to the spread of culture and trade. The same can be seen today.
S : With the abundance of resources and types of jobs, social classes started molding, and with the wealth of some giving the rich much power over the poor.
P : Politics wise, we see the first written laws in Hammurabi's code (which set the groundwork for governments everywhere for the rest of time) and civilizations where people who ruled were held to an almost worship like level. The rulers past down their right to family members and this led to some inefficient rulers. Central planning played a major rule in letting the civilizations thrive, the cities were all connected and everything was done at an efficient rate because of preplanned work. This is also a continuity to today. The rulers had many sculptures and art made for them and in the end, their word was final.
R : Many of the early civilizations did not have recorded or state religions. The first religion to be recorded was the Mesopotamian religion. The majority were polytheistic and idol or environment worshipers, some believed in great beings (Zoroastrianism). Rulers often incorporated themselves into religion and had themselves worshiped. This led to major inclusion of the church with the state and thus justification of laws through religion. We see that continuity even today.
I : Very important breakthroughs were made during this time. The use of math in art/architecture, writing systems, and city layouts all show massive intellect. These advancements are all still used today.
T : Major technological advancements were made in this period as well. The ability to weave cotton, create sewage systems, build defensive structures, and use steel and bronze efficiently were advancements that affected the world for much time to come.
E : The rivers made it so that civilizations could trade with each other. This led to some items being worth more than others and social classes forming. Items like silk and bronze were valued more than others and used to trade and build up civilizations. The creation of currency allowed economies to thrive and allowed different items to change hands.
