HaCKeRz KrOnIcKLeZ 3/HaCKeRz_KrOnIcKLeZ.iso/anarchy/essays/term/vil2city.txt

Text File | 1996-04-27 | 9KB | 158 lines

From Village to City

        Over the years of history, there have been many civilizations. We will
look at the earliest of all civilizations known to man. From Village to
City began in 8000BC and spanned all the way into 3000BC.  Throughout
this report we will look at the 6 key features of this civilization as
outlined in our classroom discussions, and hope to convey what we have
learned in a useful, and interesting way.

The development of a city:

        The first city to be built was Jericho, in the Middle East
Map: This map is a picture of what the division of land would have
looked like in those times. Clearly identified here, it is possible to
see Babylon, Ur, and Eridu.
⌐ Microsoft Encarta Æ95. (Appendix 1).
Sumer at this time evolved into the largest city-state, established by a
people known as the Ubaidians.  The development of the city, allowed for
rapid population growth due to the abundance of food.  Sheep, goat
and pigs had been originally domesticated for use as food, not as
sources of clothing.  The main economic activity during this time was
trade and barter.  Obsidian, a volcanic glass was fashioned into razor
sharp tools and weapons.  It was also used as trade.  People who lived
near Obsidian deposits often risked their lives to collect it and
eventually barter it off for food or money. Obsidian comes from
volcanoes and was a kind of glass, the only of the times. The value of
Obsidian was great, and so therefore was the supply and demand. Salt,
ore, copper, and soapstone were accepted trade materials around 8000BC.
Most of the Village to City civilization took place during the copper
age, when copper was mined and used for many purposes.   Trade developed
between different cities, Jericho, Sumer, Adab, Eridu, Isin, Kish,
Kullab, Lagash, Larsa, Nippur and Ur. Most of the trade consisted of
livestock and other things such as weapons and food.
        Sumerians constructed large temples called Ziggurats.  These temples
were the focal point of religious activities in towns.  They were made
of sun-dried mud bricks that eroded easily. Not many of these remain
today.    Near 4000BC, urban societies included, farmers, herders,
merchants, artisans, priests, debtors, creditors and social leaders.
Economic authority in that time took the form of tax collection,
creditors and debtors.  Civil authority was created with the use of
Hammurabi code.  Hammurabi Code is in a way the articulation of values.
It reflects the way they believed that matters should be handled from
their times. This code is a collection of the laws and edicts of the
Babylonian King Hammurabi.  King HammurabiÆs code covers everything from
loans, deposits and personal injury to domestic property and family
rights.  It contains no laws for religion, but the criminal law is
comparable to the Semitic law of "an eye for an eye."  This code was
particularly humane for its time. However, remnants of King HammurabiÆs
Code of Laws are still present in todayÆs society. Many people believe
that the Capital Punishment controversy dates back to King Hammurabi.
Capital Punishment has been outlawed in Canada, however it is still in
effect as the main source of deterrence and for cleaning up the streets
in many countries i.e. the U.S.A. (in some states).
Division of Labor:
        Since there had been farmers, merchants, etc., a division of labour was
present.  As fore said, there were many job roles that had to be
fulfilled, for the society to function.  There was no real specific
information regarding the use of gender roles.  However, there were
certain roles that were male only, such as hunter and farmer, and other
that were designated for females; namingly cooking and cleaning.  Class
structure developed as the cities grew larger.  Leaders and civil
authority were in a higher class than that of the regular citizens. In
this time period also there was slavery. Slaves, to which later became
more commonly known as æSerfsÆ.
Development of Writing:

Cuneus: Given above is some text
which has been written in the form of Cuneus. It is engraved in a stone
tablet as they had not discovered paper. ⌐ Microsoft Encarta Æ95.
(Appendix 2).

        The first form of writing known, was cuneiform.  In cuneiform each
symbol represented a word.  This writing was developed around 3000BC,
and lasted until the 1st century.  With this development it allowed for
the continuity in beliefs and helped keep business and legal records.
The same writing gave us a very good insight into their culture, and way
of life today. Cuneus, Latin for wedge, was given this name because the
symbols appear wedge shaped.  This writing has been found on clay,
stone, metals and wax.  Earlier forms of these were pictographs, but
this became too difficult, which led to the use of lines instead.
Cuneiform also helped with the continuity of traditions, and passing on
of heritage.
Art:
Urn: This Urn clearly shows the importance that art played in their
lives. By this time period they had already invented the potters wheel.
⌐ Microsoft Encarta Æ95. (Appendix 3).
        Art was very popular during these times.  This terra-cotta urn
demonstrated that this culture enjoyed arts as an entertainment, use for
burial or as barter.  Architecture was demonstrated with the early
construction of Ziggurats.  House walls were plastered and sometimes
painted. These same Ziggurats were used for worshipping in, and was
considered a sacred place.

Technological Advancements:
The Wheel: The artifacts above are the actual first wheels that were
ever invented. After the firstÆ wheels came more advanced theories. ⌐
Microsoft Encarta Æ95. (Appendix 4).
        The wheel originated in early Mesopotamia around 3000BC.  It was a
great technological achievement.  This allowed for easier travel as the
wheeled cart replaced the wedge as a means of transport.   Also, with
the invention of the wheel came a wider trade area, increasing a
civilizations reach into other areas.  Seen here in the above picture,
are some of the earliest models of the wheel known to man. The very
first wheel that was constructed was made with the use of ball bearings
on the inner portion of the wheel, which is actually a quite advanced
theory. Ball bearings are commonly used today for many things. Also,
Grass was harvested for seeds, with a sickle made up of flint blades set
into wood.  Obsidian was fashioned into sharp arrowheads and weapons.
Rocks were used to crush grain for baking, and hammers were used to
construct buildings.  All theses tools allowed for better harvests and
shaping of the environment.

The Environmental Impact:
Tools: Given in this picture are many of the early tools used for
cultivating, farming, and grinding wheat. ⌐ Microsoft Encarta Æ95.
(Appendix 5).
        Village to City populations affected the environment negatively.  They
over-cultivated the land, when they discovered harvesting.  In some
cases this was so severe, that it instigated the process of
desertification.  Since the technological level was not as sophisticated
as other civilizations, the environment was not polluted, just
over-used.  This ultimately led to the downfall of some cities. It
became increasingly harder to grow because the land was tired and could
no longer produce the proper vitamins the plants needed to survive. Some
cultures had to rely solely on the barter system and livestock
reproduction for food.
Conclusion:
        Many aspects of the Village to City civilization can be found still in
todayÆs modern society.  One of the most valuable inventions was the
wheel, presently we see wheels everywhere. We would not have cars,
planes, computers, literally anything can be derived from these early
ancestors.  The people in that time made many important discoveries,
many of which are being used to date. Furthermore, if it werenÆt for the
advancements that were made up from our ancestors of long ago, we no
doubt not be where we are today. We must ask ourselves, when they
invented, did they comprehend the repercussions of their developments?
In other words, did they realize that they were changing history as we
know it forever. If it were not for these early inventors surely we
would not be as advanced as we are now.
 Bibliography:
1.    Davis, M. Dale. Civilizations in History. Toronto: Oxford
University Press Canada ⌐, 1947.
2.  Brown, Dale and Edmond White. The First of Men. 2nd edition Toronto:
Time-LifeÖ Books ⌐ 1973.

3.  Aiello, Leslie. The Origins of Man. 2nd Edition. Scarborough:
Prentice-Hall Ö Books ⌐, 1982.
4.  Gibson, Dwight L., Terry G. Murphy, Fredrick E. Jarman and Derek
Grant. All About Law. 3rd Edition. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons Canada ⌐,
1990.

5.   "Sumerian Civilization", and "Sumerian Culture". Microsoft Encarta.
CD-ROM. Micromedia. ⌐,
       1994.
6.    Haberman, Arthur and Ian Hundey. Civilizations. Toronto: Gage
Books ⌐, 1993.