Secondary Characteristics Of Civilization

2433 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The rise of the old kingdom egypt

ROAD TO CIVILIZAION:
LONG DISTANCE TRADE AND WRITING IN ANCIENT EGYPT
By Alyx Shepherd
Anthropology 327: Origins of Civilization
Instructor: Dr. Steven R. James
Thursday, April 24, 2014

Introduction
When thinking of Egypt one may conjure up images of pyramids, the Great Sphinx, hieroglyphs, mummies and the Nile. To understand how such a great civilization came to be, one must first become familiar with what it means to be a civilization. There are several characteristics, outlined by British archeologist V. Gordon Childe, that act as a checklist for what constitutes a civilization. Childe’s list was restructured by Charles Redman into Primary characteristics and secondary characteristics of civilization. By examining long distance trade and writing in ancient Egypt one will be able to see how these secondary characteristics were the foundation for a number of the primary characteristics present in Egypt.
Background
Before Egypt established its’ many dynasties the ancient Egyptians lived in small groups along the Nile until they realized that the only way to sustain life in such a rough environment would be to work together.“We may assume that up to 6000 B.C. the inhabitants of the Nile Valley were engaged in a mixed economy of food extraction with variable degrees of reliance on fishing, hunting, and plant collecting” (Hassan 146).After these small bands merged together the dynasties of Egypt began. The history of Egypt is divided into a number of dynasties which are marked by three specific periods of development starting about 2650 B.C. There's an Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and the New Old Kingdom.
King Menes unified the fi...

... middle of paper ...

...le URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/2842626 .Accessed: April 10, 2014
Hassan Fakir
1988 The Presynaptic of Egypt. Journal of World Prehistory, Vol. 2, No. 2.Website JSTOR. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25800540. Accessed April 17,2014
Ray John D.
1986 The Emergence of Writing in Egypt. World Archaeology, Vol. 17, p. 307-316. Website: JSTOR,Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/124697 .Accessed: April17,2014
Savage Stephen H.
2001 Some Recent Trends in the Archaeology of Predynastic Egypt. Journal of Archaeological Research, Vol. 9. p. 101-155. Website: JSTOR, Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/41053174 .Accessed: April 17,2014
Whitcomb Donald and Johnson Janet
1981 Egypt and the Spice Trade. Archeology, Vol. 34,p.16-23. Website: JSTOR Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/41728201 .April 6,2014

Show More
Related

  • How Did the Geographic Features of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia Impact Civilization Development?

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the years of 3500 BC to 2500 BC, the geography of a land often impacted a civilizations development in great measures. Depending on the resources available or the detriments present due to certain topographical characteristics like rivers or deserts, a civilization could flourish or collapse. By studying the geographic features of growing societies like the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris Rivers as well as the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the link between developing cultures and geography will be examined through sources, including Egypt: Ancient Culture, Modern Land edited by Jaromir Malek and Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek. To determine the extent of its influence, this investigation will attempt to compare and contrast the role of geography in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, focusing on the civilizations’ various periods of development and settlement.

    Read More

  • Predynastic History

    2483 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... use of foreign artistic motifs by the developing elite of the Nagada III period, but do not see Mesopotamian inspiration as a prime catalyst in Egypt’s developing complexity. The motivations behind contact between late Predynastic Egypt and Mesopotamia remain uncertain but may have included the trade for gold that occurred in the desert regions east of southern Egypt.

    Read More

  • Egypt before Imperialism

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    Egypt has one of the longest histories of any nation in the world. Written history of Egypt dates back to about 5,000 years, the commencement of civilization. While there is divergence in relation to Early Egyptian times, it is said that Egypt came to be around 3200 B.C., during the reign of a king by the name of Menes and unified the northern and southern cities of Egypt into one government. In 1675 B.C., Egypt was invaded by the Hyksos, people from the east, bringing along the very first of chariots and horses ever to come across Egyptian soil. Approximately 175 years later in 1500 B.C., the Egyptians had gotten rid of the Hyksos and driven them out. In 1375 B.C., Amenhotep IV had become the king of Egypt. During his reign he eliminated the worship of Egyptian gods and initiated the idea of only worshipping one god. But after his death, his ideas were retired and old ways were reestablished. Egyptian supremacy then started to decline around 1000 B.C. Between 1000 B.C. and 332 B.C., Egypt was ruled by many such as the Libyans, Assyrians, Ethiopians, and Persians. In 640, Muslims conquered Egypt and founded the city of Cairo in 969 and deemed it as the capital of Egypt. For many centuries Egypt was ruled by Muslim caliphs. A prominent ruler of this period was Saladin, who battled the Christian Crusaders at the conclusion of the twelfth century. In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt but was then forced to withdraw in 1801 Turkish and British armed forces. In 1805 Mohamed Ali began ruling Egypt till 1848 and great changed the country in terms of modernization and its military. During Mohamed’s conquest, he borrowed a lot of money from the French and British, which later resulted in Egypt’s coloniza...

    Read More

  • Comparing and Contrasting Egypt and Mesopotamia

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    What similarities and differences did Egypt and Mesopotamia have and why was Egypt more politically unified than its neighbor, Mesopotamia? I think in order to answer these questions it is important to look at how both societies lived. Egypt and Mesopotamia were two civilizations existing during the time period of 2000-1200 BCE.(text, 97) These civilizations were shaped by their environment, involved with trade, and faced changes in government after the 100 year drought; however, they differed in that Egypt was shaped by the Nile, traded goods for goods and changed their outlook on the pharaoh who was ruler of all; whereas, Mesopotamia was shaped by the Tigris and Euphrates, traded money for goods, and had a ruler over rulers. The governed harmonic life style of Egypt led this society to be more politically unified; whereas, Mesopotamia’s government led to many different ways of structure, thus creating a less unified society.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Egypt And Mesoamerica

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    Around 3500 B.C.E to 3000 B.C.E., civilizations emerged in many places. Egypt and Mesoamerica are distinctive two of them. Considering the different aspects of civilization, historians can find some same characteristics and differences which are valuable for historians to understand civilization in-depth.

    Read More

  • The Geography Of Ancient Egypt: Queen Hatshepsut

    409 Words  | 1 Pages

    It came around 3150 BCE. Ancient Egypt was recorded as a series of stable kingdoms. There were three stages throughout the course of ancient Egypt, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. The Old Kingdom lasted from 2686-2181 BCE. The Middle Kingdom lasted from 2134-1690 BCE. The New Kingdom lasted from 1549-1069 BCE. Queen Hatshepsut reigned for 20 years of the New Dynasty.

    Read More

  • River Nile Essay

    1420 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ancient Egypt is very well-known as a barren desert in the geography of Africa, yet it is also acclaimed as the “breadbasket of the world.” This grandiose name is often associated with the river Nile, which is strongly believed as one of the most prominent factors for the vivacity of ancient Egypt. Moreover, many historians confidently conclude that the river Nile perhaps is responsible for not only breathing life into this once uninhabitable piece of land, but also for manipulating the behaviour and culture of its people. Therefore, it can be surmised that the river Nile remains one of the most significant and influential factors in the agriculture, trade, and culture of ancient Egypt.

    Read More

  • Ancient Mesopotamia Dbq

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt are a factor of the evolution of civilizations in present-day. Though, it wouldn’t occur if both of these ancient civilizations didn’t develop into successful ones. There are three similar components that led Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia to become prosperous. These are the locations, their way of life, and their beliefs. All of these elements will be explored more thoroughly throughout this essay.

    Read More

  • Mystery of the Great Sphinx of Giza: Understanding the Sphinx From a Material Culture Point of View

    2564 Words  | 6 Pages

    Hawass,Zahi. Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twentity-first Century. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2000.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Egypt And Mesopotamia

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ancient Egypt was a single tightly organized state for much of its history (Centanni, n.d.). In all its phases, the Egyptian government was led by the pharaoh. The pharaoh was held to be descended from gods, with the power to assure success and control the rituals that assured the flow of the Nile and the fertility derived from irrigation. Wanting gods to favor Egypt, the entire population of people did not hesitate to carry out laws that the pharaoh placed upon them. Egypt’s pharaohs claimed additional power and authority as actual incarnations of the gods

    Read More

  • Ancient River Civilizations

    638 Words  | 2 Pages

    Approximately 5500 years ago four of the worlds' most prestigious ancient river civilizations had emerged. Our world has been left in astonishment and awe wondering how these civilizations were developed. Egypt and Mesopotamia were the first ancient river civilizations to create cities and their own ways of living. Society, geography, and religion played an enormous role in the development of the ancient cities. Although there is evidence of early Sumerian contact with the Egyptians, Egypt's civilization was largely self-generated and its history and cultural patterns differed from Mesopotamia.

    Read More

  • Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to history there existed two of many important ancient civilizations that left a significant mark in the history of human development that even today leaves modern society in awe of its greatness. In spite of being distant civilizations, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece share similarities and difference in terms of how they practiced religion,political structure, everyday life style, and how they built the monumental architectures that continued to amaze the modern world of today. These comparison and contrast explain their difference in history and their dynasty's long term success. Through the early developmental age these two ancient civilizations contrasted in many ways perhaps due to the geographical location that helped shape their diverse cultures.

    Read More

  • Ancient Egyptian Religious Architecture

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    When one travels to Egypt, what does he/she see - pyramid after temple after tomb, each standing the test of time. One stands out - they are all associated with religious beliefs, they all have stood unmoving for thousands of years, and they all involve mechanical genius- the moving of colossal stones without the use of the wheel. The finest example such mechanics is shown in the construction of the revered pyramid. These three factors, all belonging to the religious architecture of ancient Egypt, do nothing else but prove its greatness.

    Read More

  • Ancient Egypt Essay

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    The ancient Egyptians were people of many firsts. They were the first people of ancient times to believe in life after death. They were the first to build in stone and to fashion the arch in stone and brick. Even before the unification of the Two Lands, the Egyptians had developed a plow and a system of writing. They were accomplished sailors and shipbuilders. They learned to chart the cosmos in order to predict the Nile flood. Their physicians prescribed healing remedies and performed surgical operations. They sculpted in stone and decorated the walls of their tombs with naturalistic murals in vibrant colors. The legacy of ancient Egypt is written in stone across the face of the country from the pyramids of Upper Egypt to the rock tombs in the Valley of the Kings to the Old Kingdom temples of Luxor and Karnak to the Ptolemaic temples of Edfu and Dendera and to the Roma...

    Read More

  • Impact On Ancient Egyptian Civilization

    1609 Words  | 4 Pages

    Until today, architects and artists, draw inspiration and understanding from Ancient Egyptian art and architecture as they mastered it. The pyramids are masterpieces that bring wonders to other civilizations; they are marvel of human engineering and constructions. Also, the modern world has benefited greatly from the agricultural and irrigation techniques used by ancient Egyptians in the Nile Valley. Their success of their civilization depended heavily on their religious beliefs as it is what dominated and directed their lifestyle. To conclude, Ancient Egypt left an extraordinary imprint on the world today and many countries across the world value and houses their artifacts. The civilization of the ancient Egyptians was not civilized slip at the age of time. Ancient Egyptians civilization was a unique cultural characteristics and achievements that were authenticity. Ancient Egypt civilization has its own credibility among all civilizations, making Egypt the Mother of the World. Ancient Egypt originated in the valley, and the Nile Delta, where ancient Egyptians lived. Ancient Egypt’s cultural aspect refers to the language, worship, customs, organization to their lives, the life management, administrative affairs, their conception of the nature around them, and their dealings with their

    Read More

More about Secondary Characteristics Of Civilization

Open Document