What makes a civilization? Describing key features and the structure of a civilization provides a framework to understand a civilization. Knowing what you know now can you describe the key features of Egypt, India or even New York City today?
Give it a try.

Eight Features of Civilization

Cities:
As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, they began to grow surplus or extra food. This extra food increased the population of the settlements. In time, the settlements grew into cities, such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in Mesopotamia.

Organized Central Governments:
As cities developed and expanded, the food supply and irrigation systems needed to be maintained. Governments, such as councils or religious leaders, began to oversee the business and existence of the cities.

Complex Religions:
Religious leaders would conduct elaborate ceremonies to appease the gods (polytheism) and insure a bountiful harvest. Floods and droughts were blamed on the gods’ abger so rituals were conducted in the temples.

Job Specialization:
As civilizations became more complex, artisans and craftsmen were needed to maintain specific items and tasks. No longer could individuals do all the work. Now some concentrated on teaching, scribing, stone-cutting, and so forth.

Social Classes:
As jobs became specialized so did the status and needs of certain individuals. The need for a knowledgable and educated religious leader was more respected than an unskilled worker. Herders were needed and respected for the food, while masons were needed for building. The slave was on the lowest rung of the social ladder warriors and kings were on top.

Writing:
Records were needed to keep accounts on trade goods and food storage. Writing was needed because the information became too great. In addition, one needed to express more complex ideas such as "belief" and "social order" where pictures and words
simply would not suffice.

Art and Architecture:
This expressed the beliefs and values of a civilization. Different styles were developed and copied by societies. Often the art was used to impress visitors and people about the beauty and power of a king or a community.

Public Works:
The government would order these, although costly, to aid and benefit the community. Such things as a wall to protect from attack or a canal to aid in irrigation would help insure the survival of a people.


***Find an internet link to this page at: Eight Features of Civilization

Regents Multiple Choice Practice Questions

Today's assignment is a set of practice multiple choice questions. On every New York State Global History Exam is a series of multiple choice questions.

You can practice Regents Multiple Choice Questions anytime by going to Regentsprep.org

DO THIS ASSIGNMENT NOW:

Select MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
from the list select INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS: GEOGRAPHY (1B) and Early People & the Neolithic Revolution (2A).

I will send you an answer grid in your email. Write down your first response in the first column, then check your answer and write it down in the second column. For this assessment you are being graded for turning in a complete assignment. I want to know what you know about the topics.

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT:
First DRAFT DUE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29th.
Completed Assignment Due FRIDAY, October 31st.


Over the course of this week visit Mr. Donn's Egypt Page at this address: http://egypt.mrdonn.org/achievements.html

This section discusses 14 different Achievements and Inventions of the Egyptians. Write a minimum of three paragraphs (5-7 complete sentences each) to describe three of the innovations or achievements you believe are the part of the reasons we remember the Egyptians thousands of years later.

Make your argument based on facts you learned from the website that you can quote and discuss.

Question? You can email your assignment or email me at: WNeff@hstnp.newvisionsk12.org

Mr. Neff

Check out this website first it's the New York State Education Department Global History & Geography On Line Resource Guide:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/ghgonline/home.html

This is the curriculum guide for the Global History. There is a wealth of information about all topics for this class.

Second make sure you visit the Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center (also known as RegentsPrep.org)

http://www.regentsprep.org/regents.cfm

Then finally the website we will be reading from today. Mr. Donn's Ancient Egypt for Kids:

http://egypt.mrdonn.org/index.html

See Power Points on Egypt:

http://ancienthistory.pppst.com/egypt.html

To Simon, Brandon, Bryan, Tracy, Damien, Melina, Jonathan, Ramon, Fred, Chris and Thomas,

Welcome to our class blog: T&P GLOBAL 1 - You can go on the internet to find this blog at:

You can keep up on classwork, find homework assignments, and links to resources about the class. If you have questions you can post them to the blog and you will find the best of your work. It's a great way to show it to your family member.

Any questions?

Email Me at

Mr. Neff