3
46
History
1. THE FIRST CIVILISATIONS
Archaeological discoveries have shown that around 3500 B.C., the Neolithic villages
in some regions developed into cities. These were the
first urban civilisations
. Large
buildings were constructed and important changes occurred in politics, economics
and culture. This first occurred in Mesopotamia and soon afterwards in Egypt, India
and China.
Cities appeared as a result of
agricultural developments
. These large rivers rose at
certain times of the year. The flooded land was fertilised by the sediments in the water
(silt) and when the water level decreased, large harvests
1
were obtained. In order to
make better use of the water and avoid uncontrollable flooding,
hydraulic works
were constructed, such as canals (artificial channels) and
dykes
(walls to contain the
water).
These improvements brought significant changes: the quantity and variety of crops
increased, trade and craftsmanship
2
grew, economic prosperity spread
3
and the
population increased.
1.1. Political organisation
Some government officials carried out
military
duties (soldiers), some carried out
administrative
tasks (tax collectors) and others carried out
judicial tasks
, representing
the king.
Writing first appeared in Mesopotamia
and Egypt around the 4th millennium
B.C.
It originated for practical purposes
such as keeping accounts
4
or recording
commercial transactions.
The government officials who specialised
in writing were called
scribes
.
The invention of writing is very
important. Today these written records
provide a valuable source of information
about our past. The emergence of
writing marks the end of Prehistory and
the beginning of
Ancient History
.
Egyptian hieroglyphic script. Detail of
the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I (Valley of the
Kings)
1. Flooding of river
3. Cultivated land
2. Land ready for planting
1
harvest:
crops that are collected for
food
2
craftsmanship:
making objects by
hand
3
spread:
extend over an area
4
accounts:
record of the money which
is spent and received
5
wedge:
shape with a narrow end
The first civilisations were established in large river valleys. For this reason, they are
also known as
fluvial civilisations
. Mesopotamia developed around the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers, Egypt on the banks of the Nile, India around the Indo and China
next to the Yellow River.
In order to ensure the peaceful coexistence of their citizens and control their
territory, the city
governors
surrounded themselves with a group of people to
serve them, called
government officials
.
