ANT 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Social Stratification, Ziggurat, Mudbrick

• School: University of Florida
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANT 2000
• Professor: Donald Berces

Document Summary

Civilization a term with ethnocentric connotations, notions of refinement and progress. Traditional hallmarks: cities, writing, craft specialization, monumental architecture, Literally (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s (cid:862)livi(cid:374)g i(cid:374) cities(cid:863) stratification, state-level government. Term used to denote the pinnacle of human cultural development. Societies where large numbers of people live in cities, are socially stratified, and are governed by a centralized ruling elite. V. gordon childe the urban revolution. Characteristics of cities: large populations, public services and institutions, economic specialization, sociopolitical stratification, centralized planning and governance. Involved major changes along all aspects of cultural and social life. Protection from outsiders, flood control, basic sanitation. Specialization technological innovations, extensive trade networks, demands on food producers social stratification distinguishes urban cities from neolithic civilizations. Political institution established to manage and defend a complex, stratified society with a defined territory states generally have authority to -> make and enforce rules, levy taxes; redistribute surplus labor and wealth, and use military force.