NATS 1775 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Indus River, Urban Revolution, Ancient Greek Philosophy
16 Dec 2013
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Early civilizations: urban revolution was 6000 years ago, at six different centres: mesopotamia (after 3500bc), egypt (after 3400bc), Indus river valley (after 2500bc), yellow river china (1800bc), Mesoamerica (500bc), south america (300bc): characteristics: high population, centralized political and economic authority, complex architecture, higher learning, they developed because large populations needed intensified agricultural developments, simple agriculture replaced by field agriculture. Hydraulic hypothesis: all early civilizations required large scale hydraulic engineering projects (because of too little or too much water flow), hydraulic hypothesis: there is a link between the early rise of civilization and large scale hydraulic system. Irrigation more of a consequence or product rather than a cause. Mesopotamia: schools developed to teach writing skills, sexigesimal (base 60) system (linked to today"s hours, minutes and circles), sophisticated astronomy and highly accurate calendars, conducted systematic research, built great monuments, like the tower of babel (270 ft).
