The Beginnings of Civilization

1
The Beginnings of Civilization

• Sec. 3

2
Advantages of a Settled Life

• People no longer had to move around
• Producing food through farming allowed villages
  to grow into a civilization
• Food surplus allowed people to have larger
  families
• When food was plentiful not everyone had to be
  farmers
• Some people became artisans, skilled people who
  made leather goods, pottery, baskets and cloth

3
The Growth of Cities

• Cities developed where fertile soil grew
  surpluses of food
• People needed a dependable source of water for
  drinking and irrigation, giving water to the
  crops so they settled near rivers
• As the population grew, rules were needed so
  government was formed to control society
• Eventually, civilization formed, a society with a
  central government, workers in various jobs and
  religion

4
Trade Helps Civilization Spread

• The goods that artisans made such as pottery,
  cloth, tools, weapons and spices were traded to
  faraway places
• The wheel and axle made it easy to transport from
  the farm to the city and out to distant places
• Ships carried goods across rivers and oceans and
  new goods and ideas were brought back and shared
• People grew wealthy and social classes developed
• People became part of groups with common
  interests and wealth levels