Lecture The History of Science and Technology and Social Development 3 presented the Great Hydraulic Civilizations (Bronze Age + Early Iron Age) such as Neolithic societies never really reach the complexity of Kingdoms, What do all these places have in common. | The History of Science and Technology and Social Development # 3 The Great Hydraulic Civilizations Bronze Age + Early Iron Age Neolithic societies never really reach the complexity of Kingdoms It is the advent of complex hydraulic technologies (water management systems) that will lead to an urban revolution Hydro = water This happens in six places Between 3100 BCE and 2000 BCE Egypt 3100 BCE Mesopotamia 3000 BCE 3000 BCE 2600 BCE 2000 BCE 2000 BCE What do all these places have in common? They are all hydraulically distressed regions. They either have to much water or to little water. Managing water created a centralized society, people had to work together and develop complex political problems to overcome these geographic problems. Large scale hydraulic engineering projects was a key element in the formation of large, highly centralized bureaucratic states. The managing of these technological systems created bureaucracy Basic characteristics of a civilization used by historians. 1) . | The History of Science and Technology and Social Development # 3 The Great Hydraulic Civilizations Bronze Age + Early Iron Age Neolithic societies never really reach the complexity of Kingdoms It is the advent of complex hydraulic technologies (water management systems) that will lead to an urban revolution Hydro = water This happens in six places Between 3100 BCE and 2000 BCE Egypt 3100 BCE Mesopotamia 3000 BCE 3000 BCE 2600 BCE 2000 BCE 2000 BCE What do all these places have in common? They are all hydraulically distressed regions. They either have to much water or to little water. Managing water created a centralized society, people had to work together and develop complex political problems to overcome these geographic problems. Large scale hydraulic engineering projects was a key element in the formation of large, highly centralized bureaucratic states. The managing of these technological systems created bureaucracy Basic characteristics of a civilization used by historians. 1) An urban focus- cities. 2) A distinct religious structure. 3) New political and military structures- bureaucracy. 4) A new social structure based on economic power. 5) New forms of artistic and intellectual activity- monumental architecture. 6) Development of writing. Mesopotamia= the land between the rivers- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers 3000 BCE- present day Iraq Ur, Uruk, Sumer- great walled cities- 50,000- 200,000 people (3,500 BCE) Sumerians (2,500 BCE) (later Babylonians- very culturally stable) All these city-states were based on irrigation agriculture – main canals were upwards to 75ft wide (22 meters) – they ran many KM with many connecting canals All these civilizations developed centralized political authority and complex bureaucracies to collect, store and redistribute agricultural surplus- they developed monumental architecture, pyramids of brick called ziggurats- developed writing (cuneiform); mathematics and very sophisticated astronomy Ancient Egypt Note the proximity .
