AN01b2_Ch01: The Peopling of the World- Civilization

Timeline: ~10000 BP - 2200 BP (Neolithic Age to Iron Age)

FS: Writing Helps Plan the Building of Civilizations.

Main Idea: The increasing complexity of a developing civilized society presents challenges. Among these is the
need to record information for posterity or use be someone that is somewhere else. The solution ushers in the
historic period.

CCSS

I. Vocabulary
A. Oral Tradition: The dominant tradition during the 'prehistoric' period (before ~6000 BP). The passing of
a people's history and knowledge from generation to generation. The information is often in the form of
legend, myth, and stories. Qualities of this tradition include: Personal, a generation has a responsibility to
preserve and pass-along the information, the information is only as accurate as the person speaking it.
B. Civilization: Any society containing the social complexities resulting from an advanced level of science
and culture.
C. Literary (Written) Tradition: Begins the 'historic' period (before ~5000 BP). Information is now recorded
onto media. Qualities include:
1. The writing is 'fixed' on the media.
2. Less personal than Oral Traditions. It transcends 'Time' & 'Place'
3. As permanent as the media it is recorded on.

II. Writing & Civilized Society
#### The society's complexity is marked by the development of broad, but distinct sectors. These sectors are
generally identified as: Political Institutions (Government), Communication Systems, Commercial Activity,
Urbanization, and Social Striation (hierarchies based on specialization). Writing allowed complex societies to
record data. That data was once transmitted orally, but the size and needs of the growing, agriculturally based,
society needed a better system.

III. Attributes of a Civilized Society
#### A. Presence of a Government (Institutions): Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Dictatorship, etc.
#### B. Urban Population (Presence of Cities): High population density
#### C. Communication System: Roads, Oral & Literary Data Recording, River Travel
#### D. Commerce: Markets, Resources, Medium Of Exchange, Major Public Works
#### E. Hierarchy: Specialization and diversification of jobs. Social and economic classes.

IV. Developmental Trends in Writing
A. Written language attempts to parallel oral language. This could be phonetically based where the
written form attempts to reproduce the 'sound' of the spoken language. On the other hand, it could be
ideographically based where the written form attempts to reproduce the thought, idea or sentiment of the
spoken language.
B. Case Study: Chinese as an Ideographic Language
Review characters representing the concept 'tree', 'wood', forest.
### Given the difficulty of accurately isolating an 'idea' or 'thought' in a character, the interpretation and
pronunciation of the character can vary somewhat.
C. Case Study: Ancient Egyptian as a Phonetic Language
#### Recent archaeological finds have presented historians with a new understanding about the birth of
writing. The accepted view, prior to the findings, placed the genesis of the historic period in Mesopotamia-
particularly Sumer (Cuneiform, c. 3100 BCE). However, findings made in the decade of the 1990s in
Egypt suggest that a written language had already been in use as early as c. 3250 BCE. This earlier
Egyptian writing is associated with a previously unknown king who preceded Narmer (up to now, believed
to be the first king of Upper and Lower Egypt- the first true Egyptian dynasty). The new king, referred to
as The Scorpion King, is now challenging previously accepted views on Egyptian kingship and writing.

AN01b2_Ch01: The Peopling of the World- Civilization
#### Egyptian writing developed from the use of pictures (pictographs) that at one time represented the objects
drawn. As agricultural societies increased in complexity, the need to record abstract/ complex ideas or thoughts
also increased. Soon, by the time of the Scorpion King, Egyptians abandoned the obvious meaning of the pictures
and replaced it with sounds (phonetic). Sounds that would replicate the already advanced oral language. Now, the
written language can tap into the existing meanings of oral language and begin to expand it further. This written
language would become Hieroglyphics.

Illustration 1.:
Suggestion for the evolution of phonetic letters. Another variation is explained in the BBC video The story of how we got our alphabets. Scan
the QR code to view the clip on the sponsors website.

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V. Myths: Among the first to be written down.
Since myths were already ancient by the times civilizations developed, they carried great cultural
importance. That importance earmarked myths as prime candidates for recording when writing became
feasible. In written form, myths acquired immortality and represent some of the oldest and most sacred
of religious texts.

Materials/Sources: Refer to the course calendar for additional assignments and pertinent due dates.
$ Update: Chinese Gov't efforts to change language (2 May 09) <http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/chinese-
language-ever-evolving/?th&emc=th>
$ Update: <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/nyregion/22chinese.html>
The story of how we got our alphabets.
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