WHICH OF THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AROSE FIRST? - HISTORY - 2025

It is believed that the first civilizations of antiquity arose during the Neolithic period, although it is true that it is difficult to certify whether this statement is true and to what extent Lower Mesopotamia can be considered as the cradle of civilization.

The word "civilization" is a fairly complex term that is used in various contexts and is therefore susceptible to various interpretations. If we consider a civilization as a group of people organized politically, socially and economically, with a certain culture, it is considered that the first civilization was the Egyptian, beginning with the unification of some cities of the Nile valley, around the year 3150 BC. C.

On many occasions, it is considered that the birth of civilization as we know it today was due in large part to the passage from nomadism to sedentarism, which was possible thanks to the development of agriculture.

However, other historians consider that the invention of writing, or an ideographic communication system, was the event that gave rise to complex civilizations.

Origin of ancient civilizations

Civilization and sedentary lifestyle

Taking into account the first statement, which indicates that civilization was born with sedentarism, it can be said that civilizations existed during the Neolithic period (the Stone Age) and during the Chalcolithic period (the Copper Age).

This is because during these two stages human beings established themselves in semi-sedentary societies.

East Asia

Çatalhöyük (Turkey)

In Jericho, the Ein us Sultan, an archaeological site, dates from 8000 BC, and is made up of a group of walls and towers.

This citadel was abandoned in 6800 BC. From a similar stage we find Çatalhöyük (in Turkey), which has existed since 7500 BC.

In the Indian subcontinent

Mehrgarh (in Pakistan) is an establishment that has existed since 7000 BC, being considered the origin of the Indus Valley civilization.

Civilizations and writing

These aforementioned establishments gave way to the birth of more complex cultures, with societies organized in classes, with both spoken and written language systems. It is here that civilizations are born according to the second conception of historians.

In Mesopotamia, today Iraq, the Sumerian civilization was born in 6500 BC By 4100 BC they had already developed writing.

In Egypt, there is evidence that shows the presence of civilization from 6500 BC. C. The writing appeared in the year 4000 BC Ancient Egypt is considered to have its beginning around 3100 BC

In India, the Indus Valley culture, there are signs of a highly developed trading system dating back to 4300 BC, which means that civilization arose long before this year.

conclusion

It is difficult to determine which of the ancient civilizations emerged first since the data from archaeological excavations are not conclusive.

This is due to the fact that objects are continually being found that allow updating the information about the date of birth of these civilizations.

While it is true that ancient Mesopotamia had civilizations in 6500 BC, many historians claim that this was not the first civilization in human history or, at least, it was not the only one to emerge at this time.

The presence of a highly developed trading system in Indus Valley society proves that, indeed, the people of Mesopotamia were not civilized before the people of India; in any case, these civilizations could have arisen simultaneously.

References

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4. Prehistory. Retrieved on May 31, 2017, from newworldencyclopedia.org.
5. 10 Oldest Ancient Civilizations Ever Existed. Retrieved on May 31, 2017, from ancienthistorylists.com.
6. 10 of the World's Oldest Known Civilizations. Retrieved on May 31, 2017, from historylists.org.
7. World History Timeline. Retrieved on May 31, 2017, from essential-humanities.net.