New Civilizations in Western and Eastern Hemispheres
(These notes are not comprehensive)
Years/
Location/Re
asons for
Decline?
Politics
Economy
Olmec
1200 BCE-400BCE
Central Mexico
Chavin
900-250 BCE
Andean Highlands
Celts
1000-50 BCE
Continental Europe
England, Scotland, Wales,
Ireland
Conquered by Rome
Nubia
3100 BCE-300 CE
Corridor between Egypt &
Arabia
Kingship combined w/
religious & secular ideas
Elaborate religious rituals
controlled society
Cities=religious & secular
“hubs” specialized
buildings: platforms,
palaces, plazas w/massive
stone monuments (heads)
Agriculture-surplus
Extensive trade
Some job specialization
Skilled artisans decorated
buildings
Merchants
Collective labor
Strong central
authority
Ceremonial/comme
rcial plazas,
pyramids, elevated
platforms, mounds
Military
No central authority
Hundreds of small,
loosely organized
kinship groups
Hill-forts
Complex Political
Organization
Sometimes ruled
Egypt, sometimes
ruled by Egypt
Kings similar to
Egyptian kings
Women could rule
Agriculture
Extensive trade
Llamas promoted
specialization of
production
Improvements in
textiles
Extensive trade
networks all over
Europe’s river
system
Access to tin
Hill-forts evolved
into urban centers
Grain agriculture
many valuable
natural resources
Commerce trade
travel
Cattle herding
Long-distance
trade
Religion
Polytheistic
Male & female deities
anthropomorphic
Ritual Ball-game
Full time priests/shamans
Contacted supernatural
powers, predicted rainfall,
transformed into animals
Jaguar symbol of religious
authority & power
Polytheistic
Similar beliefs as
Olmec
Priests directed
religious life
Polytheistic/No
temples
Afterlife
Reincarnation
Mother-goddesses
prominent
Druids- performed
religious, judicial,
educational
functions.
Priesthood crossed
tribal lines
Polytheistic
Influenced by
Egypt
Olmec
Society
Rulers
Olmec priests
Ball players
Engineers
Sculptors
Artists
Laborers
Merchants
Farmers textile
workers
Chavin
Celts
Nubia
Class distinctions
increased during
expansions
Priests were
important
Local chiefs
Powerful king
Jewelry indicated
status
Elite warriors owned
land/animals
monopolized
wealth/power
Priests-Druids
Bards
Commoners
Women-focused on
childrearing, food
production, crafts
Position superior to
women in Middle
East & in
Greek/Roman.
Marriage was
partnership
Rights of inheritance
Nubian Queens
sometimes ruled by
themselves had a
role in warfare,
diplomacy, building
of temples/pyramids
Technology
Limited technologystone tools, no
metallurgy
Used form of writing
but not deciphered
Limited
Metallurgy
technology- used Shipbuilding
stone tools, no
No written language
metallurgy
Extensive
irrigation
No known
writing system
Influenced by Egypt
Metallurgy
Monumental
Buildings
Writing similar to
Egyptian
hieroglyphs
Interaction: Who
did they interact
with and what
was the nature of
that interaction?
Exchanged aesthetic
ideas, religious
motifs, ceremonial
practices with Chavin
Exchanged
aesthetic ideas,
religious motifs,
ceremonial
practices with
Olmec
Mutually beneficial
interaction w/Egypt
Drew on subSaharan African
influences
Arabia
Conquered by Rome
Trade networks with
Greece
Germanic invaders