Complex Civilizations Essay - 778 Words

Sydney Dodds Origins of Ancient Civilizations Professor Hepp February 6, 2013 Drawbacks of Complex Societies Today we are convinced that modern, complex societies excel and surpass earlier civilizations. We believe that we live in a period of all around progress, a state that has a positive connotation to most people. During the transition to complex societies, having first arisen in southern Mesopotamia, humans’ relations to the environment and to other people greatly transformed. Although these changes that led to civilized societies had many gains, there were also many losses, which include: social class becoming more exaggerated, the value of kinship dwindling, and the environment being harmed. These are all downfalls to modern†¦show more content†¦Wealth and power were only attained by a few, while the majority of the population remained poor or middle class, which is evident today. While social status is becoming more distinct, family relationships are diminishing. It is common while walking through the mall to hear a young girl sassing her mother, or a pair of siblings unpleasantly bickering with one another. Around 10,000 years ago this extreme, malicious behavior was rare because early civilizations were kinship based, meaning that ties of blood and marriage bound groups together. This foundation emphasized the concept of family, involving respect between siblings of the opposite sex, children and parents, and between children-in-law and their parents-in-law. With the advent of industrialization came big cities, causing families to break apart as members moved around for jobs. There remains a kinship among immediate family, but not extended family like in ancient times. Will Durant believes that family is the nucleus of civilization, an idea that our society must readopt from earlier peoples. Another drawback lined to overcrowded cities is the smog that looms over the skies of cities such as Los Angeles, Denver, and Dallas. High population densities and over use of natural resources are responsible for this serious pollution. PollutionShow MoreRelatedCivilization and Complex Society Essay677 Words   |  3 PagesCivilization is difficult to define in one word or phrase because a complex society or â€Å"civilization† depends on many different aspects. How then, is civilization defined? There are characteristics of a civilization that are more essential than others, some of which may be more important to one group than to another. However, a definition for civilization can be narrowed down to a few fundamental aspects that are necessary for one to exist. For a complex society to exist, it must have meansRead MoreThe Ancient Aztecs Complex And Advanced Civilization966 Words   |  4 PagesHonors Hilp March 3, 2015 The Ancient Aztecs Complex and Advanced Civilization. The Aztecs were a civilization that emerged in Mesoamerica around the start of the thirteenth century and existed until 1521 CE. The Aztecs had their own system of government, a very complex religion, and sports and games were very important to the civilization. The Aztecs were a civilization that was complex as well as very advanced in many different areas of their civilization such as their government, religion, and sportsRead MoreNew Political And Military Structures1036 Words   |  5 PagesEarly humans began to form small groups that created a simple culture for survival; however, as human cultures grew, civilizations formed. A civilization is an intricate culture where large numbers of people contribute a variety of traditional components. Historians came up with seven basic characteristics of civilization. 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There were many ancient civilizations in the world like, India civilization, Chinese civilization, Middle EastRead MoreThe Mysteries Of Early Civilizations1030 Words   |  5 Pages Uncovering the mysteries of early civilizations is a task not many scientists have successfully and accurately attempted. Jared Diamond’s main focus of his Pulitzer Prize winning book/documentary Guns, Germs, and Steel is the claim that the 3 biggest mysteries of civilization depended mostly on accidental agriculture. This has been met with controversy because Diamond rarely includes other factors such as guns, steel, and actual Eurasian history. But is Guns, Germs, and Steel accurate and entertaining