THE FIRST HISTORICAL CIVILISATIONS.

The river civilisations.

The first civilisations, which used writing language appeared 5.000 years ago. They are called river civilistations, because they grew up along the banks of some of the largest rivers when neolithic peoples started to use water to irrigate their fields. As a consequence there were:

• an increase in production.
• a population growth
• the apparition of cities.

The most important river citilizations were:

• the Mesopotamian, located between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates.

  

  Tigris river

•  the Egyptian, on the banks of the Nile valley.
  
• the Indian, along the river Indus.
• the Chinese, along the Huang He.

Polticial changes.

• The first states appeared, because it was necessary to develop a political power in order to organise the distribution of water, the upkeep of the irrigation canals and the defence of the cities. 
• Power was held by princes or kings who  controlled political and religious power. They were considered gods or intermediaries between gods and human beigns. They were helped by:

1. civil servants
2. armies

• Some kings conquered other peoples forming empires.

Economic, social and cultural changes.

 Economy. 

Was still mainly agricultural, but the abundant harverst allowed two important changes:

•  the development of other trades: pottery, weaving, silver produciton, stonemasonry, etc.
• the growth of trade, first between regions, later between different states, using large rivers and canals.

Society.

Became more complex and we can distinguish different groups according to their wealth or prestige:

• a minority group, which included the king, priests and high-ranking civil servants and held political power.
• the mayority of the popualtion which were obliged to pay high taxes