The Origin of the Ancient Civilization Report

Introduction

Gordon Childe was an archeologist born in Australia, and he is best remembered for his theories about the development of prehistoric civilization. The scholarship of Childe was deep-rooted in his incomparable knowledge of the archeological evidence. His knowledge was gathered from extensive travel, his work in the field, from published and unpublished sources and museums. His most recognized excavation was that done at the Neolithic site of Skara Brae in Orkney. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a remarkable collection of artifacts from Mesopotamia and Egypt: the two early civilizations. Childe created a model for identifying civilization in the archeological record by creating a list of archeological correlates that can be tested against the archeological record. The main aim of this report is to determine whether or not true civilization arose in Mesopotamia and Egypt during the period under consideration.

Discussion of the Childe’s Archeological Correlates

The first Childe’s archeological correlate is the large population and large settlements (cities) (Childe, 1950). The archeological material that can be tested with this correlate is the ancient city of Babylon and the Epic Ruins in Iraq (Van de Mieroop, 1997). Civilization was marked by a sudden increase in people’s population. This sudden rise in the population was especially prominent in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia where civilization is believed to have begun (Johnson, 1999). The invention of better methods of farming led to increase in food production for feeding the increasing population. The invention of better methods of curing diseases revolutionized the art of medicine which led to increase in population due to reduced mortality rates. People began living in large settlements which led to the development of towns and cities. The second Childe’s correlate is the full-time specialization and advanced division of labor (Childe, 1950). The archeological material that can be tested with this correlate is the wheel and loom that were discovered in Mesopotamia (Algaze, 2009). It is believed that the wheel was at first used in making pottery and later was used for their chariots. This invention shows that some people specialized in making pottery while others specialized in using the loom to weave clothes from wool. There were specific roles for males and females.

The third Childe’s correlate was the production of an agricultural surplus to fund government and a differentiated society (Childe, 1958). The archeological material that can be tested with this correlate is the plough and the draught animals. The invention of the plough in Mesopotamia revolutionized farming, and it led to the production of surplus food to fund the government and feed the large population (Algaze, 2009). The fourth Childe’s correlate was the monumental public architecture (Childe, 1950). The archeological material that can be tested by this correlate is the great pyramids in Egypt (Johnson, 1999). In many instances, people have refused to accept that these pyramids were man-made and preferred to ascribe them to a mythical civilization. This invention demonstrates the ingenuity and skills of the Egyptians. The ability of the Egyptians to build these incredible structures shows their advanced developmental stages in arts and architecture.

The fifth Childe’s correlate is a ruling class (Childe, 1958). The archeological material that can be tested using this correlate is the statue of the Pharaoh of Egypt (Johnson, 1999). The ancient Egyptian people were categorised in a ranked system with the Pharaoh occupying the top and farmers and slaves occupying the bottom of the pyramid. The groups of people nearest the top of the society were the richest and most powerful. These people were respected and obeyed by the people who occupied the bottom part of the pyramid. The sixth Childe’s correlate is writing (Childe, 1950). The archeological materials that can be tested using this correlate include hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt and Sumerian writing of Mesopotamia. Writing enabled the Egyptians to keep accurate records and maintain control of their large empire. In Mesopotamia writing invention led to the first recorded laws called Hammurabi’s codes. It also led to the first major piece of literature called the Epic Tale of Gilgamesh.

The seventh Childe’s correlate is exact and predictive sciences which include arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and calendar (Childe, 1958). The archeological materials that can be tested by this correlates include the Mesopotamians calendar and mathematics evidence in both Egypt and Mesopotamia. Mesopotamians created the first calendar by studying the phases of the moon (Algaze, 2009). Their calendar had 12 lunar months and was the predecessor for both the Greek and Jewish calendars. They also predicted the movements of several planets. The Egyptians required a good comprehension of mathematics and geometry to build the pyramids and other large buildings. They also utilized math and numbers as a means of keeping track of their business transactions. The eighth Childe’s correlate is the sophisticated art styles (Childe, 1958). The archeological material that can be used for testing this correlate is ancient Egyptian arts, painting, and sculptures. The sophisticated art styles were demonstrated in paintings and sculptures, and it was highly symbolic and fascinating.

The ninth Childe’s correlate is the long distance trade (Childe, 1958). The archeological material that can be used to test this correlate is the stone Lapis Lazuli, which was imported by the ancient Mesopotamians from Afghanistan (Algaze, 2009). The stone also demonstrates the donkey caravans that were used by Mesopotamians as a means of transportation for long distant trade. The tenth Childe’s correlate is the state (Childe, 1950). The archeological material that can be used for testing this correlate is the ruins of Ur. Ur was a significant Sumerian city-state in the ancient Mesopotamia that was located at the site of the modern Tell el-Muqayyar in south Iraq. This city-state is a perfect illustration that in the ancient Mesopotamia, there was the existence of states. These states had their system of governments that were respected by the occupants.

Conclusion

Gordon Childe was the most influential archeologist of the twentieth century. His early research and fieldwork in the 1920s invalidated archeological models of European prehistory. Childe created a model for identifying civilization in the archeological record by creating a list of archeological correlates that can be tested against the archeological record. He designed a 10-point model that illustrated the changes that characterized the Urban Revolution. These ten points include the large population and large settlements (cities) and the full-time specialization and advanced division of labor. They also include the production of an agricultural surplus to fund government and a differentiated society; monumental public architecture; a ruling class and writing. They also include exact and predictive sciences (arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, calendars); sophisticated art styles; long-distance trade and the state. This report has tested all the ten correlates of Childe with relevant archeological records from the ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The results from these tests illustrate that civilization arose from the ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

References

Algaze, G. (2009). Ancient Mesopotamia at the dawn of civilization: the evolution of an urban landscape. University of Chicago Press.

Childe, V. G. (1950). The urban revolution. Town Planning Review, 21(1), 3.

Childe, V. G. (1958). The prehistory of European society. Spokesman Books.

Johnson, P. (1999). The civilization of ancient Egypt. Harper Collins.

Van de Mieroop, M. (1997). The ancient Mesopotamian city. Oxford University Press.

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