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What Makes Civilization?

D. Wengrow

238 Pages
2018

What Makes Civilization?

The Ancient Near East and the Future of the West

Oxford University Press

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โšก Free 3min Summary

What Makes Civilization? - Summary

"What Makes Civilization?" by D. Wengrow offers a fresh perspective on the origins of civilization, focusing on ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. This book explores how these early societies laid the groundwork for many aspects of modern life. Wengrow delves into the cultural, technological, and social innovations that emerged in these regions, providing a vivid account of their contributions to the development of civilization.

Key Themes

1

Cultural Innovations

Wengrow emphasizes the cultural advancements that originated in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, such as writing, art, and architecture. These innovations were not just technological but also deeply intertwined with the social and religious fabric of these societies, influencing their development and legacy.

2

Technological Advancements

The book highlights the technological breakthroughs that occurred in these ancient civilizations, including the development of agriculture, metallurgy, and urban planning. These advancements were crucial in shaping the economic and social structures of the time, paving the way for future civilizations.

3

Social Structures

Wengrow explores the complex social hierarchies and governance systems that emerged in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. He discusses how these structures were maintained and the role they played in the stability and growth of these civilizations. This analysis provides valuable insights into the functioning of early human societies and their impact on contemporary social systems.

FAQ's

"What Makes Civilization?" by D. Wengrow primarily focuses on the origins of civilization, particularly in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. It examines the cultural, technological, and social innovations that emerged in these regions and their contributions to the development of modern society.

"What Makes Civilization?" draws connections between the achievements of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and contemporary society. Wengrow highlights how the innovations and social structures of these early civilizations have influenced modern life and offers insights into the future of Western civilization.

"What Makes Civilization?" is ideal for readers interested in history, archaeology, and the evolution of human societies. It provides a comprehensive look at the foundational aspects of ancient civilizations and their lasting impact on the world today.

๐Ÿ’ก Full 15min Summary

Civilizations are dynamic entities that rise, fall, merge, and disappear over time.
0:00 / 1:55

Civilizations are dynamic entities that rise, fall, merge, and disappear over time. This dynamism is evident in the birth of civilization in the Near East, where Egypt and Mesopotamia emerged as dynastic polities around the third millennium BC. These societies, while distinct in their forms, were not isolated entities. They were part of a broader social and technological milieu, feeding from a common 'cauldron of civilization'.

The concept of civilization is undergoing a transformation, reinvigorated after a brief post-colonial slumber. This transformation is influenced by the arguments of scholars like Samuel Huntington and Francis Fukuyama, who have presented contrasting views on the future of civilizations. Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' theory argues that future conflicts will be cultural rather than ideological or economic, while Fukuyama's 'End of History' theory suggests that the worldwide spread of liberal democracies may signal the endpoint of humanity's sociocultural evolution.

However, these theories have been met with both acceptance and criticism. Some see them as revelatory wisdom, while others condemn them as monstrous abstractions that fuel the flames of fundamentalism. Despite the controversy, these theories have sparked a renewed interest in the study of civilizations, inviting commentary from archaeologists and anthropologists.

In this context, the parallel development of Egypt and Mesopotamia cannot be adequately understood as two distinct and bounded civilizations. Instead, they should be seen as part of a larger interconnected network of societies, whose interactions were an integral part of their constitution. This perspective challenges the notion that isolation was the natural condition of past societies and suggests that civilizations are not the pinnacle of human achievement but part of a larger narrative of the past.

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