ARCH 100 Lecture 11: ARCH notes #11
11 Sep 2015
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Modern societies: institutionalized power, sovereign entity w/central government (holds authority)! Centralized government (authority) is recent: 5000-6000 y. a. Morgan and v. g. childe consider this development as the inevitable next step in the upward movement of humanity following the origins of agriculture (natural aspirations)! Current vision: linked with social inequality and limitations on autonomy ! Maybe not going upward in every meaning of the term ! Evolution of political complexity is a gradual process > access to resources + power to top of hierarchy = shift! Urban revolution: development of state due to increase in urban centres! Urban societies = state societies (all aspects of life changed b/c of society and economy)! E. g. ; mesopotamia around middle eastern rivers (see diagram in slides and text)! Early state formation by-product of large-scale irrigation systems ! Need for large groups of workers = hierarchical form of government! A prime-mover model: 1 factor = cause of phenomenon!
