Classical Studies 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Peak Sanctuaries, Pithos, Aegean Civilizations

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2500A/B
• Professor: Beth Greene

Document Summary

Unit 2. 1: chalcolithic mesopotamia and pre-cursors to the bronze age aegean. Greater class stratification: definitely have specialization of jobs (priests, scribes, kings) State & religion: temple is the centre/focus of the city; responsible for redistribution of surplus of goods. Deity (god/goddess, no gender) was the primary ruler and protector of the city. Concepts of kingship emerge - king was mediator between deity and people. City state = integration of city and countryside. City cannot rely just on its urban nucleus as u cannot grow food in the urban area, need countryside. Countryside need the city because they provide them with trade and a market. City states have sites that depend on it (subordinate sites) and they provide the city with resources: subordinates don"t have trade networks that the city state does, specialization of jobs craftsmen, protection from city. Centre of this urban space is the temple. Temples built on top of a very large platform/foundation.