Cultural
Universals
Ancient
Civilizations
1
What is culture?
Ø  the
characteristic features of everyday
existence shared by people
Ø  the
set of shared attitudes, values, goals,
and practices that characterizes a group
of people
Ø 
things all people and civilizations need
in order to survive.
Cultural Universals
Ø  To
unite all people in a
common bond of humanity.
Ø  We
will study various
ancient civilizations and
identify trends through
history.
What do ALL
Civilizations have?
Ø 
Ø 
Ø 
Ø 
Ø 
Food
Government
Religion
Technology
Economy
Ø 
Ø 
Ø 
Ø 
Ø 
Shelter and Clothing
Communication
Family
The Arts
Recreation and
Games
Food
Ø 
What can be grown, hunted, raised, and
traded?
Ø 
Food Storage (i.e. rice and corn)
Ø 
How did they prepare the food and eat?
•  Utensils, hands
•  Serving (how and by whom)
Ø 
Meals for special occasions/days of the week
Government
Ø  System
• 
• 
of laws, rights
What are they?
How were they made?
Ø  Providing
military for defense
Ø  Interacting
• 
with other civilizations
Trade agreements, allies, war
Ø  Taxation
Religion
Ø  Strongly
influences daily life and
beliefs
Ø  One
god or multiple gods?
Ø  Power(s)
of the god(s)
Ø  Celebrations
and practices
Ø  Religious
selected)
leaders (roles, duties, how
Technology
Ø  Makes
life easier
Ø  Types:
farming, weaponry, building,
tools, medical, transportation
Ø  What
materials are available?
Economy
Ø  A
common system of money
Ø  Jobs
Ø  Taxation
to support government
Ø  TRADE,
• 
• 
TRADE, TRADE
Goods and Services
Ideas (customs, language, religion)
Shelter and Clothing
Ø  Style
and construction of
homes, buildings and
clothing
Ø  What
materials were used?
Ø  Specialty
buildings (temples,
markets, palaces)
Ø  Specialty
clothing (VIP s and
special occasions)
Communication
Ø  How
to communicate over distances?
Ø  Writing
system and materials? (pen,
paper)
Ø  How
did they learn to read and write?
Ø  What
was written?
Laws, religious texts,
stories, events/news
• 
Family
Ø  The
rights, roles, duties, and
privileges of men, women, boys, and
girls.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Household duties
Jobs
Community roles
Caring for children
Education
Rights
Marriage
The Arts
Ø  Dancing,
singing, music,
painting, sculpture, drama
Ø  Things
• 
• 
• 
• 
to find out:
How was it created?
Who made it?
Why did they do it? Special occasions?
Who taught them?
Recreation and Games
Ø  What
was their
entertainment?
Ø  Why
were the games
played? Special occasions?
Ø  How
were they played?
Ø  Who
got to play? Observe?