Introduction
Human civilization gave birth to magnificent technological inventions and innovations that made society evolve. Despite the fact that these early civilizations were dispersed in terms of geography, culture, and resources, they enjoyed a great deal of harmony due to their resourcefulness. A stream of distinct civilizations rose from the fertile river valleys of Mesopotamia to embrace entire Egyptian and Indian cultures alongside ancient China, leaving an unforgettable impression on human history (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np). This paper tries to understand critical technologies, innovations, and developments that influenced early civilizations and contributed to an era of unmatched cultural, social, and economic change. Available evidence shows the creative ingenuity of our ancestors and their fight for survival generated an era marked by advanced exploration in technology. Technology resonates everywhere throughout all times. Therefore, this paper seeks to explain technologies, innovations, and developments that were important during early civilization.
Babylonians in the Early Civilization
Babylonians are among the great empires of the early civilization. In the late times of the Bronze Age, communities occupying cities such as Amorites Babylon achieved its Gamma period at sea end beginning in the second thousand B.C.E. This happened during the years 1792–60 B.C.E. when Babylonia was a polytheistic state under Hammurabi (Potter, Alan np). Babylonians had different gods and goddesses that symbolized various matters of life, elements, or nature, as well as celestial forces. The Babylonian religion had different primary idols in
Marduk, for example, existed during that era, more so in the kingdom of Hammurabi. Marduk was made the supreme lord god among gods in the Babylonian religion pantheon. He was associated with the sun and regarded as a Babylonian supporter (Chen, Weijia np). However, this dominance was reflected by Enuma Elish because it narrated his victory over Tiamat.
Ishtar (Inanna) was a mighty goddess of love, fertility, and virtue on the battlefield. She played a significant role in several mythological stories that recognized her as the all-powerful Goddess. Enlil was an air-wind and storm god who also played in the role of one among the gods that ruled over cosmic powers (Chen, Weijia np).
Sin was one critical god figure of Mesopotamian cultures, including the Babylonians (Potter, Alan np). The lunar calendar served a vital part in Babylonian religious practices.
Shamash was the god of sun and justice, who, in his position as the Sun God among other gods, had an intimate association with law and order. During early civilization, justice was fundamental in Babylonian societies. The Babylonian people had not separated their religious beliefs regarding the Gods from other aspects of life, society settings, and government. Rituals, prayers, and offerings were meant to relieve and please the gods. Babylonians built their worldview on the idea of divine justice and that gods had a hand in human affairs. Lastly, the implementation of Hammurabi’s Code gives more knowledge on how the system through which religious beliefs influenced their cultural and moral practices works (Potter, Alan np). Top of Form
Technologies, innovations, and developments that were significant to the early civilizations
Today, human history is based on the collection of technological breakthroughs, innovations, and advances in early civilizations. These civilizations were heritages in the rational replies to the fundamental questions of each era and zone for ancient times. Some of the fundamental technologies and innovations that actually shaped directions for human history in early civilizations during this work are discussed in the following section.
Agriculture the Bedrock of Civilization
Agriculture served as a phase of history. Indus Valley, as well as those from the Fertile Crescent, were early civilizations that led to the domestication of plants and animals (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np). These settlements took root in agriculture and the domestication of animals. Additional production came about with the shift from pastoral societies to horticultural ones due to a growing and increasing population that was consuming more food.
Wheel and Axle for Revolutionizing Transportation
Human beings developed a wheel as well as an axle that transformed transport. Therefore, the emergence of pool vehicles made traveling less strenuous; trade and communication became more accessible. This prompted early societies to depend on each other and hence opened doors for transport development (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np).
Mathematics and Measurement
mathematics and measurement played essential roles in the growth and development of early civilization. Thus, it was as totally normal for the early civilizations to have a mathematical level. 3000 BC, the Mesopotamians promoted uncomplicated positional mathematics that paved the way for advanced ideas as far as math goes (Genta et al., np). Significant are the decimals that controlled various weights and measures, which provided an indication of initial knowledge in arithmetic required for trade (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np).
Calendar Systems for Tracking Time and Seasons
A calendar based on the solar and lunar movements was a base for agricultural management, ritual religion, and city life. The architecture of the calendar systems reflected Egyptian and Sumerian civilization’s knowledge of astronomy (Genta et al., np). As cultural and religious elements, these calendars had a daily cycle.
Irrigation Systems for Harnessing Water for Agriculture
These systems covered arid regions like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, where irrigation systems had critical roles to play in supporting agricultural activities (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np). The management of water in both canals and ditches was such that it became available whenever required according to the demand, which led to crop development to a maximum level. The systems balance the a priori limitations reflected in agricultural development that provided for a continuously increasing population (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np).
Writing Systems for Recording Humanity’s Narrative
The development of writing systems revealed how humans exchanged and recorded information. Sociology had its source from words practiced on ancient clay tablets, which the Sumerians used around 3500 CE (Genta et al., np). However, the symbols were a rather complicated writing system that allowed ancient Egyptians to alter commemoration and sacred writings. The cultural preservation referred to by this script was a knowledge transfer across generations as they facilitated survival.
Metallurgy and the Bronze Age
This technology revolutionized the making of tools and weapons by 3300 BCE (Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. np). The technology often had no such ability due to the fact that it needed more capacity, particularly during the smelting of copper and also tin into bronze. Stone and copper tools were surpassed by the power of bronze, allowing other innovations in agricultural technology to develop, such as a standing army. Socioeconomic transformations were incorporated into society during the Bronze Age, in which technology was overhauled.
Conclusion
To sum up, technological development in early civilizations demonstrated a strong focus on creating the foundations of human civilization. Nevertheless, these sixteenth-century steps laid the ground for other transformations to take place in the agricultural revolution. Therefore, all innovations discussed in this paper had such technological dependence. For this reason, early humans and communities were technically developed based on their interests. Each historic transformation depends not only on technology but also on an individual who moves it.
Works Cited
Angelakis, Andreas N., et al. “Evolution of Water Technologies and Corresponding Philosophy and Sciences Focusing on the Hellenic World through the Millennia.” Water, vol. 14, no. 19, Oct. 2022, p. 3149, https://doi.org/10.3390/w14193149./ Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.
Chen, Weijia. “The Assyrian Empire: Terror Tactics as a Tool of Empire-building.” Retrieved from https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/2927650/file.pdf/
Genta, Giancarlo, and Paolo Riberi. Technology and the Growth of Civilization. Springer International Publishing, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25583-1./ Accessed 2 Apr. 2021.
Potter, Alan J. “The History of Jerusalem: Its Origins to the early middle Ages.” Google Books, Pen and Sword History, 2020, books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=xdMoEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP6&dq=Assyrian+Siege+of+Jerusalem&ots=fOzM7lFLei&sig=URbNLgFUGyLdnRJmqO1guYPP3KU&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Assyrian%20Siege%20of%20Jerusalem&f=false. Accessed 20 Jan. 2024.
write