Material Evidence for a State-Level Society

Material Evidence for a State-Level Society

The state-level societies that came after the Urban Revolution differed in many ways from the smaller and less complex societies that preceded them. In lecture 1 of module 5 we introduced Gordon Childe’s list of ten features that describe these differences. We still live in a state-level society today, and in many ways modern society is far more similar to the early states than it is to the Paleolithic or Neolithic societies before the Urban Revolution. For this assignment you will do fieldwork in your city or community, as well as digital fieldwork in an ancient site, to find material evidence (features and artifacts) of state-level society (and not in a band or tribal society).

The following list contains five of Childe’s ten traits of state-level societies. Pick three traits from the list and find clear and visible evidence (features and artifacts) for the presence of this trait in your city or community today and at the site of Teotihuacan (through the Virtual Field Trip). Take one or two photos (not more than 2) that illustrate each trait. For Teotihuacan, your photos will be screenshots. Two of your traits should be illustrated by photos in your community; one should be illustrated by a screenshot from the Teotihuacan Virtual Field Trip (hint: the optional worksheet provided to guide you through the Virtual Field Trip may give you an idea of which trait is easiest to see). You must take the photos and screenshots yourself; do not simply download them from the internet. The evidence must be clear; it must be possible to infer the trait from your photo or photos. (e.g., don’t photograph a person walking down the street and say this person is a full-time specialist). Each of the 3 traits is worth 13 points. DO NOT USE EXAMPLES FROM LECTURES.

Social stratification
A state form of government
Full-time specialization
Monumental public architecture (Check lecture 1 of Module 5 to make sure you understand the concept of “monumental” as buildings that are larger than they have to be).
Predictive sciences

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