History of Western Civilization

Foundations for the Development of Civilizations                                next

What changes occurred with the rise of cities?

Agriculture changed. It switched from horticulture to intensive agriculture.
Which brought about surplus production. Intensive agriculture involves:

  • fertilizing fields 
  • irrigation and drainage
  • using draft animals (horses, oxen)
  • planting multiple crops in a year
  • conserving land through practices such as terracing
2. There was a change in the Division of Labor. Fundamental changes took place in how people earned their living.

 – In cities, most people are not farmers.  

There many skilled workers, craftspeople, administrators, priests, ritual specialists, and armies. 

By diversification of labor, then, we mean that most people could make a living in ways other than agriculture. 
Next Page TOC