Video Where and why did the first cities appear?

TLF ID M021191

This 10 minute video in three parts offers an overview of the development of the agrarian civilisations in the ancient world. Part 1 looks at how, as peasant villages spread, farmers developed more productive methods of farming, particularly the use of large animals for ploughing and transport, and irrigation. Part 2 looks at the development of towns and cities, which were a result of these more productive methods of farming, and the subsequent population growth. Food surpluses meant occupations other than farming became possible. This led to a need for more organisational structures, which then gave rise to power brokers who took on the role of co-ordinating society. As their power grew, governments were established and states was born. Societies developed a new hierarchy of elites, farmers and peasants, and slaves. Part 3 looks at the cultural similarities between the big cities throughout the ancient world. Empires began appearing 3,000 years ago.





Educational details

Year level

7

Learning area
  • Humanities and social sciences
  • History

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Big History Project
  • Organization: Big History Project
  • URL: https://www.bighistoryproject.com
  • Publisher
  • Name: Big History Project
  • Organization: Big History Project
  • Description: Publisher
  • URL: https://www.bighistoryproject.com
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Video
Rights
  • © Big History Project. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.