First Civilizations

Can war help advance civilization? Surprisingly, this four-part PBS documentary series says "yes." First Civilizations surveys the roles of war, religion, the growth of cities, and expansion of trade in driving human destiny. For most of humankind’s time on Earth, no armies, churches, or non-nomadic communities existed. After early hunter-gatherers discovered that they could produce food by farming, they also quickly learned that being tied to one place meant that villages and cropland had to be defended. Before long, a class of haves and have-nots sprang up as powerful individuals took the greater share in return for promises of protection. Using early civilizations in Egypt and Mexico as examples, the series illustrates how "destructive creation" has played a role in developing weapons and technology. Religion created a shared narrative, rituals, ceremonies, sacred spaces, and a means of establishing legitimacy for leaders. And cities have become our "collective brain" and "engine of invention," satisfying the human need to be sociable and learn from each other. Drawing on examples from ancient Iraq and modern Tokyo, the documentary shows that cities create specialization and fosters the rise of ruling elites, who have the challenge of providing for the common good. Finally, trade requires trust, which results in the free flow of ideas, shared prosperity, and peace. No civilization lasts forever, as is demonstrated here with the decline of the Indus Valley, which was doomed by disease, climate change, and the loss of social cohesion. Offering a clear explanation of why and how civilizations rise, fall, or undergo significant upheaval and change, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)