Services in Earlier Settlements
The earliest and most successful settlements revolved around the river valleys. The only exception to this would be the Ancient Greek civilization and instead of river valleys, it relied on the surrounding Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas for trade and food. These river valley settlements were agricultural, relying on the rivers for flooding to provide their croplands with silt, a fertile soil to help with the growing of crops.
Ancient Sumer: These city-states, independent governing bodies, were based around the rivers, Euphrates and Tigris. These city-states were heavily engaged in all three types of services, especially since the first writing, Cuneiform, was created to record business transactions. Constant trade issues with each other resulted in each city-state forming militias to help protect or invade competing farmlands in the area. One of the first, massive complexes built was that of the ziggurat, essentially a stepped-pyramid that was the center of religion, trade, and government.
Ancient Egypt: Besides massive government projects, e.g. pyramids, temples, canals, and dams, the Ancient Egyptians needed constant tax and surveying services for the predictable flooding of the Nile. These taxes, mostly in the form of grain and crops, were collected and stored to pay farmers for their help in government construction while the farmland was flooded.
Ancient Rome: Although not the first empire to do so, Rome was probably the empire that perfected the creation and establishment of communications and transportation to help unify many diverse provinces. The massive road system alone helped trade, movement of permanent armies, and communications to reach vast distances quickly. Add the aqueducts, common currency, and effective government administration, and it is no wonder that the Roman Empire was one the most successful empires in history.
During the "Dark Ages" in Europe, most of the population moved to the countryside to escape famine, war, and pestilence. Several centuries later, medieval settlements began to grow larger into cities due to local lords establishing a stronger power base through feudalism, an economic system of governing based on the holding of land. Soon, a small, middle class would rise in the form of traders and merchants asking for charters of rights for the creation of independent cities in exchange for taxes and military assistance to these lords.
Marketplaces would expand, along with trade networks, including roads. The Roman Catholic Church, already a large unifying force in Western Europe, began the construction of large cathedrals for public services to the city inhabitants. Other public services, such as palaces and government administration, would gain more power through these newly developed cities.
Asia: In Asia, empires and businesses were growing and shrinking, but cities had never left. Also built along river valleys, the Chinese had several large cities already. Most of the largest in the world at the time would be Constantinople, Baghdad, Kyoto, and Beijing. These cities would grow in services, including education and healthcare.
Ancient Sumer: These city-states, independent governing bodies, were based around the rivers, Euphrates and Tigris. These city-states were heavily engaged in all three types of services, especially since the first writing, Cuneiform, was created to record business transactions. Constant trade issues with each other resulted in each city-state forming militias to help protect or invade competing farmlands in the area. One of the first, massive complexes built was that of the ziggurat, essentially a stepped-pyramid that was the center of religion, trade, and government.
Ancient Egypt: Besides massive government projects, e.g. pyramids, temples, canals, and dams, the Ancient Egyptians needed constant tax and surveying services for the predictable flooding of the Nile. These taxes, mostly in the form of grain and crops, were collected and stored to pay farmers for their help in government construction while the farmland was flooded.
Ancient Rome: Although not the first empire to do so, Rome was probably the empire that perfected the creation and establishment of communications and transportation to help unify many diverse provinces. The massive road system alone helped trade, movement of permanent armies, and communications to reach vast distances quickly. Add the aqueducts, common currency, and effective government administration, and it is no wonder that the Roman Empire was one the most successful empires in history.
During the "Dark Ages" in Europe, most of the population moved to the countryside to escape famine, war, and pestilence. Several centuries later, medieval settlements began to grow larger into cities due to local lords establishing a stronger power base through feudalism, an economic system of governing based on the holding of land. Soon, a small, middle class would rise in the form of traders and merchants asking for charters of rights for the creation of independent cities in exchange for taxes and military assistance to these lords.
Marketplaces would expand, along with trade networks, including roads. The Roman Catholic Church, already a large unifying force in Western Europe, began the construction of large cathedrals for public services to the city inhabitants. Other public services, such as palaces and government administration, would gain more power through these newly developed cities.
Asia: In Asia, empires and businesses were growing and shrinking, but cities had never left. Also built along river valleys, the Chinese had several large cities already. Most of the largest in the world at the time would be Constantinople, Baghdad, Kyoto, and Beijing. These cities would grow in services, including education and healthcare.
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Related Links: Services in Early Settlements Quiz Three Types of Services AP Human Geography Quizzes AP Human Geography Notes |