Consider the "rise of civilization" by looking at the evidence for human societies during the Neolithic period and compare them with the societies described as the earliest "true" civilizations. What distinguishes the civilizations from the earlier communities, and is it justifiable to draw such a distinction? Why or why not?
This is a possible essay test question and I am having some trouble being able to write 2-3 pages about it. I am simple looking for more information. From our notes, we simply have the Neolithic "communities" were more hunter/gatherers with males being the hunters and women being the gatherers. Some of the "civilizations "I think were Jericho, Catal Huyuk and Ain Ghazal where agriculture began to develop. The first Mesopotamian "civilization" was Sumeria. And I suppose the difference between the communities and civilizations were the specialization of trade and a system of hierarchy/authority.