The ancient cities of Uruk, Athens, Babylon, and Rome showed how civilization evolved from once

nomadic lifestyle of humans. From they’re hunting as livelihood, they eventually stayed to a permanent
place to farm and breed livestock. This is because they found a place that is close to a body of water that
makes their land fertile. This is also the reason why most ancient cities are close to rivers, lakes, and
other waterways. Humans need water supply for their irrigation, as well as for drinking, sewage, and
even public bath. Agriculture became the first step to civilization.

As agriculture advances, skills and profession were expanded. Groups are divided to rulers, elites and
priests, craftsmen, agricultural workers, and slaves. The city also created central facilities like palaces.
Eventually, people from faraway lands move to cities for social benefits.

The need for unlimited supply became the birth of laws and taxation. Laws control people due to fear of
punishment, and through moral or religious reasons. Rulers and priests inbreed civilians to respect a
god. This made the idea of taxation through offerings from the people.

Slavery also played a huge part in building the ancient civilization. Society is classified into Aristocrats,
commoners, and slaves. Slaves are either prisoners of war, or commoners that can’t pay a debt and
offers the slavery service. Slavery helps cities to control economically a large group people, by exploiting
them and not paying their rightful salaries. It is why many great cities like Rome, depends on slavery.
Egypt’s slavery differs from other countries. The “slaves” are also its people who willingly work for the
ruler, like the building of the pyramid.

Knowledge is the last part in creation of cities. Writings, documents, and records became helpful as
resource as well as influences for other countries. To sum up, civilization requires a city. Cities became a
stage for human advancement such as industrialization, and modernization. Ancient cities are made up
from the developments agriculture, laws, slavery, and knowledge that eventually helps modern cities
create a more unified, humane, and advanced civilization.

developed to a more

Social cohesion

Agri

Laws and taxation

Slavery
Knowledge