Briefly what this list involves and what purpose it serves The Redman Childe’s list was created by Australian born archaeologist V. Gordon Childe. Childe was concerned about various approaches to the topic of Civilization. Early approaches to included evolutionary stages, societies as an ecosystem with social relation. Childe established a theory called cultural evolution or sociocultural evolution which explained the progression of one or more cultures from the simple to more complex forms. A more famous and acceptable way of thinking about archaeology was produced by Gordon Childe.
Childe’s concept of civilization was derive by way of a check list that could comprehensive define civilization. V. Gordon Childe’s concept was original to the Urban Revolution model. Another archaeologist Charles Redman modernized the Childe’s list by divide it in ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ criteria form which an historical discussion of civilization could be obtain. The primary section of the list include presence of cites, full-time specialization of labor, concentration of surplus, class-structures society and stat-based organization. The five secondary characteristics are by-product of major economic and organizational changes.
Secondary section of the list includes monumental public work, long-distance trade, standardized monumental artwork, formal systems of information recording and storage and formal systems of abstract knowledge. Then, apply the Redman-Childe list to one civilization that we have learned about in the second half of the semester Redman Childe’s list is most applicable to Chinese civilization. Some parts of China’s ancient history was thought to be legends. The civilization evolved from a quest for dynasty of the Shawn kings. Isolated in the east, was China and its most remote city hubs was flourishing.
Most Chinese culture see the being of Beijing. The Empires of China ancient civilization was heir to a tradition born of power, human sacrifice and the mysterious right of the Shang, which last between 21766-1122 BCE (& Textbook). The early age of the Bronze Age of ancient China was mention in the ancient text of the Zhou (1122-256 BCE & Textbook) and Han (202 BCE – 220 CE & Textbook) dynasties. The Shang dynasty moved from legendary to archaeological fact with the discovery of oracle bones. The oracle bone was escalated at a site in the Chung capital near Onion 300 miles south of Beijing.
In 1928 archaeologist uncovered an extraordinary cache of tortoise shells. The shell were covered with mysterious inscription of strange prophecies. The court life of the dweller began to emerge after years of research. It is said that four thousand years ago roiled priest would heat to crack the shell. Then interpreted the cracks, which predicted the outcome of battles, the birth of a prince or the success of a great hunt. The shell also list the names of the Shang King’s, who were long thought as mythic kings. Eventually archaeologist discovered a series of royal Shawn mausoleums.
The ramps that led to the tombs were line with hundreds of headless skeletons. The missing skulls were found inside the grisly sanctuaries mysterious arranged in pattern. Some thirteen hundred years before Christ the Shang kings had built the dynasty on a foundation of human sacrifice. It was believe the human sacrifices was to be made to the deities or ancient spirits which was a source of their wisdom. China value bronzed more highly than gold, and made vessel which symbol their Divine Right, which in later year became known as the mandate of heaven.
While the Mediterranean artisan were only beginning to experiment with mental the Chinese were already skill and specialized bronze casters. The Qin dynasty saw the reign of China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang. He was king during the Waring States period. Qin Shihuangdi, after whom one of these dynasties was named, organized a powerful army and unified China in 221 B. C. E. The emperor Qin Shi Huang made pivotal changes in Chinese history. During his reign Qin Shi Huang and his advisor Li Si created series political and economic reform.
He made his mark by performing impressive monumental project, including building and connecting a series of walls know to today as the Great Wall of China. He was also driven by paranoia or brilliance to commission the production of life-sized Terracotta Army and a massive national road system. The Silk Road starts in Chang’an (now Xian) to the West lie Persia and Rome to the south lies Indian. Qin and Tang Dynasty was a pivotal moment for expansion of trade and connection between unknown merchants, and varied merchandise which made an impact on world trade.
The Han dynasty reached it highest point with Han Wudi, the Martial Emperor after the dynasti was restored by Liu Bing in 206 BCE. The Han utilized Legalist polices, established a huge bureaucracy and monopolies, and expanded taxes to keep control. During Han reign he increased the Confucian education, which train bureaucrats. This contribution, for hundreds of years, continued to have an impact on Chinese rule. There was also great expansion of the Han Empire into the northern steppes, Vietnam, and Korea. This period of expansion and population growth led to social unrest and increase of taxes.
Use each point on the Redman-Childe list and explain how your chosen civilization either fits or does not fit that particular point. The Redman-Childe list prove to be a little problematic if there was need for history to be organized with each point. It is however a valid generation check list by which the measure the inclusion or exclusion of similar and different aspect between civilizations. From the description already done on China, one could recognize that China had a sophisticated form of society in which principles of governing are clearly defined.
There was a clear hierarchical social system were kings and Emperors had sole power, wealth and social prestige. The society was must self-sustaining and their agricultural surpluses was evidence in their trade of silk. There was also evidence of full time specialist such as artisans, bureaucrats, soldiers, which served the Emperors and subsidiary governing body. Ruler live luxuriously, a distinction from the ruled class – the poorer class which had a substandard life style. Additionally, describe what motivations might be behind creating a list like this.
Is this list biased? Early archaeologist, anthropology and historian have been pre-occupied with defining Civilization. Large amounts of scholarly literature existed that encompasses the complex subject of early civilization. If Childe’s check-list is view as a more acceptable way of measuring history advancement of a Civilization. Some Civilizations are more relatable to the list, because there has be more documentation. Most civilization of ancient times had some level social organization which could fit into Childe’s check-list, though some were more obvious them others.
