Overarching Question: Why are the oldest societies less developed than newer societies?

Oldest societies or places with inhabitants:

Cradle of civilization = “A cradle of civilization is a location where civilization is
understood to have emerged. Current thinking is that there was no single "cradle", but
several civilizations that developed independently, with the Fertile Crescent (Ancient
Egypt, Mesopotamia), Ancient India, and Ancient China understood to be the earliest.”

Mesopotamia= “in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent, in modern days roughly corresponding
to most of Iraq, Kuwait, the eastern parts of Syria, Southeastern Turkey, and regions along the
Turkish–Syrian and Iran–Iraq borders.”
Indus River Valley = India
China

What does it mean for a country to be developed?

What is civilization?- the stage of human social and cultural development and organization that is
considered most advanced.

All societies have change but What are the things a country should be working towards?

Development
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/WESP2019_BOOK-
ANNEX-en.pdf

Country Where it falls

India Developing

China developing

Iran developing

Iraq developing

Egypt developing

Syrian Arab Republic developing

Turkey developing

Kuwait developing

In common- Complex cultures

 Overarching Q: How does society change?
● Define culture and society
○ How do they contrast?
● What do you think drives change in society?
● When does a society decide to make a change?
● How does culture change? How much do we have control over?
● Are history and tradition important to change?
○ The past creates the problems of the present
● Define tradition in terms of culture
● Define modernity in your own words
● Does tradition counter modernity and change or support it?
○ Can you think of an example where people move away from tradition and
towards modernity in history?
○ Can you think of an example where people use tradition as a basis to move
towards modernity?
○ In what ways do you see certain traditions holding back societies?
○ What is the importance of holding on to tradition?
● Do you think tradition could be considered an aspect of national identity?
● Are traditional culture fluid and changing?