(which is why the Pharaoh Hatshepsut is often represented wearing a fake
beard). However, women often ruled indirectly, through husbands, lovers, or
fathers. And women rarely lacked rights entirely. The oldest surviving legal
code, compiled by Mesopotamian emperor Hammurabi (who reigned circa
1792–1750 B.C.E.), recognizes their right to divorce abusive husbands.
This lecture has surveyed some general features of Agrarian civilizations. In
the next lecture, we ask: How did Agrarian civilizations change during the
4,000 years after their ¿ rst appearance? Ŷ
Christian, Maps of Time, chap. 10.
Ristvet, In the Beginning, chap. 4.
Ehrenberg, Women in Prehistory.
Trigger, Early Civilizations.
- Did Agrarian civilizations share enough features to justify treating them
as a major “type” of human community? - Of all the features shared by Agrarian civilizations, which do you regard
as the most important?
Essential Reading
Supplementary Reading
Questions to Consider