The Agricultural Revolution created societies which encompassed larger populations and diversity within communities than had ever been experienced before. This led to the organization of people, rules of society and different socioeconomic divisions among the people.
The earliest of these new civilizations was 3500BC to 3000 BC in three places. The Middle East (present day Iraq), Egypt alone the Nile River valley and along the central coast of Peru, Norte Chico. Following the establishment of these civilizations were several other 'First Civilizations' such as China in and around 2200 BC and in Central Asia in the Oxus or Amu Darya river valley (present Afghanistan).
All of the First Civilizations prospered due to the resources from agriculture which enabled food production to match the population. People began to find their place among the needs of the society and hierarchies began to evolve. Because the agricultural yield was so prosperous it left time for people to develop other skills to help support the community. scholars, merchants, priests, metal workers, stone masons all began to contribute to the society as a whole. This is also when the class system started based on new wealth, status and power (pg 71).
Slavery and civilization seems to have started at the same time, with the upper classes owning slaves to complete the menial tasks of daily life. However, it is gender that has been the longest standing and which has shaped civilization to our current time. Social gender rules defined roles and behavior that were suitable for each sex.
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