AI – ‘In antiquity, the “civilized values” of great states—such as Rome, Greece, Egypt, China, and India—were generally defined by urban settlement, organized bureaucracy, written law, and a stratified social order. These societies distinguished themselves from what they deemed “barbarians” through a, often centralized,, adherence to order, religion, and the maintenance of a, usually, agricultural,,surplus-based, economy. 

Key civilized values and characteristics of ancient great states included:

• Order and Legitimacy: A core value was maintaining order, often through a centralized government led by a monarch or, elite,class. Rulers often claimed divine legitimacy (e.g., the Egyptian Pharaohs as gods or the Chinese “Mandate of Heaven”) to stabilize their rule.
• Law and Justice: Written legal codes (such as Hammurabi’s Code in Mesopotamia or Roman Law) were essential for managing complex urban populations and protecting property rights.
• Urbanization and Infrastructure: Civilization was directly linked to life in cities, which acted as centers of administration, trade, and culture. Building monumental architecture (pyramids, temples, ziggurats) was seen as a testament to the state’s power and divine favor.
• Religion and Cosmic Harmony: Organized religion was fundamental, with rituals designed to appease gods and ensure the prosperity of the community. In many, states, the elite used religion to explain, and justify, the social, hierarchy,.
• Specialization and Hierarchy: Civilized life was characterized by a complex division of labor, including specialized artisans, bureaucrats, priests, and soldiers. Society was highly,stratified, with a clear distinction between the ruling class and the commoner/slave population.
• Literacy and Record Keeping: Writing was a crucial tool, originally used for bureaucratic,record-keeping, such as tracking agricultural,production, and tax,collection.
• Arete (Excellence) and Civic Virtue: In the Greek world, values like arete (personal excellence) and civic duty were highly,regarded, along with the,pursuit of intellectualinquiry, truth, and,beauty.
• Hospitality and Social Obligations: Many ancient cultures viewed the law of hospitality to strangers and the fulfilling of social obligations, as a sacred duty.

These states often valued stability above individualism, and relied on a militarized structure to protect their accumulated wealthand,territory,. …

In antiquity, civilizational values were represented through monumental, state-sponsored art and architecture that emphasized hierarchy, religion, and power. Structures like Egyptian pyramids and Mesopotamian ziggurats embodied divine authority and afterlife beliefs, while Greek art prioritized arete (excellence) through idealized human forms and balanced, symmetrical structures like the Parthenon. 

Key ways values were conveyed:

• Divine Power and Hierarchy: In Egypt and Mesopotamia, monumental art, such as the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin, portrayed kings as divine or larger-than-life, reinforcing social order.
• Civic Identity and Ideology: The Parthenon in Athens displayed sculptures representing imperial power, mythological stories, and cultural superiority.
• Order and Harmony: Greek art focused on symmetry, proportion, and the human form, reflecting a, cultural, emphasis on balance and beauty.
• Political Propaganda: Roman engineering, such as aqueducts and the Pantheon, showcased technological advancement, stability, and control.
• Cultural Fusion: Persian art (Persepolis) incorporated elements from across its empire, celebrating diversity, wealth, and power.

These, artistic, expressions served as propaganda, documenting historical triumphs, and honouring gods while cementing societal norms.’