Jericho and Catal Huyuk were both trading towns. Actually, Jericho is considered to be the first trading town. They both had an excellent supply of water and great soil for farming. Both cities had some form of religion, but as writing had not been invented by then, we can only rely on what archaeology says. They both had ceremonial buries, very much as we have.
Trade was very important for these communities, their survival depended on it. It is believed trade was carried by specialized merchants with people at considerable distances. Crafts advanced impressively, such as pottery or metalworking, even jewelry making was highly developed. Agriculture, as stated before, was also very important because it allowed the non-farming producers, non-farming politicals, and religious leaders to exist and develop.
They were both ruled by elites and had crafts specialists, which led to the invention of critical elements: the wheel, the plow, writing, and the use of bronze. These were the seeds of the civilized life humanity would embrace later in history.
