Chapter 1 Toward Civilization

Understanding Our Past Chapter 1, Section 1 Prehistory – 300 B.C.

Studying the Historical Past Prehistory  long period of time before people invented writing Prehistory  long period of time before people invented writing –People lived on Earth for thousands of years before they started writing Historians  scholars who study and write about historical past Historians  scholars who study and write about historical past –Learn details of the past from ARTIFACTS

Investigating Prehistory Anthropology  studying the origins of people and their societies Anthropology  studying the origins of people and their societies –Culture…refers to the way of life of a society –Archaeology...a branch of anthropology where archaeologists study artifacts to understand past people and cultures

The Old Stone Age The earliest period of human history The earliest period of human history –Also know as the Paleolithic Age 2 million B.C. to 10,000 B.C. 2 million B.C. to 10,000 B.C. Earliest evidence of human life has been found in Africa Earliest evidence of human life has been found in Africa –This time period is marked by nomadic (movement for food) behavior

The Old Stone Age The people of the Old Stone Age lived as hunters/gatherers (nomads) The people of the Old Stone Age lived as hunters/gatherers (nomads) –Small bands of 20 or 30 people –Moved from place to place to hunt and gather food –The term nomads is used to describe hunters/gatherers

Chapter 1, Section 2 The Neolithic Revolution New Stone Age

Neolithic Revolution Transition from nomadic life to settled farming brought about dramatic changes in the way of life Transition from nomadic life to settled farming brought about dramatic changes in the way of life –This transition is known as the Neolithic Revolution –The farmers during this time began to domesticate plants and animals, which is to raise them in a controlled way making them suitable for human needs

People change way of life Work was divided up by gender and age Work was divided up by gender and age Men dominated family, economic and political life Men dominated family, economic and political life Older males were heads of families that made important decisions Older males were heads of families that made important decisions –When to plant and harvest

People change way of life Warfare increased when food was scarce Warfare increased when food was scarce –Men were now emerging as warriors and gained prestige Settled people had more property than nomadic people Settled people had more property than nomadic people –Also had more possessions –Starting to see differences in wealth

New Technologies Farmers began using animals (oxen or water buffalo) to plow fields Farmers began using animals (oxen or water buffalo) to plow fields Farmers had to develop timelines of when to plant their crops Farmers had to develop timelines of when to plant their crops –These timelines helped develop the first calendars

New Technologies Villages had separate workshops to make tools Villages had separate workshops to make tools –Smooth, polished ax heads –Chipped arrowheads People also began using clay to create pottery for cooking and storage People also began using clay to create pottery for cooking and storage

New Technologies Technologies were not invented everywhere at the same time Technologies were not invented everywhere at the same time Knowledge of the new inventions took time to get from one place to another Knowledge of the new inventions took time to get from one place to another –Thousands of years between continents –Other technologies were invented separately in different parts of the world that were similar to one another

Early Villages Established Jericho: Israel controlled city Jericho: Israel controlled city Still exists today Still exists today Was built between 10,000 and 9,000 B.C. Was built between 10,000 and 9,000 B.C. Only the size of a few football fields Only the size of a few football fields Surrounded by a wall  suggests a government was formed to organize the building of the wall for defense Surrounded by a wall  suggests a government was formed to organize the building of the wall for defense

The Iceman Body of Neolithic man that was discovered in the European Alps Body of Neolithic man that was discovered in the European Alps His body was preserved by the cold weather His body was preserved by the cold weather Archaeologists found tools and various possessions with this man Archaeologists found tools and various possessions with this man –This is how we know so much about the Neolithic time period

Review 1) What did Neolithic Farmers use to plow fields? AOxen/Water Buffalo AOxen/Water Buffalo BJohn Deere Tractors BJohn Deere Tractors CSheep CSheep DDogs DDogs 2) People of the Old Stone Age were said to be which of the following? ACrazy ACrazy BSmart BSmart CNomads CNomads DFunny DFunny

Chapter 1, Section 3 Beginnings of Civilization

First Cities and Civilizations Earliest civilizations were all developed near major rivers Earliest civilizations were all developed near major rivers –Why? Animals that used the river to drink from were used as food Animals that used the river to drink from were used as food Conditions in river valleys favored farming Conditions in river valleys favored farming –Floods kept the soil very fertile

First Cities and Civilizations Because of the farming conditions, farmers produced surpluses  more than what was necessary Because of the farming conditions, farmers produced surpluses  more than what was necessary –Able to feed a growing population –Able to store food for the future –The increase in population led to the world’s first cities

First Cities and Civilizations Early Cities Early Cities People had jobs other than farming People had jobs other than farming Very big change from Traditional Economy of the Stone Age Very big change from Traditional Economy of the Stone Age –Traditional Economy: relies on habit, custom or ritual and tends not to change over time

River Valley Civilizations Civilization: highly organized social order Civilization: highly organized social order Arose in a number of different river valleys Arose in a number of different river valleys –Sumer (between Tigris and Euphrates) in the Middle East –Egypt (along the Nile) –Indus (along the Indus River) in India

First Civilizations in Americas Arose AWAY from river valleys Arose AWAY from river valleys Highlands of Peru (Mexico) Highlands of Peru (Mexico) –People farmed on the sides of mountains –Fill swamps with land for farming Incas Incas Olmecs Olmecs Mayas Mayas

Features of Civilization Organized Government Organized Government Complex Religions Complex Religions Job Specialization Job Specialization Social Classes Social Classes Arts and Architecture Arts and Architecture Public Works Public Works Writing Writing

Features of Civilization Organized Government Organized Government –Oversee efforts that benefited the people –Coordinate production of large amounts of food –Building of canals, irrigation ditches, etc. Complex Religions Complex Religions –Polytheistic: belief in many gods –Rituals, ceremonies, dances, prayers, and hymns were done to gain the favor of the gods

Features of Civilization Job Specialization Job Specialization –People began to specialize in certain jobs –Artisans: skilled craftspeople emerged to make pottery, finely carved goods, metal working –Bricklayers built walls and soldiers defended walls Social Classes Social Classes –Ranked according to job –Priests and nobles at the top then wealthy merchants and artisans –Then came the majority of the people (peasant farmers) –Slaves occupied the lowest social rank

Features of Civilization Arts and Architecture Arts and Architecture –Expressed talents and beliefs of the people –Paintings, statues of gods and rulers were constructed Public Works Public Works –Rulers ordered public works projects such as: –Roads, bridges, irrigation systems, defense walls –These projects benefited the city

Features of Civilization Writing Writing –First writing established in different places at different times –First writings varied in appearance, structure and purpose –Pictographs: simple drawings that look like the objects they represent were often used Writing systems were developed later Writing systems were developed later

Changes Over Time Environment Environment –Ample rain and fertile soil needed –Timber (wood), metal, stone are needed –Changes in environment have drastic effects Culture Changes Culture Changes –Cultural Diffusion: spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another –This occurred through migration, trade and warfare

Changes Over Time City States City States –Political unit that included a city and surrounding lands and villages –These emerged as ancient rulers gained power and conquered land outside of their boundaries First Empires First Empires –Group of states or territories controlled by one ruler as a result of warfare (winner take all) –Powerful empires developed all over the world

Review 1) A highly organized social order is known as which of the following? ACivilization ACivilization BSocial Class BSocial Class COrganized Government COrganized Government DComplex Religion DComplex Religion 2) Simple drawings that look like the objects they represent are known as what? APicture drawings APicture drawings BEmpire BEmpire CPictographs CPictographs DCultural Diffusion DCultural Diffusion