What would make a good location for a civilization?

Chapter 1 The Emergence of Civilization

Section One Essential Questions How do anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, and geographers study prehistory? What were the achievements of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon people? What important changes did the Neolithic agricultural revolution cause?

Early Humans Paleolithic = Old Stone Age Began 2.5 million years ago with the development of stone tools Homo sapiens first appeared between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago May have developed first in Africa Neanderthals lived about 35,000 – 130,000 years ago in Europe and SW Asia Used fire, had tools, buried their dead, buried meat and tools with their dead (afterlife?)

Paleolithic tools

Mesolithic = Middle Stone Age Cro-Magnons appeared in Europe about 35,000 years ago Better tools and weapons, artwork Good hunters Bow and arrow, fishhooks, spears, harpoons, tamed dogs, dugout canoes Lasted until about 10,000 years ago

Cro-Magnon man

Neolithic = New Stone Age From about 10,000 years ago until about 4,000 years ago Polished and ground stone tools = more specialized tools Began to settle in permanent villages and develop agriculture

Domestication of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs Learned how to plant seeds for crops People had previously been nomadic hunter-gatherers

This revolutionized human life! Now could stay in one spot - led to beginning of civilization as we know it Known as Neolithic Agricultural Revolution For the first time, humans had power over nature Shifted from food gatherers to food producers

What makes people “civilized?” Brainstorm! What makes people “civilized?”

Section Two Essential Questions What three main characteristics are shared by civilizations? What two other characteristics may be shared by civilizations? What other characteristics and achievements marked the first river valley civilizations?

Some climates were not suitable for farming and people continued hunting and gathering Four regions became the sites of the first permanent human civilizations: Nile River valley in Africa (Egypt) Tigris and Euphrates River valley in southwest Asia (Iraq) Indus River valley in southern Asia (Pakistan) Yellow River valley in eastern Asia (China)

These four river valleys had some things in common: Rivers rise and flood the valleys during periods of heavy rain Similar latitude Climate is warm or hot for most of the year Farmers learned how to develop systems of irrigation for the dry seasons

Characteristics of Civilizations 1. Surplus food Allowed them to remain in one location Led to trade and warfare among groups 2. Government Needed law and order 3. Division of labor Made them more efficient Not everyone needed to farm Artisans, merchants, and traders emerged

4. Calendar - Necessary for farming – kept track of floods 5 4. Calendar - Necessary for farming – kept track of floods 5. System of writing - Passed on information and ideas - Writing began universally around 3000 BC - Began “history” as we know it!

River Valley Civilizations Use of metals People of Nile and Tigris-Euphrates valleys began using copper around 6000 years ago Use of bronze (mix of copper and tin) began about 5000 years ago – also in India and China Invention of bronze marked end of Stone Age and start of Bronze Age The Iron Age began in southwestern Asia around 3200 years ago

Family and Religion Women initially did much of the agriculture With the invention of the plow, men did most of the farming and were thus the primary food providers This allowed men to be the main authorities in society People believed in many gods and goddesses and in forces of nature Dependent on rain for their crops – prayed to nature gods