Early Discoveries

Stages of Early Human Development 1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE Paleolithic Age: ( Old Stone Age ) 2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE 2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE 3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE 4. 30,000 BCE -- 10,000 BCE

The Paleolithic Age “Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age 2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE Made tools hunting (men) & gathering (women)  small bands of 20-30 humans NOMADIC (moving from place to place)

Stage Three 200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” ) Neanderthals ( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE ) Cro-Magnons ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE )

Stage Four – The Neolithic Age “Neolithic”  “New Stone” Age 10,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE Gradual shift from: Nomadic lifestyle  settled, stationery lifestyle Hunting/Gathering  agricultural production and domestication of animals Agricultural or Neolithic Revolution

Origins of Domesticated Plants and Animals

Three Geographic Centers of Domestication

River Civilizations Characteristics of a civilization Written Language Specialized Labor 3. Complex Culture & Society 4. System of Government & Laws

Mesopotamia & the Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia – the land between the rivers - little rain but rich soil and source of water from the Tigris & Euphrates rivers - ideal for start of farming  becomes the first civilization in world - flooding of rivers are unpredictable and often devastating few natural barriers  invaders constantly storm through region difficult to stabilize Gilgamesh – first literature in the world  reflects their world view

Egypt & the Nile River Valley Egypt arose along narrow strip of land made fertile by the river Most of Egypt’s history focused around Lower Egypt (near the Nile Delta) Upper Egypt developed later upstream Deserts on both sides of Nile  provided natural protection against invaders  reduced interaction with others  Egypt would develop a unique culture because of isolation

Egyptian Government Egyptian rulers were called Pharaohs: priest-kings considered gods served both political and religious roles Theocracy  government where the rulers are thought to be divinely-guided, or divine themselves Pharaohs’ tombs very important  believed their spirits or Ka lived there  Built massive tombs for them: pyramids Above: Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II The Great Pyramids at Giza