PART I: THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION

PART I Paleolithic Age Began around 9,000 BCE Humans had spread around globe Humans were hunter-gatherers Life style could not support large numbers Man makes tools of stone, bone Began around 9,000 BCE Rise of agriculture Culture becomes increasingly complex

RISE OF NEOLITHIC Areas where Neolithic cultures arose Harsh environments Water shortages Few reliable sources of foodstuffs Causes of the Neolithic Revolution Development, spread of agriculture Domestication of animals Improvement of technology

ASPECTS OF NEOLITHIC AGE Effects of Neolithic Age Sedentary culture develops Surplus of food leads to increased populations Rise of differentiated occupations Complex cultures Gender relations change Humans begin to change environment Communicable diseases become common

PALEOLITHIC vs. NEOLITHIC Many resist sedentarism Pastoralists Hunter-Gatherers survive until 20th century Development uneven across regions Change often slow Indigenous development vs. diffusion

CIVILIZATION’S 1ST PHASE Five major centers beginning around 4,500 BCE Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia) Nile River Valley Indus River Valley Northern China (Huang He) Central America Civilizations arose in few areas, spread out Often arose around control of water Called “hydraulic” (Hydro = water) civilizations Irrigation, flood control at center of power, changes Ancient period lasts generally to 1000 BCE

THE CULTURE OF CIVILIZATION Permanent Institutions Religious: Theocracies, priesthoods, polytheism Political: Monarchy, aristocracy, militaries Social: Rise of classes Gender: Patriarchy Trade and Commerce Systems of Record Keeping Intellectual Traditions Arts, Architecture Literatures

WIDER CONTACTS Each civilization had particular patterns Effects of Geography Either facilitated, hindered communication Strengthened, weakened local culture Contacts War, Trade, Diseases Nomads Migration

PROBLEMS OF WORLD HISTORY Role of technology, effects on environment Comparisons between civilizations Importance of early heritages How much did ancient influence later cultures How much is later, indigenous development When did ancient period end? Can we compare ancient, modern eras?