Chapter 1 – Early Civilization

Anthropology - The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans. Archaeology - The systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery History - The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events “much of our understanding of early humans still relies on considerable conjecture …”

A. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone) 1. Characteristics lived in small bands lived in small bands nomadic nomadic began to refine use of tools began to refine use of tools used fire and often lived in caves used fire and often lived in caves 2. Two important technological innovations: use of tools and fire use of tools and fire

Paleolithic Cave Painting: The Chauvet Cave Cave paintings of large animals reveal the cultural creativity of Paleolithic peoples. This scene is part of a mural in a large underground chamber at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, France, discovered in December It dates from around 30,000–28,000 B.C.E. and depicts aurochs (long-horned wild oxen), horses, and rhinoceroses. To make their paintings, Paleolithic artists used stone lamps in which they burned animal fat to illuminate the cave walls and combined powdered mineral ores with animal fat to create red, yellow, and black pigments. Some artists even made brushes out of animal hairs with which to apply the paints. Cave paintings of large animals reveal the cultural creativity of Paleolithic peoples. This scene is part of a mural in a large underground chamber at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, France, discovered in December It dates from around 30,000–28,000 B.C.E. and depicts aurochs (long-horned wild oxen), horses, and rhinoceroses. To make their paintings, Paleolithic artists used stone lamps in which they burned animal fat to illuminate the cave walls and combined powdered mineral ores with animal fat to create red, yellow, and black pigments. Some artists even made brushes out of animal hairs with which to apply the paints. AP Images/Jean Clottes

B. Neolithic Age (New Stone) 10,000 – 4,000 B.C. (B.C.E.) 10,000 – 4,000 B.C. (B.C.E.) “… The biggest change was the shift from hunting animals and gathering plants for sustenance to producing food by systematic agriculture.” 1. Characteristics: growing of crops growing of crops utilizing beasts of burden utilizing beasts of burden This equates to Domestication …..

2. Results of Settlements… houses built for shelter and structures for storing food houses built for shelter and structures for storing food begin to trade begin to trade begin to specialize in certain crafts and divisions of labor begin to develop begin to specialize in certain crafts and divisions of labor begin to develop Between 4,000 – 3,000 BC technical developments – tools i.e. Asia discovered how to combine copper and tin to create bronze – harder substance than copper alone

Jericho (8,000 BC) a.k.a. Tel Sultan today a.k.a. Tel Sultan today

Women’s Work This rock painting from a cave in modern-day Algeria, dating from around the fourth millennium B.C.E., shows women harvesting grain. © Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

II. Emergence of Civilizations What is a civilization? complex culture in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements

A. Characteristics of First Civilizations: 1. each developed in a river valley 2. urban focus 3. new political and military structures 4. new social structure based on economic power 5. distinct religious structure 6. development of writing 7. new and significant artistic and intellectual activity

III. Civilization in Mesopotamia (Ancient Near East) Location: Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

The Ancient Near East The Fertile Crescent encompassed land with access to water. Employing flood management and irrigation systems, the peoples of the region established civilizations based on agriculture. These civilizations developed writing, law codes, and economic specialization.

A.City States of Mesopotamia “between the rivers” “between the rivers” Sumerians (Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagesh) City-states Buildings of mud-brick, Arch & Dome structures and Ziggurats

Ziggurat and Royal Tombs at Ur …

Religion – gods rule the cities – theocracy kingship is divine kingship is divine Produce – woolen textiles, pottery and metal works Hammurabi Unites Sumeria ( BC)

Hammurabi (Amorite – Old Babylon) Well-disciplined army Well-disciplined army Assimilated conquered cultures Assimilated conquered cultures Built temples and defensive walls Built temples and defensive walls Irrigation canals Irrigation canals Encouraged trade Encouraged trade Code of Hammurabi …. Discussion

Earliest Writing – Cuneiform – wedge shaped (from Ur)

IV.Egyptian Civilizations “The Gift of the Nile” “The Gift of the Nile” 1. Old Kingdom - kingship divine ruled by ma’at – idea of truth & justice 2. Middle Kingdom – Golden Age Stability in leadership “shepherd” but still divine

Spiritual Life No word for “Religion” – so much a part of their life … Two groups of gods – sun and land Pyramids – burial places largest from Old Kingdom period

The Giza Pyramids were built as tombs for the fourth dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who ruled Egypt through BCE. The largest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

New Kingdom ( BC) Hyksos Dominion/conquerors Most powerful state in Middle East Amenhotep, a.k.a. Akhenaten tries to make Egypt monotheistic Ramesses II restores Kindgom of Egypt … Film Clip Here…

V.History of “Palestinian Territory” A. Ancient Near East 1. What is an “Arab”? 2. Where is Palestine? B. Hebrew People and Canaan 1. Abraham 2. Exodus from Egypt (1700 BC) 3. King Saul and King David ( BC) ( BC) 4. Divided Kingdom – Israel and Judah (922 – 587 BC) (922 – 587 BC)

C. Conquest of Hebrew People 1. Israel and the Assyrians (722 BC) (722 BC) 2. Judah and Babylon (Iraq) (587 BC) (587 BC) 3. Exile of Hebrews in Babylon/Egypt D. Return from Exile of the Hebrews 1. Cyrus the Persian (Iran) 1 st Wave Nehemiah 2. Darius the Persian (Iran) 2 nd Wave Ezra

Discussion of Flood Story Comparison – Religious and Cultural Traditions

VI.Rise of New Empires … A. Assyrian B. Persian Zoroastrianism