Chapter 1 – The Emergence of Civilization 3,700,000 B.C. – 1,200 B.C. Section 1: Prehistoric Peoples Section 2: The Foundations of Civilization

Prehistoric Peoples Objectives: How do anthropologists, historians, and geographers study prehistory? What were the achievements of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon peoples? What important changes did the Neolithic agricultural revolution cause?

Exploring Prehistory Anthropologists are scientist who study the remains of skeletons Hominids are humans and early human-like creatures Archeologists study ancient civilizations Archeological digs produce artifacts Artifacts can be tools, clothing, art work, toys, etc. that were used by early hominids Archeologists use artifacts to determine the type of culture early civilizations had

Exploring Prehistory Continued Donald Johanson Led a team that discovered early human remains in Ethiopia Named the female skeleton “Lucy” See Quote Page 7 Mary Leakey found another skeleton that was similar to Lucy in Tanzania (Video) Prehistory that deals with people using stone tools is called the Stone Age (2.5 Million Years Ago) Divided into three parts Old Stone Age / Paleolithic (Pre-History) Middle Stone Age / Mesolithic (lasted from Pre-History until 10,000 years ago) New Stone Age / Neolithic (lasted until about 4,000 years age)

Early Humans The First People From Anthropologist we know that early humans: Had strong jaw bones, receding chins, low foreheads, and heavy brow ridges They ate seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants Became good hunters Evolved into homo-sapiens between 400K and 100K years ago

Early Humans Continued The Ice Age Over the last 1.7 million years the Earth has had extremely cold periods Each cold period lasted from 20,000 – 140,000 years We live in a “warm era” which started about 10,000 years ago Once the ice melts water receded and land bridges were formed People were able to migrate and farm Video

Early Humans Continued Neanderthal People Lived 35,000 – 130,000 years ago during the Paleolithic Period (video) Tools were becoming more efficient (video) Buried meat and tools with their dead This showed a belief in the afterlife Eventually they disappeared (new group of stronger people conquered or new ice age began) Video

Early Humans Continued Cro-Magnons Appeared in Europe 35,000 years ago Continued improvement of tools We have learned about them from artwork of hunted animals (video) By 10,000 years ago Cro-Magnons were extinct

Agricultural Revolution Mesolithic Age Used fish hooks, bow and arrow, fish spears, harpoons made from bone People tamed dogs for hunting Used canoes People were still nomadic Neolithic Age Began to use chipped stone and wood instead of bones for tools People began to settle down and produce agriculture They also began to domesticate animals SEE CHART PAGE 9 It was a long process of progress for humans that is why it is called the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution

The Foundations of Civilization 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?

Characteristics of a Civilization Four main regions where civilizations began Huang (Yellow) River Valley – China Nile River Valley – Egypt Tigris and Euphrates River – Middle East (Iraq and Iran) Indus River Valley – India Three main characteristics of a civilization People produce a surplus of food People establish large towns or cities with some form of government People perform different jobs in the civilization

Characteristics of a Civilization Cont. Surplus of Food and Irrigation All four early civilizations had similar problem The river would flood during rainy season The river would dry up during the dry season They learned to use irrigation ditches and retention walls Cities, Government, and Labor Governments made rules to guide peoples behavior As farming improved fewer people were needed to work in the fields Division of Labor were formed where people would learn different skills to make money Artisans (skilled workers) Merchants Traders The spread ideas and other aspects of culture from one area to another is called cultural diffusion

Other Characteristics Two more accomplishments to be a civilization Calendar Most early calendars were lunar Some form of writing (see page 14) Began around 300 B.C.

The River Valley Civilizations The use of metals 6,000 years ago copper was used in the Middle East and Egypt Bronze eventually took over the use of copper Bronze marked the end of the Stone Age and began the Bronze age The Bronze Age came to an end with the use of iron and the Iron Age began

The River Valley Civilizations Family and Religion Women managed the family Made food Made Clothing Made Pottery Weaved Did much of the farming The plow shifted most of the control back to men Men had always been the primary influence in society There were a variety of gods that most people believed in, most dealt with gods of nature