AP World History Chapter 1 Before History 1

Forming the Complex Society Basic development: – Hunting and foraging – Agriculture – Complex society Key issue: surplus capital Major development of first complex societies 3500 B.C.E. – 500 B.C.E

3 Prehistory What is “history”? Documentation – Written records – Archaeological discovery Requisite human presence (or “natural” history) Moai statues in Polynesia Stonehenge 2400 BCE Cuneiform writing

4 Development of Hominids Animals adapt themselves to environment Hominids adapt environment to themselves – Use of tools – Language – Complex cooperative social structures

5 Australopithecus “The southern ape” – despite name, a hominid Discovery of skeleton, north of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Nicknamed “Lucy” 3’5”, 55lb., bipedal, brain 500 cc (modern human: 1400 cc), limited speech but opposable digit Lucy Million years old

6 Later Hominids Homo erectus, “upright walking human” – Larger brain capacity (1000 cc), improved tool use, control of fire, ability to communicate complex ideas Homo sapiens, “consciously thinking human” – Largest brain, esp. frontal regions – Most sophisticated tools and social organization; flexible language Migrations of Homo erectus and Homo sapiens

7 Global Migrations of Homo erectus and Homo sapiens

8 The Natural Environment By 13,000 B.C.E., Homo sapiens in every inhabitable part of the world Archaeological finds: – Sophisticated tools Choppers, scrapers, axes, knives, bows, arrows Cave and hut-like dwellings Use of fire, animal skins Hunted several mammal species to extinction – Climatic change may have accelerated process

Paleolithic Era (“Old Stone Age”) Evidence: – Archaeological finds – evolved from modern hunter-gatherer societies Nomadic existence precludes advanced civilization – Division of labor along gender lines 9

10 Relative Social Equality Nomadic culture precludes accumulation of land-based wealth – Relatively egalitarian (equal) existence – More likely determinants of status: age, hunting skill, fertility, personality – Possible gender equality related to food production – Men: protein from hunting – Women: plant gathering

11 Big-Game Hunting Evidence of intelligent coordination of hunting expeditions – Development of weaponry – Animal-skin disguises – Stampeding tactics Lighting of fires, etc., to drive game into kill zones Required planning, communication

12 Paleolithic Settlements Natufian society – Modern Israel and Jordan – Wild wheat, herding Jomon society – Japan – Wild buckwheat, fishing Chinook society – Pacific northwest – Berries, acorns, salmon runs Groups of 1000 or more

13 Neandertal Peoples Neander valley, western Germany Flourished in Europe and southwest Asia, 200,000 to 35,000 years ago Also found in Africa, east Asia Evidence of spirituality: ritual burial Inhabited some of the same areas as Homo sapiens

14 Creativity of Homo sapiens flexible languages for communication of complex ideas Increased variety of tools – stone blades, spear throwers, sewing needles, barbed harpoons Fabricated ornamental beads, necklaces and bracelets The bow and arrow – a dramatic improvement in humans’ power over nature “Venus” figurines Cave paintings

15 Neolithic Era (“New Stone Age”) Distinction in tool production – Chipped vs. polished Relied on cultivation for subsistence – Men: herding animals rather than hunting – Women: nurturing vegetation rather than foraging Spread of agriculture – Slash-and-burn techniques – Exhaustion of soil promotes migration – Transport of crops from one region to another

16 Origins and Early Spread of Agriculture

17 Agriculture and Population Growth ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Early Agricultural Society Emergence of villages and towns Discoveries at Çatal Hüyük – a prominent village located in Turkey, occupied B.C.E. – Pots, baskets, textiles, leather, stone, metal tools, wood carvings, carpets, beads, and jewelry Development of crafts – pottery, metallurgy, and textile production 18 Catul Huyuk

19 Social Distinctions Accumulation of landed wealth initiates development of social classes Individuals could trade surplus food for valuable items Archaeological evidence in variety of household decorations, goods buried with deceased members of society at Çatal Hüyük

20 Neolithic Culture Farmers closely observed the natural world – an early kind of applied science Elements of natural environment essential for functioning Archaeological evidence of religious worship: thousands of clay figurines, drawings on pots, tool decorations, other ritual objects – Fertility: Venus figurines

21 The Origins of Urban Life Craft specialization Social stratification Governance Cultural workers Development of the city – a gradual process