1. (Review) The First Humans: Nomadic Peoples to Civilizations
The First Civilizations: The Peoples of Western Asia and Egypt
(Review) The First Civilizations: Ancient India
The First Civilizations: Ancient China
The Civilization of the Greeks
World History Chapter 1

2. First Humans (Review)

3. First Humans (Review)
Paleolithic period: The earliest humans learned to use tools, make and use fire, and adapt to their physical environment. Although their main occupation was the finding of food, they developed a culture that included sophisticated cave paintings.
The Neolithic Revolution: Around 10,000 b.c., people learned to grow grains and domesticate animals, so that they were able to settle in permanent communities. These communities gradually evolved into more complex societies.
Emergence of civilizations: Various civilizations began to appear around 3000 b.c., when increased food production led to a growth in population and, consequently, to the growth of cities and development of organized governments.

4. First Humans (Review)
Neolithic Revolution was a turning point in human society because it allowed people to settle in stable communities, and it allowed populations to grow because there was sufficient food, leading to the first true civilizations.

5. Writing systems needed to:
keep records of trade
communicate laws
preserve culture and history
Early civilizations built their monuments on such a large scale to:
honor their gods
show how powerful they were

6. World Civilizations Timeline

7. The First Civilizations:
The Peoples of Western Asia and Egypt

8. The Peoples of Western Asia

9. The First Civilizations:
Mesopotamia and Egypt: People in these regions built the first civilizations, developing cities and organized states, inventing writing and record keeping, building great monuments, and creating political, military, social, and religious systems.
Smaller states: After the decline of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, smaller states dominated the region, including those of the Phoenicians, who created a trading empire and alphabet, and the Israelites, who left a spiritual legacy of monotheism.
Assyrians and Persians: The Assyrian Empire used military force to unite almost all of the Middle East. It was succeeded by the Persian Empire, which brought peace and prosperity to the Middle East.

10. Ancient Mesopotamia History
The word Mesopotamia means "the land between rivers". When people say Mesopotamia they are referring to a section of land in the Middle East between and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Today this land is located mostly in the country of Iraq. There are also portions in southwestern Iran, southeastern Turkey, and northeastern Syria.
Ancient Mesopotamia History

11. Early settlers in Mesopotamia started to gather in small villages and towns. As they learned how to irrigate land and grow crops on large farms, the towns grew bigger. Eventually these towns became large cities. New inventions such as government and writing were formed to help keep order in the cities. The first human civilization was formed.
Sumer - The Sumerians were the first humans to form a civilization. They invented writing and government. They were organized in city-states where each city had its own independent government ruled by a king that controlled the city and the surrounding farmland. Each city also had its own primary god. Sumerian writing, government, and culture would pave the way for future civilizations.
Akkadians - The Akkadians came next. They formed the first united empire where the city-states of the Sumer were united under one ruler. The Akkadian language replaced the Sumerian language during this time. It would be the main language throughout much of the history of Mesopotamia.
Babylonians - The city of Babylon became the most powerful city in Mesopotamia. Throughout the history of the region, the Babylonians would rise and fall. At times the Babylonians would create vast empires that ruled much of the Middle East. The Babylonians were the first to write down and record their system of law.
Assyrians - The Assyrians came out of the northern part of Mesopotamia. They were a warrior society. They also ruled much of the Middle East at different times over the history of Mesopotamia. Much of what we know about the history of Mesopotamia comes from clay tablets found in Assyrian cities.
Persians - The Persians put an end to the rule of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. They conquered much of the Middle East including Mesopotamia.

12. World Civilizations Timeline✓

13. The Peoples of Egypt

15. Ancient Egypt Introduction

16. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact
Sphinx: a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human

17. King Tut is chiefly known for his intact tomb, discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in Since then, his remains have held millions in awe over the mystery of his life and death.
Mini Bio: King Tut

18. Building the large scale
Worksheet

19. India
Caste System
Aryan Invasion
Hindu Religion
Reincarnation

20. World Civilizations Timeline✓

21. Ancient China

22. Wangfujing Street

23. The Forbidden City 100— Part 1: Between heaven and earth

24. Confucius, China’s most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, whose ideas have influenced the civilization of East Asia.

25. Home learning: Research: Shang and Zhou dynasties
Major schools of thought: Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism
Qin and Han dynasties