Human Origins

Paleolithic

Civilizations

Neolithic

Paleo= old Lithic= stone

Neo= new Lithic= stone

2.5 million years ago

Ended c 8000 BCE

Prehistory

Before recorded time

Group Structure

Bands of 20-30 people

Nomadic

Food Sources

Hunter/Gatherers

Search for food was their main activity

Men hunter large animals

Technology

Stone tools

Flint for a sharp cutting tool was a big breakthrogh

By the end of the era, were making smaller, sharper tools

Needles for sewing

Climate

Some lived in cold climate

Animal skins to stay warm

Protection from available natural shelters, like caves

Eventually learned how to make their own shelters

Some lived in hot climates

Many lived in caves

Needed protection against attacks from large animals

Fire

Discovered it from friction

Scare away wild animals

Keep warm

Cook food

Language and Art

First era to begin to develop a language

Cave Paintings

Lots of animals, few humans

Ice Ages

Periods of extreme cold

Most recent occurred 100,000 years ago

Exposed land bridge from Asia to North America

Learned new skills

How to have a fattier diet

Sturdier shelters

Led to migration

Post- Ice Age, climate warmed, nomads moved to warmer locations

8000 - 4000 BCE

Agricultural Revolution

Domestication of animals (for meat, milk and wool)

Slow switch from hunting/gathering to farming

Produce a constant food supply

Population grows at a faster rate

Southwest Asia c 8000 BCE Northern China c 6000 BCE Nile Valley c 4000BCE Western Hemisphere c 7000-5000 BCE

Communities

Villages with permanent homes

Earliest Communities

Jericho (Israel/Jordan) 8000 BCE

Catalhuyuk (Turkey) 6700-5700 BCE

Shrines

More workers become available

Food surplus

Trade

Specialization of jobs

Roles of men and women change

Technology

Farming tools

Bronze Age (3000-1200 BCE)

4 Great River Valley Civilizations Arise c 3000 BCE

Mesopotamia

India

China

Egypt

Arise at river valleys

Mesopotamia

Fertile land for farming

Fresh water and fish

Encourages easy trade

Technology

Meso= between Potamia= two rivers

Similar Characteristics/ Elements of Civilizations

Government

Religion

Social Structure

Writing and Art

Monarchies

Armies

Control food supplies

Building projects

Explains the forces of nature

Explains humans' role in the eorld

Ceremonies performed by priests

Monarchs claim approval of the gods

Organized into groups

Defined by work, wealth and power

Bottom were the slaves, usually captured from enemies during war

To keep accurate records and record history

Enjoyment

Tigris River

Euphrates River

Fertile Crescent

Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan

Irrigation canals and dams to control seasonal flooding

Food surplus from Agricultural Revolution

Mesopotamian Civilizations

Sumer

Government

Religion

Writing and Art

Social Structure

Location

Oldest cities: Ur, Uruk, and Eridu

Independent city-states due to harsh landscape isolation

Protected by large stone walls

Buildings

Ruler's palace

Temples

Individual rulers

sometimes cities would go to war with each other

Polytheistic

Each god had influence over a different aspect of life

People honored whichever god would help their activity

Ziggurats

Started out with priests ruling with the help of important men

Eventually became monarchies

First kings were probably war heroes

Eventually became hereditary

Upper class was kings, priests, warriors and government officials

Middle class was merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans (was the biggest group)

Lowest class was the enslaved people, criminals, and people who had debts

Men and women have different roles

Economy

Farmers made up most of the population

Trade was important

Skilled metal workers

The earliest known writing system, Cuneiform

Scribes

Clay tablets for writing

Oldest know written story, The Epic of Gilgamesh

Technology

Were the first to use the wheel

Developed the sailboat for river travel

Studied mathematics and astronomy

The 60 minute hour, the 60 second minute and the 360 degree circle are all Sumerian ideas

12 month calendar