Emergence of Emergence of CivilizationCivilization

Unit 1Chapter 1

Objectives:

Understand the characteristics of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic Eras

Understand the agricultural revolution and how its development led to the “Beginnings of Civilization.”

Know the characteristics of early civilizations.

BCE means “Before Common Era.” It is the same thing as B.C. (Before Christ).

After the year 0 scientists use the term CE for Common Era. It is the same as A.D. (Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord).

6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1000 2000

Before Common Era (BCE) Common Era (CE)

Years

Terms to Know

PRE-HISTORY Period before writing was invented

used pottery, buildings, bones, etc...to determine our best guess as to what life was like for them

ARTIFACTS objects studied by archaeologists,

shaped by humans, used to make our best guess of what life was like

tools, pottery, weapons, toys.

Terms to Know

Technology A change in thinking and

practice about how we do something to become more efficient and productive with less effort.

Culture The unique way that people

live

Terms to Know

ARCHAEOLOGISTS scientists who analyze ARTIFACTS left by early people try to piece together what life was like

Three step process of gathering and analyzing 1 - find site 2 - start digging 3 - analyze artifacts found

a - determine location within/around a structure b - determine age of the artifact

Vore Buffalo Jump

ANTHROPOLOGY study of cultures, to gain a better understanding of their lives and

things that effected them.

Stone Age Peoples

Stone Age - Period when people used simple tools made of stone (arrow heads, axe heads) before writing was invented

Old Stone Age - Paleolithic

New Stone Age – Mesolithic & Neolithic

Stone Age Peoples

Old Stone Age

Paleolithic Era

‘Paleo’ means Old Stone

Started about 2.5 Million years ago.

Africa, China, Asia, Europe, and Americas

Old Stone Age PeoplesCharacteristics

Nomadic Move with and in search of food Fished, hunted, gathered plants,

roots, fruits, nuts and seeds. Travel in groups of related families No permanent shelters

lived in caves and lean-tos Some organizational structures limited spoken languages Wore animal skins

Old Stone Age Peoples

Learned to control fire light, cooking, protection and warmth

Simple tools start to become more specialized Used bone & stone chipped to make

sharp edges needles, axes, fish hooks, arrow heads,

spear points

Old Stone Age Peoples

Some basic religious beliefs but no real structure

Cave drawings could help a hunt be productive

Burying dead with food – Belief in an afterlife

End of Paleolithic Era/Old Stone Age

Marked by the end of the last Ice Age

Glaciers start to melt and move back towards the poles

Land bridges become covered with water as the oceans start to fill back up

Believed to be the way in which people first came to this continent from Africa and Europe, following herds

Changed the climate of many areas, deserts appeared with new plants

New Stone Age Peoples

Stone Age Mesolithic Era

‘Meso’ meaning middleLasted about 10,000 years

18,000 B.C.E. to 8000 B.C.E.

Africa, China, Asia, Europe, Americas and Middle East (Mesopotamia)

New Stone Age Peoples

Mesolithic Era Developed the Bow and Harpoons Tamed dogs, used for hunting of

small animals Built canoes from hollowed out

logsCross large riversFish in deep waters

New Stone Age Peoples

Neolithic Era ‘Neo’ meaning New Lasted about 4000 years

8000 B.C.E. to 3500 B.C.E.

Started grinding and polishing tools to sharper points and edges

New Stone Age Peoples

Agricultural Revolution Change from hunting and moving to

farming Domesticated Animals – For work and

food Dogs, Sheep, goats and pigs

Women farmed, men hunted Permanent settlements

Villages Built houses

Some remained hunters & gatherers and nomadic

New Stone Age Peoples

Growth of political structure Council of Elders

Make decisions Settle disputes

Developed more complete spoken languages

Specialized tools Hoes – Granite Cloth – Wool Nets for fishing Pottery for cooking

New Stone Age Peoples

Used animals for work Oxen to pull plows

fertilizers

Work more land, harvest more crops

Support larger population

Simple religions based upon nature Gods control the forces of nature

Polytheistic – the belief in more than one god

New Stone Age Peoples

Transportation Improvements Wheel is invented

improved land transportation replaced the wooden sleds

Sails for water transportation Quicker, more efficient means of travel

Metals used Copper is the first Bronze

mix of copper and tin - stronger metal

New Stone Age Peoples

By 3000 B.C.E. all of these inventions and items are in use in some part of the world, BUT NOT ALL.

Change in the way people lived and survived

Brings more technological advances

Emergence of Civilization

CIVITAS - Latin word meaning 'cities‘

Cities emerge at the end of the Neolithic era

First Civilizations develops in four different areas independently of each other.

5 Characteristics of Civilization

1- Surplus of Food

2- Complex Institutions More complex government and religious High level of cooperation for the benefit of

the group Technology Advances

3- Division of Labor Different people doing different jobs Creates a class of skilled worked called

Artisans Merchants and Traders

5 Characteristics of Civilization

4- Writing - Record Keeping Priests were the first to start using marks or drawings

which evolved into writing Needed to keep track of when to do important

ceremonies and rituals to keep the gods happy A sacrifice at the wrong time could ruin a crop Scribes –

Those who mastered the writing and reading of the symbols – Keep Secretive

Government Births, deaths, taxes

Ownership, marriages, business contracts, etc..

Became a way to pass down traditions, learning, wisdom, information, ideas and religious beliefs

Characteristics of Civilization

5- Calendar – at first, based on the moon for growing season

Needed to know when river would flood

Time from flood to flood was a year Time from full moon to next full

moon was a month Not completely accurate – about 11

days off

GROWTH OF CITIES

4 Areas of the world develop independently of each other1. Valley of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers - Middle East

2. Valley of the Nile River in Africa – Egypt

3. Indus River Valley in South Asia – India

4. Yellow River Valley East Asia - China

• All Develop around Rivers• Fertile soil

• Rivers consistently flood every year• Bring moisture to the land• Can be used for Transportation and food

• Fish and animals

GROWTH OF CITIES – Govt.

• Construction projects increased as number of people increased

• Organized projects

• Clear land for farming

• Irrigation systems for dry times of the year

• Temples and palaces

• Defense of cities from invaders- increased size and power of government

Religion

POLYTHEISTIC - Belief in many Gods and Goddesses that control the forces of nature Believed in spirits Believed that the Gods controlled forces of

nature Gave sacrifices to win the gods favor and get

peace, good harvests, rainfall, etc. Gave thanks to Gods when the outcome was

favorable Wanted to keep the Gods happy

Priests gained power because they carried out the rituals to keep the gods happy

Powerful positions in the governments

Religion

THEOCRACY - Government controlled by a church or religion Military leaders worked in conjunction

with priests to keep the gods happy and provided a defense against enemies

Military leaders increased in power Became judges, made laws, supervised

building projects Collected taxes - earliest system of

taxation Labor for construction projects Part of harvest Used to pay for government and building

projects

Economy and Society Technology was important

made work easier, faster and more efficient Bronze Age - Vessels, tool, weapons, longer lasting Farming improved

Develop use of irrigation through ditches and canals Fewer farms needed Excess food used for trading with merchants for goods

Barter Economy - Trading goods or services for something you need

Creates a demand for more specialized skills and goods Still used to some extent today

Social structure starts to change Social Classes - Defines a persons place in society Movement between classes

THEN --> No movement – born there die there NOW --> Movement is possible but still hard

Social Classes

Kids generally took over parents profession or occupation

Artisans - People with a specialized skill or trade

Indentured Servants People working off debts

Family

Women managed the family Cared for children, prepared food, made clothing Probably invented weaving and pottery making Probably discovered plants could be grown from

seeds Increased women’s power and status as primary food

provider Lead to the Agricultural Revolution and drastic change

in the way people lived.

As technology increased men became the primary food providers and primary authorities in society

Important Point to Note

Although civilization developed in different areas and at different times there was still limited contact between them Trading Migration Wars Brought a spread of ideas, skills,

and a diversity of culture – Cultural Diffusion

The End