The Development of Civilization

It couldn’t have happened without PLANTS!!!

What is the approximate age of the Earth?

• Scientist estimate the age of the Earth to be approximately 4.54 billions years.

• Plants appeared around 450 million years ago • Flowering plants appeared around 65 million

years ago• Hominids (thought to be the ancestor of

modern man) – 4.4 mya• Modern man – Between 130-250,000 years ago

So what you’re saying is, plants may seem boring but….

• Without plants there would be no oxygen for us to breathe, since photosynthesis is responsible for oxygenating our atmosphere

• Large mammals would not exist (humans included) if not for flowering plants and the calories produced by fruit

• PLANTS ARE IMPORTANT!!!!!

So plants are important, but what did they have to do with the development of

civilization?!?!• To answer that question

we have to go back to the beginning – AFRICA!

Why Africa?

• 1. Lots of scattered trees for protection• 2. Plenty of big game for food• 3. Very little climate change to deal with

(meaning they didn’t need winter clothes )

What allowed modern man to evolve so ‘quickly’?

• Helpless infants and• children!!!

• A long period of childrearing (made necessary by the helplessness of infants and children) allowed there to be time to pass on the ‘arts of life’. In other words – parents had time to teach their children how to stay alive, to pass on the knowledge gained in their short lives to their offspring.

Paleolithic Man

• During the time of Paleolithic Man this meant mastering the art of making tools to make life easier.

• Men hunted and women gathered food• They were incredibly knowledgable about

their surroundings

Still not sure what this has to do with plants and civilization? Hang on…we’ll get there

• Over time two distinct groups evolved – those that followed the herds of animals to hunt them (hunters) and those that chose to stay in one area and cultivate the food that attracted the animals.

• Eventually the two began to work together

The Neolithic Period

• As the two groups moved together to areas where food was abundant and life was easier civilizations (which literally means ‘living in the city’) began to develop.

• Pastoralists domesticated plants to be used for food and clothing

• Hunters domesticated animals for the same reason• They stayed put so they could tend their herds and

crops and said good-bye to their nomadic lifestyle

The 7 Characteristics of Civilization

1. Cities2. Religion3. Job Specialization4. Government5. Society of classes6. Trade and economics7. Writing What do each of these

have to do with plants?

What type of impact do plants have on your life? On society? On the economy, both locally

and globally?

• Think about a plant that you feel is important and necessary to civilization. Choose wisely because you're going to be researching and studying this plant for the duration of the semester. Part of your final exam will be to turn in a research project that you worked on all semester. Whenever we cover a new topic you will be asked to find information related to the topic regarding your plant.