the first civilizations
DESCRIPTION
8,000 B.C.E.- 2,000 B.C.E. The First Civilizations. Early Humans: Paleolithic. Essential Question: What characterized the life of a Paleolithic human?. Tools of Discovery. What we know about the earliest people comes from what they left behind Archaeologists Anthropologists - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS
8,000 B.C.E.- 2,000 B.C.E.
Early Humans: Paleolithic Essential Question:
What characterized the life of a Paleolithic human?
Tools of Discovery What we know about the earliest
people comes from what they left behindArchaeologistsAnthropologistsArtifacts from settlements such as
weapons and tools
Hunter Gatherers Early humans spent most of their time
searching for foodHunted animalsCaught fishGathered fruits, nuts, berries, grains, plantsEventually developed spears, traps, bows and
arrows Nomads
Followed their foodGroups of 30 or lessMen and women performed different tasks
Adapting to the Environment The way people lived depended on their
environmentWarm Climate: little clothing or shelterCold Climate: caves and shelter made out of
animal hides Fire!
Warmth
Scare away animalsCook meat (easier to digest)Smoke meat (lasts longer)
Invention of Tools Used flint (hard stone) to make tools Over time, people grew more skilled
at making toolsFishhooksNeedles
Making Connections 1. Explain why Paleolithic people were nomads.
Paleolithic people were nomads because they were hunters and gatherers. They would move from place to place in search of food.
2. Why was the ability to make fire so important to
Paleolithic people? The ability to make fire was so important to Paleolithic people
because they could both cook and smoke their meat. They could also use the fire for warmth and to scare away animals.
3. Answer the Essential Question: What characterized the
life of a Paleolithic human? The life of a Paleolithic human involved adapting to the
environment, hunting and gathering, using fire and making stone tools to help with daily tasks.
Paleolithic Cave Paintings
Early Humans: Neolithic Essential Question:
What led to the formation of villages in the Neolithic Period?
Neolithic Times After the last ice age, people began to
domesticate plants and animals Animals
Provided milk, meat, wool, carried goods and pulled carts
PlantsPeople could stay in one place and grow their
food ***Gradually, farming replaced hunting and gathering***
Growth of Villages Earliest known communities found in
the Middle East Catal Huyuk (6,000 B.C.E.)
6,000 peopleMud-brick houses
Benefits of a Settled Life Brought greater security Steady food supply
Bigger population = More workers to produce a bigger cropTrade inside and outside their communities
SpecializationMore food and better farming tools meant people had time
to develop other skillsMade pottery, mats, cloth, etc.
MetalCopper was melted down and poured into molds for tools
and weaponsTin mixed with copper to make stronger metal called
bronze = Bronze Age!
Making Connections 1. How did domesticating animals and
farming help the Neolithic people?
2. Answer the Essential Question: What led to the formation of villages in the Neolithic period?
Mesopotamian Civilization Essential Question:
How was the geography of Mesopotamia suited for the growth of population and the creation of a civilization?
RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
Governments are formed to make plans, decisions
and laws
Goods and ideas are spread
River travel makes trade
easier
Specialization
More time to think about other things
Good farming conditions
Easy to feed large numbers
of people
River Valley Civilizations
The Rise of Sumer A.K.A.
Mesopotamia – “the land between two rivers” Location
Southern Iraq The Fertile Crescent Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate Hot, dry, rivers flood in the spring leaving rich soil behind Flooding is unpredictable
Claim to Fame Earliest known civilization Farmers learned to control flooding by using irrigation to water crops By 3,000 B.C.E., many cities rose in the area invented cuneiform 12 month calendar
Religious Beliefs Many gods that had control over natural forces or human activities priests, priestesses and ziggurats
Life in Sumer Social Hierarchy
Civilizations Cities Organized governments Art Religion Class divisions Writing system
Hammurabi Ruled city of Babylon on the
Euphrates River
Center of tradeBegan conquering other cities = empire
Code of LawsForced everyone in Babylon to obey the
same lawsKnown as the “Code of Hammurabi”
Making Connections 1. What is a civilization?
2. What was the Code of Hammurabi?
3. Answer the Essential Question: How was the geography of Mesopotamia well suited to for the growth of a population and the creation of a civilization?
The First Empires Essential Question:
How did the Assyrians set up a well organized government?
The Assyrians Built vast empire on the Tigris River by 650
B.C.E. Well organized army
Foot soldiersBows and arrowsChariot riders
Learned to make stronger weapons out of iron ore from the Hittites
Anyone who resisted Assyrian rule was punished
A Well Organized Government Powerful Kings Divided up empire into provinces
governed by officials Excellent system of roads
TradingMilitary use
Harsh punishments for breaking lawsRebellion led to downfall around 612
B.C.E.
The Chaldeans (605 B.C.E. – 562 B.C.E.)
Led by King Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt city of Babylon as the world’s
largest and richest city Hanging Gardens of Babylon Created one of the first sundials and had
a seven day week Empire fell as they were captured by the
Persians
Making Connections 1. Answer the Essential Question: How
did the Assyrians set up a well organized government?