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