EARLY MAN to First Civilizations

Paleolithic Period and Neolithic Period

The Paleolithic Period 2.5 Million BCE to 12000 BCE ish

(Before the Common Era)

• Humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, & the Americas

• Used fire in new ways• Used wider range of tools • Humans were hunter – gatherers

– (1 square mile needed to support two people

• Economic structures focused on kinship groups (family and clan)

Archeologists interpret remains to describe early man.

The “Ice Man”

The Ice Man?

Due Tomorrow: Read the “Iceman” article by Leon Jaroff –from my website-- & write responses

to the following questions in your notebook.

1. Who wrote the source? When? Who is the intended audience?

2. What are the beliefs about early man that the Iceman changed?

3. What is the main idea or thesis of this article? 4. Jaroff gives some explanations for the tattoos

on the prehistoric man. What are several other possible explanations for the tattoos purpose or location?

5. Give characteristics or elements of this article that make the article seem reliable as a source.

MesoamericaMesoamerica

AndesAndes AmazoniaAmazonia

Eastern North AmericaEastern North America

New GuineaNew Guinea

ChinaChina

EthiopiaEthiopia

WestWestAfricaAfrica

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

In response to warming climates, from about In response to warming climates, from about 10,000 years ago, SETTLED AGRICULTURE 10,000 years ago, SETTLED AGRICULTURE

appeared in a number of places.appeared in a number of places...

Nile valleyNile valley

Settled Agriculture led to what is called

the Neolithic Revolution • Neolithic Revolution is the period known

for changes in human societies caused by agriculture and pastoralism (herding of animals)

How did people learn to farm and domesticate animals?

The Neolithic Revolution transformed societies

Changes to the environment

Increased population

More complex economies and social systems

• Patriarchy & forced labor systems• Specialization of labor (including artisans &

warriors)• More hierarchical social structures (elites and

commoners)

- Improvements in agricultural production, trade, & transportation

Wheeled vehicles

Pottery

Plows

Woven textilesMetallurgy

Domestication of Plants and AnimalsDomestication of Plants and Animals

FarmingFarming

Surplus FoodSurplus Food SpecializationSpecializationPopulationPopulation

IntensificationIntensification

Complex Society,Complex Society,also known asalso known asCIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

15

Elements of civilization include:Elements of civilization include:

Mohenjo Daro

Hammurabi’sLaw Code

It’s thelaw

Pharaohs

1)1) CitiesCities

2) Central governments 2) Central governments And Law codesAnd Law codes

16

1)1) CitiesCities

2) Central governments 2) Central governments and law codesand law codes

Elements of Civilization include:Elements of Civilization include:

Can you identifyCan you identify the societythe societyrepresentedrepresented

by each of these two by each of these two writing samples?writing samples?

3) Writing and 3) Writing and record keepingrecord keeping

4) Highly organized religions4) Highly organized religions

17

3) Writing and 3) Writing and record keepingrecord keeping

4) Highly organized 4) Highly organized religionreligion

5) Specialized Jobs5) Specialized Jobs

Full-time monk

Assyrian slavesIn Egypt

6) Social Classes6) Social Classes

1)1) CitiesCities

2) Central Governments 2) Central Governments and law codesand law codes

Elements of Civilization include:Elements of Civilization include:

18

7) Complex 7) Complex TechnologiesTechnologies

Chariot5) Specialized jobs5) Specialized jobs

6) Social classes6) Social classes

Bronze Sword

3) Writing and 3) Writing and record keepingrecord keeping

4) Highly organized 4) Highly organized religionreligion

1)1) CitiesCities

2) Central governments 2) Central governments and law codesand law codes

Elements of Civilization include:Elements of Civilization include:

Early River Valley Civilizations

Is civilization more “civilized”?

Agricultural settlements led to achievements, but also. . .

• Population increases

• Stronger Patriarchy & Slavery

• Rigid social classes

• War

• Increased dependence on agriculture

So . . .• If a society is not a “civilization,” with

cities, complex institutions and record keeping, what is that society?– Barbarian?– Uncivilized?– Outsiders?– Backward or Unimportant?

• How that society is described depends on the INTERPRETATION of the archeologist and/or historian!