Geography and History

Ancient Chapter 1, Section 1

The Iceman of the Alps

• In 1991, two hikers discovered the Iceman’s body in a mountain pass in the Alps, on the Italian-Austrian border in Europe.

• Scientists studied the thousands-old body and his possessions.– Provided clues about his life and death

• Scientists determined the Iceman lived about 5,000 years ago in 3,000 B.C.– His clothes were made of finely stitched animal

skins.• Probably came from a community with people skilled

in sewing

The Iceman of the Alps

Otzi’s discovery

Otzi’s body

The Iceman of the Alps

The Iceman of the Alps• The most important clue about the Iceman’s life

was his copper ax.• Copper was the first metal used by Europeans,

beginning about 4,000 B.C.– There was no doubt the Iceman lived after people

had learned to use copper.• Ten years after the discovery of the Iceman,

scientists discovered an important clue to the story of the Iceman’s death.– found an arrowhead lodged in his chest– previously thought he had fallen asleep and froze

to death• Scientists now believe the Iceman died from

being shot by an arrow.

Otzi’s copper ax

Arrowhead

The Iceman of the Alps

Understanding History

• About 5,000 years ago, people from southwest Asia and Africa developed systems of writing.– They began to keep records of their

experiences.• That was the beginning of history

recorded events of people• Prehistory before history– This was the period of time in the past

before writing was invented.• How can we learn about the people who

lived before written history?

Prehistory: Digging Up the Past

• To learn about life in prehistoric times, scientists must rely on clues other than written records.

• Archaeologists examine objects to learn about past people and cultures– They sift through the dirt of prehistoric

camps to find bones, tools, and other objects.• These objects may tell them something about

the people who lived there.

History: A Record in Writing

• Historians do not have to rely on the objects discovered by archaeologists to learn about the past.

• They study the written record of human life and accomplishments to understand a society – wars, religion, rulers, etc.

• Historians also look at what other groups living at the same time wrote about that society.

Oral Traditions: A Record in the Spoken Word

• The written records historians often studied often began as oral traditions stories passed down by word of mouth.– Can tell family history, stories about heroes or

events in the past

• Not all oral stories are historically accurate.– Myths and legends mix facts with beliefs and

exaggerations about heroes.– Still, oral traditions tell about how a society

lived and what the people considered important.

Linking Geography with History

• Knowing the connection between geography and history is often the key to understanding why events happened.

• Ancient Egyptian example:– They were a successful civilization because they

built on the banks of the great Nile River. Each year, the Nile flooded, depositing rich black soil on its banks.

– This assisted farmers who could grow enough to feed the large population.

– Everyone did not have to farm and could do other things to develop the civilization.

– Without the Nile flooding, Egyptian civilization would not have become so successful.

Ancient Egypt

The Iceman of the Alps

• Otzi, the Iceman