Grab your folder and you need paper for

notes!

Historiography:

The writing of history based on the critical examination

of sources.

What is history?

Tale, story A chronological

record Records and explains

past events Can be viewed from

many angles: political, economic, social, cultural, etc.

Sources in History

Primary Sources – an eyewitness to history Diary, journal Laws, court cases Artifacts, art

Secondary Sources – second-hand account Biography Textbooks

Is a newspaper article a primary source?

NO!!

Bias

Prejudiced outlook Writers demonstrate bias

through Emphasis on events,

repetition Omission of information or

events, points of view

Point of View

The influence of the author’s background, standing, or purpose

Who is the author and why does he think or emphasize what he does?

“History is written by the winner.”

Is this statement true or false? Is history absolute?

DatingUsed to use B.C. and A.D.Now, we use BCE and CE

BCE means before common era CE means common era

Centuries When you hear “17th century,” what years

are we referring to?a. 1800-1899

b. 1700-1799

c. 1600-1699

d. 1500-1599

Texas A&M Century Tree- Gig ‘em!

• Remember, whatever number the century is, the years in the century will actually start with the number before

• Ex. The 18th century includes the year 1728

Development of Early Civilization

From hunting-gathering to the Neolithic Revolution

Hunting and Gathering

Use wild animals and plants for food.

Migrate seasonally (nomadic)

Live in family or tribal groups.

Advantages The land supplies whatever is needed.

Movement is easier when food is scarce.

Life encourages cooperation and language skills.

Special weapons and tools develop for hunting and digging up plants.

Disadvantages People are always

searching for new food sources.

It is more difficult to store food.

People must carry everything along when traveling.

Only simple social organization was possible.

Neolithic Revolution

Possible cause could be climate change Rising temperatures = longer

growing seasons More food = population boom

Raise herds of tame animals. Plant seeds and raise crops.

Domestication Live in permanent settlements.

Last Ice Age

Analysis: What is this chart saying?

Advantages Crops provide a reliable food supply.

Population grows as life becomes more complex.

Societies become more complex.

Trade increases and commerce develops.

Division of labor allows workers to specialize.

Disadvantages

Crop failures due to weather or pests cause famines.

Floods, fire, or even raiders could destroy villages.

Disease spreads easily when people live together.

To summarize…

The Neolithic Revolution: Was a fundamental shift in human society from

hunting-gathering for survival to agriculture. Included domestication of plants and animals Led to civilizations!***

I’m farming and I grow it

Civilization: A complex culture

with five basic characteristics: S- Specialized workers C- Complex institutions A- Advanced cities A- Advanced

technology R- Record keeping

Specialized Workers—workers who specialize in a specific skill Food surpluses allowed

for specialization Artisans – workers with

a specific, valuable skill Examples: priests,

metalworkers, scribes, soldiers, teachers, weavers, merchants, gov’t officials, farmers

Complex InstitutionsUsed to maintain order among people.

Government and laws created by them Ancient Babylon had

“Hammurabi’s Code” World’s first uniform

code of law Applied to all who lived in

Babylon Ancient Egypt had a

“Theocracy”—Religious Government Pharaoh—God-King

Complex Institutions

Religion Ziggurats in

Mesopotamia were used for… Religious

ceremonies Pyramids in Egypt

were used for… Burying Pharaohs

Education systems

Advanced Cities

A city is a large group of people living together…like, duh!

The 1st cities were… Centers of trade for a

region

Advanced Technology—new tools and techniques that solve problems OR make life easier.

Examples: Wheel Pottery Plow Sailboat Metal weapons and tools

Record Keeping—a written language

Scribes—professional record keepers (the only dudes who

could read and write)

Where did Record Keeping begin? Mesopotamia

Cuneiform— “wedge-shaped”

Record Keeping…Continued

Later on… In Egypt

Hieroglyphics Used pictures for

objects and ideas What allows us to

translate Egyptian hieroglyphics into modern languages? The Rosetta Stone

Civilization: A complex culture

with five basic characteristics: S- Specialized workers C- Complex institutions A- Advanced cities A- Advanced

technology R- Record keeping