Human Prehistory to Early Civilization & Classical China

and India

Presented by: Carmen Phu and Sharon Pearlnath

Paleolithic vs Neolithic

● Lifestyle: sedentary

● Governance: military and

religious leaders

● Economy: ownership for

land, livestock, tools

● Tools: polished stone tools

● Achievements: agriculture

and tools with polished

stones

● Lifestyle: nomadic

● Governance: tribal society

● Economy: no concept of

private property

● Tools: chipped stone tools

and wooden weapons

● Achievements: fire and

rough stone tools

Acient Civilizations

MesopotamiaLocation● Tigris River● Euphrates River

Cities(to remember)● Babylon ● Ur

Government ● ruled by priest at first● kings ruled later

Social Class

● Upper Class, Middle Class, Lower Class

Religion

● Polytheism

Writing System

● cuneiform

Indus River Valley Location ● Indus River● Today Pakistan

cities● Mohenjio-Daro● Harappa● Both had fertile flood plains

Achievements

● plastic surgery

● wells and bathrooms

● underground drainage system

Nile River Valley

Geography● The NileCities● Memphis ● ThebesGovernment● Theocracy● Pharaoh was a ruler-

priest and a git

Social Class● Pharaoh● Priest and nobles● traders,scribes&farmers● unskilled workers● slavesReligion● Polytheism Writing System● hieroglyphics

huanghe(yellow river)● Isolated, little overland trading● History part fact/fiction● State organized irrigation● Elaborate intellectual life

o Writing – knotted ropes, scratches of lines, ideographic symbols

o Delicate art, musical interesto Limited materials – basic housing

Religions

Confucianism

● li● filal piety● appeal to the masses and the educated● promote harmony

Daoism

● appealed to upper class● accepted by emperors● encouraged respect for nature● influenced art and literature

Legalism

● favored an authoritarian state ruled by force

● never gained widespread approval

Hinduism

● Rig-Veda and Upanishads● Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva● Dharma● reincarnation until moksha

Buddhism

● Four noble truths● Eightfold path● enlightenment and nirvana● support of Ashoka (Mauryan dynasty)