This year our study of

history will begin in the year 1500

C.E.

But what But what significant human significant human events took place events took place worldwide before worldwide before

1500 C.E.?1500 C.E.?

Although the earth is about Although the earth is about 4.55 billion years old,4.55 billion years old, it was it was just over three million years just over three million years

ago, that historians believe an ago, that historians believe an ape (given the name LUCY) in ape (given the name LUCY) in Africa began to walk on two Africa began to walk on two

legs and took the first step on legs and took the first step on the long road to civilization.the long road to civilization.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/human/human_evolution/mother_of_man1.shtml

Her fossil remains were unearthed in Ethiopia in 1974. This is what Lucy may have looked like.

Based on the carbon dating of Based on the carbon dating of fossils and artifacts, fossils and artifacts, archaeologists believe that archaeologists believe that from about 2 million B.C.E to from about 2 million B.C.E to 10,000 B.C.E, humans lived as 10,000 B.C.E, humans lived as nomadic hunters and nomadic hunters and gatherers.gatherers.

For more information on carbon dating go to:For more information on carbon dating go to:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/first/radiocarbon.html

Then, around 10,000 B.C.E Then, around 10,000 B.C.E humans stopped migrating humans stopped migrating and began to settle in and began to settle in farming communities.farming communities.

It was in these farming It was in these farming communities that humans began communities that humans began to see the need for specialized to see the need for specialized jobs, organized writing systems, jobs, organized writing systems, religion, and government. Over religion, and government. Over a period of 7,000 years, farming a period of 7,000 years, farming communities became more communities became more organized. organized.

Finally around 3200 B.C.E, the oldest known civilization in the world, the Sumerian emerged. The Sumerians developed along the fertile banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern day Iraq.

The Sumerians claim the oldest The Sumerians claim the oldest known writing system in the known writing system in the

world, Cuneiform. Cuneiform is a world, Cuneiform. Cuneiform is a writing system that involves writing system that involves

wedge-shaped symbols carved wedge-shaped symbols carved onto clay tablets.onto clay tablets.

The Egyptian civilization followed The Egyptian civilization followed around 2700 B.C.E. They practiced around 2700 B.C.E. They practiced

mummification, buried their pharaohs mummification, buried their pharaohs in pyramids and created picture-writing in pyramids and created picture-writing

known as hieroglyphics. What else known as hieroglyphics. What else were the Egyptians known for?were the Egyptians known for?

http://www.thebangles.com/extras/extras.asp

The Egyptians settled along the fertile The Egyptians settled along the fertile land along the Nile River in land along the Nile River in

Northeastern Africa.Northeastern Africa.

It was around 2500 B.C.E that It was around 2500 B.C.E that civilizations emerged along the Indus civilizations emerged along the Indus

River in modern day Pakistan. Can you River in modern day Pakistan. Can you think of any new ideas that developed think of any new ideas that developed

in this part of the world?in this part of the world?

Then around 1650 B.C.E. Then around 1650 B.C.E. civilizations developed in China civilizations developed in China

along the Huang He (Yellow) along the Huang He (Yellow) River. What inventions are the River. What inventions are the

early Chinese known for?early Chinese known for?

Each of these four early Each of these four early civilizations had their own civilizations had their own

writing system, form of writing system, form of government, religion, job government, religion, job specialization, major city, specialization, major city, arts and architecture and arts and architecture and

inventions.inventions.

As the Chinese were prospering As the Chinese were prospering along the Yellow River, the along the Yellow River, the

earliest known Greek civilization, earliest known Greek civilization, the Minoans, lived and prospered the Minoans, lived and prospered on the island of Crete south of the on the island of Crete south of the

Greek mainland.Greek mainland.

The Greeks would become famous in The Greeks would become famous in history for their people, their art and history for their people, their art and architecture, their advancements in architecture, their advancements in math and science, their poetry and math and science, their poetry and drama, the first Olympics, and of drama, the first Olympics, and of

course for being the first in the world course for being the first in the world to embrace a democratic (although to embrace a democratic (although

limited) form of governmentlimited) form of government..

Around 800 B.C.E, the ancestors of the Around 800 B.C.E, the ancestors of the Romans, the Latins settled along the Romans, the Latins settled along the Tiber River in present-day Italy.Tiber River in present-day Italy. The The Latins would set the stage for one of Latins would set the stage for one of the most powerful empires in world the most powerful empires in world

history, the Romans. The Roman history, the Romans. The Roman civilization would last for civilization would last for

approximately 1,000 years.approximately 1,000 years.

Who were some of the famous Who were some of the famous people of Rome? What is Roman people of Rome? What is Roman

civilization most famous for?civilization most famous for?

After the fall of the Western After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 C.E., most Roman Empire in 476 C.E., most

of Europe was in a state of of Europe was in a state of chaos. Invasions were frequent chaos. Invasions were frequent and people feared for their lives. and people feared for their lives. Historians call this time period Historians call this time period

in history the Dark Ages, or in history the Dark Ages, or Middle Ages.Middle Ages.

The Middle Ages last about 1,000 The Middle Ages last about 1,000 years. What were some of the years. What were some of the

famous people and events of the famous people and events of the Middle Ages?Middle Ages?

Around 1400 C.E., Europe emerges Around 1400 C.E., Europe emerges from the “darkness” of the Middle from the “darkness” of the Middle Ages. Historians have named this Ages. Historians have named this

time period in history the time period in history the Renaissance. It is during the Renaissance. It is during the

1400’s that Europe sees a rebirth 1400’s that Europe sees a rebirth of art and architecture and kings of art and architecture and kings

and queens in Europe become and queens in Europe become even more powerful then they even more powerful then they were during the Middle Ages.were during the Middle Ages.

Who were some of the famous Who were some of the famous people of the Renaissance?people of the Renaissance?

So, after a So, after a veryvery brief world-wind brief world-wind look at some of the major events look at some of the major events

of world history prior to 1500 of world history prior to 1500 C.E., we are now ready to look at C.E., we are now ready to look at

history from 1500 C.E to history from 1500 C.E to present.present.