Unit 1: Beginnings of Unit 1: Beginnings of CivilizationCivilization(4 million B.C.-200 B.C.)(4 million B.C.-200 B.C.)

Ch.1 Peopling of the WorldMr. Seiberg

Journal Entry:Journal Entry:Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

What do you think of when you think of early civilizations?

As humans what do we need to survive?

How does the environment impact the way people live?

For the next 3 minutes try to answer these questions and tell me anything you can think of about Early Civilizations!

Main IdeasMain IdeasEarly Humans spread out all over

the world!Learned to adapt to new

environmentsDiscovery of the uses of natural

resourcesIdeas and Inventions improved

quality of lifeEarly Humans: Hunted animals and

gathered plant foods

How do we know about early How do we know about early humans?humans?

No written documents that long ago!!!

Use bones and artifacts that provide clues on how they lived.

Bones- provide info on appearances, diseases, and life expectancy

Artifacts- Human-made objects such as tools and jewelry found during the digs that provide hints on how people lived in the past.

Professions of DiscoveryProfessions of Discovery

• Archaeologists- work like detectives by digging through the dirt to uncover bones and artifacts that reveal information from past cultures.

• Anthropologists- Study culture to paint a picture of the way groups of people lived using the artifacts that archaeologists discover.

• Paleontologists- study fossils- evidence found in rocks such as teeth, skulls, or bones to provide more info about early humans.

• Culture- People’s unique way of life.• All 3 work together to make new discoveries

about the past!

Other ProfessionsOther Professions• Economist: Studies economic systems

and trade• Cartographer: Person who makes maps• Geographer: Studies geography and

how it impacts people• Political Scientists: Studies

governments, leaders, branches of government. Etc.

• Sociologist: studies social interaction of different groups

• Psychologist: studies human behavior

What makes up a Culture?What makes up a Culture?List examples that describe List examples that describe

your Cultureyour Culture

Early DiscoveriesEarly Discoveries

• Laetoli Footprints-East Africa- hominid footprints found in preserved volcano ash.

• Hominids- Humans/Species that walk upright

Louis and Mary LeakeyLouis and Mary Leakey• Large impact on the study of

human origins.–“Lucy”- Ethiopia- full female skeleton

discovered that was 3.5 million years ago- Oldest hominid found to date!

–Homo Habilis (Man of Skill)- Olduvai Gorge- found fossils of tools for cutting meat and cracking bones. Tools made survival easier!!!

–Leaky’s proved that early humans lived in Eastern Africa!!!

Lucy Olduvai Gorge

Shanidar Cave (Iraq)- found evidence of a funeral held for a set of human remains. (suggests spiritual beliefs/culture!!)

Stone AgeStone Age• Period of the most impressive

achievements in human history! – Discovery of fire– Invention of tools– Language (Communication)

• Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age-1st half)- 2.5 Million to 8,000 B.C.- Oldest stone chopping tools found during this time.

• Neolithic Age (New Stone Age-2nd half)- 8,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C.- Polish stone tools, pottery, crops, and raise animals.

Advantages of HominidsAdvantages of HominidsEasier travel, spot threatening

enemies sooner, and carry more food and children

Opposable Thumb: allowed them to grab objects such as tools

Think about all the things you couldn’t do without opposable thumbs!!!!

CultureCulture

Journal ResponseThis week we’ve talked about

CultureUsing your notes and book, create

your own culture that describes you or the society you would like to live in!

(Ex: Foods, Technology, School, Friends, etc.)

Do not include religionBe prepared to share!

What’s the Main Point?

How did the introduction of agriculture affect early peoples?

A. Civilizations developedB. Birthrates decreased rapidlyC. Societies became nomadicD. Food production declined

Beginning of CivilizationsBeginning of Civilizations

Main Idea: New methods for obtaining food and new technologies allowed for civilizations to begin!

How Did They Get Food?How Did They Get Food?• Old Stone Age- We were Nomads-

Traveled place to place looking for new food sources.

• Hunter-Gatherers- We relied on hunting animals and collecting plants.

• Forced us to follow herds such as Buffalo from place to place.

• Technological Revolution- developed new tools and methods to improve our ability to gather more food. – Used Wood, Bone, and Stone to create

Spears, Fish Hooks, Digging Tools for Plants, Knives, etc.

Advances in Art Advances in Art Artifacts

◦Necklaces of seashells, lion teeth, and bear claws

◦Sculptures of animals◦Cave art- Drew lifelike images of

animals with colored paints made of charcoal, mud, and animal blood. Found on several continents: Australia, Africa, Europe

Give us info on their daily life and culture!!!

Neolithic RevolutionNeolithic Revolution!!!!• 10,000 years ago- Women scattered

seeds near their campsite and discovered crops in the location the following season.

• Discovery begins the Neolithic Revolution also known as Agricultural Revolution that symbolizes the shift from hunter-gathering to farming.

• One of the greatest breakthroughs in human history!

Early FarmingEarly FarmingSlash and Burn Farming- cut trees

or grasses and burned them to clear a field. Ashes would fertilize the soil.

Domestication (taming) of Animals- After years of knowledge of hunting, we discovered how to herd and keep animals as a constant source of food. (sheep, goats, horses, pigs, etc.)

Farming Changes Farming Changes Civilization!Civilization!

Farming:◦Created a reliable

source of food ◦Allowed for

permanent settlement

◦Farming methods continued to improve allowing for more food to be produced

Improved Farming Methods

Surplus (Extra) Food Produced

Populations Grow

First Cities Emerge

First Civilizations Emerge

Economic SystemBarter System: Exchanging

goods for goods (no currency involved)◦This is also known as the traditional

economic system

Farming All Over The Farming All Over The WorldWorld

Africa◦Nile River Valley provided vital fertile

land for cropsChina

◦Yellow River/ Chang Jiang RiverMexico/Central AmericaPeru

Example: Catal HuyukExample: Catal Huyuk• Village discovered in Turkey• Showed several benefits of settled

life/Culture–Large Population- several homes–Reliable source of food-large amounts

of crops (surplus) from well-watered soil

–Religion- Religious shrines–Economy-Mirrors, jewelry, knives

made of black volcanic rock for trade–Leisure Time- sculptures and paintings

Leisure Time + Economy Leisure Time + Economy ProsperProsper• New tools continued to make farming easier

creating more crops– Irrigation System- water system to keep soil fertile

• Surplus (extra) crops = Increase in population• Surplus = more leisure time to focus on other

jobs and develop new skills!• New valuable products emerge: pottery,

metal objects, woven cloth.• Products were traded allowing the economy

to prosper and receive raw materials the group lacked

• Invention of wheel and sail- allow for easier transportation and the movement of more goods over longer distances.

Social ChangesSocial ChangesSocial Classes Form based on

wealth and job status. (create power and influence)

Religion becomes more organized and traditions and values began to form.

What’s the Main Point? What is the best title for

this diagram?

A. Changes During the Neolithic Revolution

B. Elements of Belief Systems

C. Characteristics of Classical Civilizations

D. Benefits of the Counter Reformation

Nomads

Hunters and Gatherers

Simple Tools and Weapons

Farmers

Domesticated Animals

Establishment of Villages

What’s the Main Point? The Neolithic Revolution is

considered a turning point in history because it

A. Influenced climatic changesB. Included the domestication of

plants and animalsC. Caused a decline in populationD. Encouraged a nomadic lifestyle

What’s the Main Point? What was an important result of

the Neolithic Revolution?A. Populations declinedB. People became more nomadicC. New sources of energy became

availableD. Food supplies became more

reliable

Civilization DevelopsCivilization Develops• Civilization- complex culture with 5

characteristics1. Advanced cities2. Specialized workers3. Complex institutions4. Record keeping5. Advanced technology

• Sumer (Mesopotamia)- believed to be one of the first civilizations!!!

1.Advanced Cities1.Advanced CitiesBirthplace of civilizationCity- center of trade for a large

areaTrade is essential to the success

of every civilization

2. Specialized Workers2. Specialized WorkersGrowing cities needed workers that

specialized in certain skills.Specialization- development of a skill

in a specific kind of work. (expert in your field!)

Ex: teachers, merchants, soldiers, metalworkers, priests, farmers, weavers, etc.

Artisans- people who made goods by hand that became valuable for trade

3. Complex Institutions3. Complex InstitutionsInstitution- long-lasting pattern of

organization in a communityEx: government, religion, and

economyLarge populations meant the

need for government to create laws and maintain order

4. Record Keeping4. Record Keeping• Institutions became more complex

bringing on the need for record keeping.

• System of writing- formed by groups for record keeping

• Ex: passages of laws, tax collections, and calendars to keep track of important rituals

• Scribes- record keepers• Cuneiform- system of writing created

by the Sumerians made up of wedge shape symbols for record keeping.

5. Improved Technology5. Improved Technology• Creating new tools and methods to

solve problems that arise when people live together.

• Example: Sumerians discovered that melting tin and copper together created a stronger metal known as bronze. Others: Wheel/Sail

• Bronze Age- time when people began using bronze for tools and weapons.– Location: Sumer– Outcome: Gave Sumer an advantage over

enemies

UrUr• City in Sumer made up of 30,000 people

that was a high sophisticated civilization• Social classes: Rulers/Priests held great

power, wealthy merchants from trade, artists/artisans

• Large irrigation systems, food surpluses, thriving economy, and government officials to make sure the civilization runs smoothly.

• Bronze weapons for defense, thriving trade focus on bartering.

• Barter: trading goods for other goods instead of money.

• Religion: Large temples and rituals dealing with after life.

Vocabulary ActivityDescribe the following questions in

an essay (paragraph) using 10 terms from your vocab. Packets. Do Not just define the terms! Do connect the terms together to describe:

How do we know about early humans?

What was the Stone Age Like?Why is the Neolithic Revolution so

important to our existence and the way we live today?