THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION. Early Forms of Man Hominids Human-like creatures that walk upright...
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Transcript of THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION. Early Forms of Man Hominids Human-like creatures that walk upright...
THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION
Early Forms of Man
HominidsHuman-like creatures that walk uprightAppear about 4 million years ago “Lucy” found in Ethiopia, about 3.5 million
years oldHomo habilis
Able to make and use toolsAppear 2.5 million years agoStart of the Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age)
Early Forms of Man
Homo erectusAppear 1.6 million years agoFirst to migrate from AfricaFirst to use fireMaybe first to use language
Early Forms of Man
Homo Sapiens: NeanderthalsAppear 200,000 years agoLarger brainsSophisticated stone toolsLived in caves, huts of wood & animal skinDeveloped religious ritualsCreated music
Early Forms of Man
Homo Sapiens: Cro-Magnon menAppear 40,000 years agoMore than 100 different toolsCreated paintingOur ancestors
The Life of Early Men
Hunter-gatherersFrom 4 million BC to 10,000 BCHunted animals for meatGathered wild grains, vegetables, fruit
NomadsWandered the earth in search of food
supplies Improved tools helped them gain more food
Technology
The way in which humans used applied knowledge to create more and more advanced tools to improve their lives The stone axe The wheel The sail The compass The printing press The telephone The computer
The Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Era = New Stone AgeOne of the two greatest changes in the
existence of the human race10,000-5,000 BC
Men began to raise and grow food where they livedKept and bred livestock – domestication Sowed seeds for cropsSecure, local sources of food
The Neolithic Revolution
Took place in different parts of the worldMesopotamiaNile valley of EgyptChina Indus valley of IndiaThe Mediterranean basinCentral AmericaPeru
The Neolithic Revolution
Men could settle down in communitiesCommunities grew, became more
complexNew institutions, rules needed
Civilization
Civilization Advanced form of culture Linked to growth of life in cities: civitas =
city state in Latin Marked by five major changes in
human life
Hallmarks of Civilization
(1) Creation of institutions – government, kings, priests, laws
(2) Separation of roles – farmers, artisans, merchants, administrators, priests, scribes
(3) Record keeping – invention of writing
(4) Advanced technology
(5) Large cities
River Valley Civilizations
Earliest civilizations grew in river valleysWater essential for
Drinking – humans and herds Irrigation of cropsTransportation
The River Valley Civilizations
MesopotamiaEgyptChinaIndus valley
Geographic division led to development of different cultures
Culture
The way of life of one distinctive group of people. Marked by commonLanguageBeliefs and valuesSymbolsSocial customsFamily structureFood and drinkClothing
The Bronze Age
Began around 3000 BCMarked by use of bronze tools and
weaponsBronze an alloy of copper and tin
Sumeria
In Mesopotamia – between two riversCity-states
Ur – about 3000 BC, 30,000 peopleLed by priests (defense against the
gods) and warrior kings (defense against enemies)
Sumerian Technology
Ziggurats – temples in pyramid-form Irrigation systems Arithmetic, based on 60
60 minutes to an hour 360 degrees to a circle
Cuneiform writing Wheel Plow Sail Bronze armor and weapons Potter’s wheel
The Civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt
The Babylonian Empire
Babylonians conquered Mesopotamia c. 2000 BC Created the first great empire
Hammurabi ruled Babylon, 1792-1750 BC Created the world’s first law code, focused on
Property rights Commercial law – laws governing trade Personal violence
Egypt
Ruled by pharaohs – kings believed to be gods
Belief in after-lifePyramidsMummificationPapyrus – paperHieroglyphic writing
Egypt
Solar calendar365 days, 12 months per year
Written numbers, geometry
Indo-European Migrations
Nomads from north of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea
Pastoral peopleHerded wandering flocks of cattle, sheep,
goats1700-1200 BC: moved to populate
Europe, Iran, India, South Asia
ANCIENT GREECE
Minoan Civilization
Based on CreteFlourished 2000-1400 BCSea tradersProduced painted pottery, precious
metals, bronze weapons
Mycenaean Civilization
Indo-European invadersEntered Greece c. 2000 BCEstablished city-states
Mountainous terrain made travel, communications difficult
Led to growth of independent citiesImitated Minoan writing, religion, art,
sea-borne trade
The Trojan War
c. 1200 BCWar between the Mycenaeans and the
city-state of TroyEnded in Greek victory, destruction of
Troy
The Dorians
Invaded Greece c. 1200 BCEra of Homer
Blind poet, wrote the first great epic poemsEpic = narrative about great events, heroic
deedsThe Iliad, about the Trojan WarThe Odyssey, about the return home of
Greek king Odysseus
The Dorians
Lost the art of writingHomer’s works memorized, passed
down by oral transmissionDid Homer actually exist?
The Rise of Athens
Greek Political Terms
Polis = city-state in GreekPolitics
Monarchy = rule by one manOligarchy = rule by a few menTyranny = single rulers, who seized
power outside the systemOften supported by the common people
Greek Political Terms
Democracy = people powerAristocracy = power in the hands of the
best peopleAutocracy = power in the hands of one
person
Athens Develops Democracy
621 BC: Draco as tyrantEstablished equality under the lawFamous for very harsh laws – many death
penalties, slavery for debt594 BC: Solon
Organized Athenians into classes based on wealth
All citizens could speak and voteOnly top three classes could hold office
Athens Develops Democracy
500 BC: CleisthenesOrganized citizens by district, not wealthAll citizens could submit lawsCouncil of 500 chosen by lot as the
executiveNOTE: What is a citizen?
An adult male, born in Athens, who owns property
Sparta
Mixed constitutionTwo elected kings, controlled the armyFive elected officials carried out lawsCouncil of Elders (30) proposed lawsAll Spartan citizens voted on laws, elected
kings and officials
Sparta
A militarist societyWhole state devoted to military power
All male citizens, aged 7-30, in the armyThe most powerful army in Greece
Sparta
No value placed on literature, artDuty, discipline, strength valued more
than freedom, individuality, learningLarge population of slaves – helots
The Persian Wars
Darius the Great
546 BC: Persian Empire reached the Aegean Sea Included many Greeks, who revolted
against Persian ruleAthens helped the Greek rebelsPersia crushed the rebellion
490 BC: Darius invaded Greece
The Battle of Marathon
Marathon, a plain NE of Athens 25,000 Persians vs. 10,000 Athenians Greeks had developed the phalanx – army
with iron spears and shields, marching in tight formation
Greek phalanx defeated the lightly-armed Persians
Pheidippides ran to Athens with news of the victory
The Battle of Thermopylae
480 BC: Xerxes invades GreeceMet Greek army at Thermopylae, a
narrow pass300 Spartans held back the Persians
while the Greek army escapedAll Spartans killed
The Battle of Salamis
Xerxes advanced on Athens, set fire to itSent his fleet to destroy the Athenian
navy while he watchedInstead, saw a great Athenian naval
victory1/3 of the Persian fleet destroyed
The Battle of Plataea
479 BC: Greeks crushed the Persian army
478 BC: Greek city-states form the Delian LeagueTurns into an Athenian empire, based on
sea-power
The Golden Age of Athens
Pericles 461-429 BC
Elected leader of AthensThree goals
Strengthen democracyStrengthen the Athenian empireGlorify the city
Established direct democracyAll citizens could speak, vote, hold officeAll citizens equal before the law
Athenian vs. American Democracy
Differences:Direct democracy vs. representative
democracyDefinition of a citizenDuties of a citizen
The Glory of Athens
Architecture:AcropolisParthenon
SculpturePhidiasMyron
The Glory of Athens
TheaterAeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides (tragedies)Aristophanes (comedies)
HistoryHerodotusThucydides
The Peloponnesian War
Athens vs. Sparta
Two states hated and distrusted each other
Athens = sea powerSparta = military powerEach had allies among other city-states
Wanted to avoid warAgreed not to seek or accept city-states that
wanted to switch sides
The Peloponnesian War
431 BC: Dispute between allies of Athens and Sparta leads to out break of war
Athenian strategyAvoid land battlesKeep Athenians inside city walls – which
extended to the seaWait for a chance to attack Sparta by sea
The Peloponnesian War
429 BC: plague strikes Athens1/3 population diesPericles dead
421 BC: temporary truce415 BC: Athens attacks a Spartan ally,
SyracuseAthenian fleet and army wiped out
404 BC: Athens surrenders
Greek Philosophy
Philosophy in Athens
Philosophy = love of wisdomBased on two ideas
That the universe is orderlyThat humans can understand its order
through the use of reasonEmphasis on reason
Humans can understand ethical and physical laws through exercise of the mind
Socrates
Taught by the Socratic method – questions and answers
Forced his students to question received beliefs
Taught self-examination as a route to find truth and justice
399 BC: condemned to death for “corrupting the youth of Athens”
Plato
Student of SocratesBelieved that ideas were more real and
perfect than thingsWrote The Republic – a description of
the perfect form of governmentNo, NOT a democracy!A philosopher-king, governing three classes
of rulers, warriors, and farmers/artisans
Plato
Why did Plato, an Athenian, distrust democracy?
Aristotle
Developed formal rules of logicSyllogism
Analyzed and summarized many fields of learningPoetry, science, nature, ethics
Believed in observation, leading to deduction of rules
Taught Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great and Hellenism
Macedonia Conquers Greece
Peloponnesian War left all Greek city-states weakened
338 BC: Philip II of Macedonia conquered Greece
336 BC: succeeded by his son, Alexander
Alexander the Great
Ruled 336-323 BCConquered the Persian EmpireCaptured Egypt
Established the great city of AlexandriaAdvanced as far as IndiaDied in Babylon, aged 32His empire divided among his generals
Hellenism
Greek culture, blended with additions from the conquered lands of AlexanderEgypt, Persia, India
Became the dominant culture of the whole East Mediterranean, Middle East
Alexandria became the main center of Hellenistic civilization
Hellenism
Koine GreekBecame the common language of the
eastern Roman EmpireThe language of the New Testament
Hellenism
MathematicsEuclid developed modern geometryPythagoras – the Pythagorean TheoremArchimedes calculated π, explained the law
of the lever, and invented…Archimedes screw The complex pulleyA method of calculating the mass of irregular
objects
Hellenism
AstronomyAristarchus – proved the Earth revolves
round the Sun, the Sun is at least 300 times bigger than the Earth
Eratosthenes – calculated the equator to be 28,000 miles long
Ptolemy – argued the Sun and planets revolve around the Earth in fixed circles
Hellenism in Philosophy
StoicismZeno (335-263 BC) argued
People should live lives of harmony and virtueThey should obey natural laws established by
GodHuman desires, power and wealth are
dangerous distractions from virtueVirtuous people control these desires
Hellenism in Philosophy
EpicureanismEpicurus taught that
Gods are not concerned with humansThe only real objects are those perceived by the
five sensesThe greatest good is the absence of painVirtuous conduct involves harmony of mind and
body, to minimize pain – moderation, not abstinence
Hellenism in Politics
The eastern Mediterranean was a region of monarchies
Plato had already accepted kingship as the best form of rule
People of Greek civilization accepted kings as their natural rulers In the east, the Ptolemy dynasty became
the new pharaohs of Egypt