Unit 1: Foundations(Periods 1 & 2)

8,000 BCE to 600 CE

Foundations of What?(Periodization)

• Social structures (patriarchy, hierarchical)

• Economic systems (agriculture, trade)

• Political systems (from villages to empires)

• Major world religions

Prehistory

• Prehistoric or prehistory refers to the time before the advancement of writing.

Overview

• Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age)– c. 250,000 BCE to 12,000 BCE

• Mesolithic Era (Middle Stone Age)– c. 12,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE

• Neolithic Era (New Stone Age)– c. 8,000 BCE to 5,000 BCE

• Bronze Age – c. 4,000 BCE – 1500BCE

Paleolithic Era• Also known as

Old Stone Age• Began 2 million

years ago• Humans found

shelter in caves; left behind cave art (purpose?)

LascauxCaves(France)32,000 yearsago

Paleolithic Era

• Humans during this period:– Were nomadic– Were hunter-gatherers– Lived in clans– First to make simple tools

and weapons– Mastered use of fire– Developed spoken

language– Egalitarian

• APWH starts c. 8000 BCE with the Neolithic Revolution

• Known as the Neolithic Era or New Stone Age

• Village life began• Totally new way of

living, from hunter-gatherers to agriculture

• SLOW transition

Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Era

• Homo sapiens sapiens (wise, wise humans) during this period:– Developed agriculture– Domesticated plants and

animals– Used advanced tools like

spears– Developed weaving skills

Invention of Agriculture• Mesopotamians first

– Cereal crops (wheat, barley)

– Herd animals (sheep, goats)

• Developed in other places – some independently, others as a result of cultural diffusion

Agriculture’s Impact• New social organization –

from egalitarian to social stratification

• Close-knit society• Increased population and

material possessions• Land becomes more efficient

resulting in a surplus of food• Allows for specialization,

development of tools and weapons

Change for the Better?

• Hunter-Gathering Societies:– More free time– Temporary shelter– Small Groups (less

conflict)– Public land

• Agricultural Societies– Constant work but

food source more reliable

– Long-term homes– Larger groups (more

conflict; disease)– Private land – More stability

Today’s Warm Up

• Answer in your notes & be ready to share: Provide at least three differences between hunter-gatherers and agricultural societies.

Civilization Began

• Agriculture & pastoralism led to increased populations

• Family groups gave way to village life and eventually urban life

• Led to new and more complex economic and social systems

• Civilization began

Defining Civilization

• Societies distinguished by reliance on sedentary agriculture, ability to produce food surpluses, and existence of nonfarming elites, as well as merchant and manufacturing groups

Why Did Civilization Begin?

• WHY?• Surpluses in food led to

specialization of labor– Not everyone had to farm; others

free to build, invent, etc.

• Led to social stratification– Priests – Elites– Warriors – Common People– Slaves

Cities Formed along River

• Rivers provided– Water supply– Transportation– Food supply from animals

• Rivers provided Challenges– Flooding– Irrigation

• Required organized, mass labor– Construction and repair of canals and irrigation

ditches

Organized Central Governments

• First needed to control food surpluses– Labor, storage, dispersion

• Needs become more complex:– Tax collecting

– Law making

– Handling public works projects

– Organizing defense

Jobs Specialization & the Arts

• Artisans specialized in various jobs– Bricklayers– Blacksmiths

• Production of luxuries (not related to survival)

• Metal technology– i.e. weapons, tools

• Great architecture and art created– i.e. pyramids

Writing Developed

• Pictograms first; symbols later added to represent words and then sounds

• Scribes specially trained to read, write, record information– Religion, trade, gov’t

Complex Religions

• Generally polytheistic– Represented natural forces– Controlled human activities– Rituals and sacrifice used to gain gods’ favor

• Rulers regarded as a god or gods’ agent

• Temples often built to honor specific gods and goddesses

Outside Contact

• Trade intensified within and between civilizations, as well as with nomadic pastoralists

• Walls indicate some were fearful; others more peaceful

• Accumulation of wealth spurred warfare between communities and/or with pastoralists– Drove development of war technologies and

urban defense

Uniqueness of Civilization• Not simply next inevitable step from Neolithic

Age– Many peoples remained as hunter-gatherers or in the

simple food-raising stage without developing any sort of civilization

Early Civilization SPRITE Chart

• Break into groups of 3 or 4. Each group will be responsible for researching one of six river valley civilizations.

• Complete each section of the SPRITE chart for your assigned civilization and be ready to present in 30 minutes.

• Nominate the person with the best handwriting to scribe your findings onto poster paper.

Databases for Research

• http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com– Username – midtownstaff– Password - midtownstaff

Check for Understanding

• What do all of these early civilizations have in common? Brainstorm at least three ideas and be ready to share.

Today’s Exit Ticket

• Answer on the provided exit ticket slip: How did agriculture and pastoralism lead to civilization?