Unit One: Technological and Environmental Transformations (c. 8000 BCE to c. 600 BCE)

The Theory of Evolution The theory of evolution, formalized

by Charles Darwin in the 1800’s, is as

much a theory as is the theory of

gravity, or the theory of relativity.

However, unlike theories of physics,

biological theories (especially

evolution) have been argued long

and passionately in socio-political

arenas. Even today, evolution is not

often taught in primary schools.

However, evolution is the binding

force of all biological research - the

unifying theme - and is supported by

the scientific community.

As evolution became

widely accepted in

the 1870s,

caricatures of

Charles Darwin with

an ape or monkey

body symbolized

evolution for some.

http://www.phy.syr.edu/c

ourses/modules/ORIGIN

S/origins.html

Prehistory

•The time before written records were kept.

•Human beings and our ancestors (hominids)

lived on earth for millions of years before the

start of history.

•Prehistory is divided into three main periods:

1. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)

2. Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)

3. Neolithic (New Stone Age)

**Prehistoric humans were the first to begin developing culture. The most basic definition of culture is:

Learned patterns of action

The existence of cave paintings proves that culture existed among early humans.

From Culture to Civilization

France

Culture: is a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior. An abstract "mental blueprint" or "mental code." Culture is examined by studying behavior, customs, material culture (artifacts, tools, technology), language, etc.

Another Definition of Culture:

The Agricultural Revolution(s)

•Archaeologists and historians believe plant domestication began about 10,000 years ago among some human groups. This led to the first permanent, or sedentary, villages.

•Domestication of animals was also an important part of the Neolithic Revolution.

•Several agricultural revolutions occurred at different times throughout the world. Some societies, because of geography, climate, and resource availability, did not develop agriculture.

•Calendars were developed to keep track of planting/harvesting seasons.

Regions of world where agriculture first

developed:

•Southwest Asia

•East Asia

•Southeast Asia

•Mesoamerica

•Northeastern America

•East Africa (Nile Valley)

•West Africa

•Southeast Europe

•South America (Andes Region)

(Independently developed ag.)

(Evidence indicates agricultural knowledge and technology may have been borrowed from other regions.)

Agricultural Revolutions occurred

throughout the world between

9000 BCE – 2000 BCE.

Neolithic Revolution - domestication of plants (farming) begins

Villages form, population increases

Need for food surplus and irrigation arises

Political organization begins in order to organize labor for large irrigation projects

Social classes form

Civilization – reflective writing

•How would you define the term “civilization?”

•What do you consider “uncivilized?” •What are some characteristics of a civilization?

Official Definition: An organized social structure. The 8 Main Features of early civilizations, according to

some historians:

1. cities 2. central government 3. religion 4. job specialization (such as scribes, artisans, priests, etc.) 5. social classes 6. arts and architecture 7. public works 8. a form of writing Another characteristic of many early civilizations was

polytheism. Also, the use of slave labor was common.

•The earliest complex societies (located in Egypt and Mesopotamia) began to develop about 5000 years ago, around 3100 B.C.E. This is often referred to as the “Urban Revolution.” •Writing also began about 5000 years ago in some societies, due to the need to keep economic and administrative records. •People began to acquire more possessions •New technologies were developed (irrigation, etc.) •Women lost status as a result of the development of agriculture in most societies. Q: Why do you think this occurred?

A:

Some Early Civilizations of the Middle East

Sumeria

Babylonia

Assyria

Phoenicia

Canaan (Palestine)

Persia

Egypt

Nubia

•The Fertile Crescent, (including Mesopotamia) was home to many of the earliest and most advanced civilizations.

•As society and population grew, scarce resources and a variety of ideas and beliefs led to conflict in the region.

Sumer: The First

Civilization

The Babylonians were a

Mesopotamian

civilization descended

from the Sumerians.

The most famous

Babylonian king was

Hammurabi (c. 1728 –

1686 B.C.E.) He

created the first public,

written law code and

expanded Babylonian

territory in Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi’s Code is extremely significant because it was the first, comprehensive written law code of the ancient, or foundations period.

Hammurabi was the ruler who mainly contributed to the rise and greatness of Babylon, the world's first metropolis. Many relics of Hammurabi's reign (1795-1750 B.C.E.) have been preserved, including the law code.

The code is the earliest known example of a ruler proclaiming publicly to his people an entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups, so that all literate men could read and know what was required of them.

The code was carved upon a black stone monument, eight feet high, and clearly intended to be reared in public view.

Detail of the top of the stele, depicting Hammurabi

and Shamash.

Selections from

Hammurabi’s Code

Question: What kind of historical source is this?

6. If a man has stolen goods from a temple, or house, he

shall be put to death; and he that has received the stolen

property from him shall be put to death.

8. If a patrician has stolen ox, sheep, ass, pig, or goat,

whether from a temple, or a house, he shall pay

thirtyfold. If he be a plebeian, he shall return tenfold.

If the thief can not pay, he shall be put to death.

22.If a man has committed highway robbery and has been

caught, that man shall be put to death.

23.If the highwayman has not been caught, the man that has

been robbed shall state on oath what he has lost and the

city or district governor in whose territory or district

the robbery took place shall restore to him what he has

lost.

195. If a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off.

196. If a man has knocked out the eye of a patrician, his eye

shall be knocked out.

197. If he has broken the limb of a patrician, his limb shall be

broken.

198. If he has knocked out the eye of a plebeian or has broken

the limb of a plebeian’s servant, he shall pay one mina of

silver.

199. If he has knocked out the eye of a patrician’s servant, or

broken the limb of a patrician’s servant, he shall pay half

his value.

200. If a patrician has knocked out the tooth of a man that is

his equal, his tooth shall be knocked out.

201.If he has knocked out the tooth of a plebeian, he shall pay

one-third of a mina of silver.

229. If a builder has built a house for a man, and has

not made his work sound, and the house he built has

fallen, and caused the death of its owner, that

builder shall be put to death.

230. If it is the owner’s son that is killed, the

builder’s son shall be put to death.

231. If it is the slave of the owner that is killed, the

builder shall give slave for slave to the owner of

the house.

232. If he has caused the loss of goods, he shall

render back whatever he has destroyed.

Moreover, because he did not make sound the house

he built, and it fell, at his own cost he shall rebuild

the house that fell.

This is a beautiful photo of the partly restored ruins of

Nebuchadnezzar's Palace. This photo was taken by a soldier serving

with the United States Army during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.