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Explore the journey of humanity from the first Paleolithic hunters 100,000 years ago in Africa to the flourishing civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and beyond. Discover early cave artists in Lascaux, the megalithic structures of Stonehenge, and the emergence of writing with the Sumerians. Examine Egypt's polytheistic beliefs, monumental constructions, and the cultural exchanges sparked by empires. Learn about the Indus Valley's unique society, the innovations of the Shang dynasty, and the artistry of Minoan and Mycenaean cultures.
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First Humans • 100,0000 years ago. • From Africa to Asia, to Europe • Hunters • Worshipped forces of nature
Paleolithic • 40,000-8,000 B.C. • Cave artists • Lascaux, France—bulls, humans • Caves used for ritual ceremonies
Neolithic • 8000-2300 B.C. • Megalithic structures—Stonehenge • Post-and-lintel structures aligned with astronomical prositions
Bronze Age • 2300-1000 B.C. • Began to cultivate the land • Civilization in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia • Present-day Iraq • The arts, writ6ing and law flourished • Empires dominated the Near East and northern Africa
The Sumerians • 3500 B.C. • First people to use writing • Constructed monumental buildings • Music • Religion: violence • Ziggurats: pyramids with steps to the hereafter
Empires of the Near East • Gilgamesh: hero-king of the Old Babylonians • Great Flood also recounted in the Hebrew Bible • Hammurabi’s legal code • Assyrians conquered lower Egypt • Nebuchadnezzar II – Ishtar Gate • Persians: Darius’ palace at Persepolis • Persepolis fell to Alexander the Great
Egypt: Religion and Society • Polytheism • Pyramids of Giza • Belief in the immortality of the spirit • Treasures buried to ensure happiness after death
The Arts of Egypt • Akhenaten: cult of the god Aten • Established court at Amarna with his queen Nefertiti • Intimacy in the pictorial depiction of humans • Tutankhamen: restores cult of Amon-Re • Ramesses II: monumental, richly-decorated tombs • Nefertari: his wife helped expand empire
Decline of Egypt • Kush empire • Assyrians • Persians • Alexander the Great: Hellenistic culture
The Indus Valley • 2600-1500 B.C. • Unfortified cities • System of writing, terracotta sculpture • Aryans conquered 1500 B.C. • Vedas: religious texts • Hinduism
China • The Bronze Age • Shang dynasty (1700-1100 B.C.) • Carved jade, cast bronze • Zhou (1100-221 B.C.)
Minoan Civilization • Crete (2500-1250 B.C.) • Palace-cities • Artisans: jewelry, figurines • Women unusually free and equal
Mycenaean Civilization • Greek mainland (1600-1150 B.C.) • Mycenaens: warriors and pirates • Treasure found in Mycenae includes the “Mask of Agamemnon” • After Trojan War, Mycenae fell