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Ancient Civs : From Agriculture to 1 st River Valley Civs (Chapter 1) . Prehistory. Hunting and gathering societies dominated human history until 9000 B.C.E. These people helped propel migration over most of the lands on earth. . Human Life Before Agriculture.
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Ancient Civs: From Agriculture to 1st River Valley Civs (Chapter 1)
Prehistory • Hunting and gathering societies dominated human history until 9000 B.C.E. • These people helped propel migration over most of the lands on earth.
Human Life Before Agriculture • The nature of the human species gradually changed during the Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age. • Homo erectus: A less apelike species whose larger brain, erect stance, and opposable thumbs emerged btwn. 500,000 and 750,000 years ago. • More advanced humans killed off competitors over time, and the newest human breed Homo sapiens originated c. 240,000 years ago in Africa. • All humans in the world today are descendents of homo sapiens…….. Except Sasquatch, maybe.
Human Life Before Agriculture • The greatest achievement of Paleolithic people was spreading the human species. • Mesolithic ppl. Domesticated cows, improving food supply. • Neolithic ppl. Invented agriculture, and built the 1st cities, foreshadowing civilization. • The invention of agriculture and the discover of metal tools (Bronze Age, 4000 B.C.E.), moved the human species toward civilization. • With agriculture, humans were able to settle in one spot and focus on particular economic, political, and religious goals and activities.
Indo-European Migrations: 4m-2m BCE The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three Continents”
1. Mesopotamia: "Land Between the Two Rivers"
The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”
Civilization • The word civilization comes from the Latin word for city. • The first civilizations formed in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus River basin, China, and Central America. • The very 1st arose in the Middle East along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. • Mesopotamian civilization is one of only a few cases of a civilization developed completely from scratch, with no examples to imitate (& China, Olmecs).
Sumerians • 1st Mesopotamian Civ. 3500 B.C.E. • Developed cuneiform alphabet, 1st known case of human writing. Scribes wrote on clay tablets. • Devised syst. of #s based on units of 10, 60, and 360 that we still use in calculating circles and hours.
Sumerians • Ziggurats: 1st monumental architecture. Each cit had one, devoted to patron god. • Sumerians polit. structures were organized around city states, led by king. • Govt. regulated religion, provided a court system, and kings were military leaders. • Land was worked by slaves, beginning long tradition of slavery.
The Importance of Writing • Most civilizations developed writing. Societies that employ writing can organize more elaborate political structures, b/c it allows them to send messages and keep records. • With writing, they could tax more efficiently, and make contracts and treaties. • Societies with writing can generate a more intellectual climate b/c of their ability to record data and build on past, written wisdom. • Becoming literate changes the way people think, encouraging them to consider the world as a place that can be understood rationally.
Sumerian Religion – Polytheistic Government-Theocracy
Ziggurat at Ur • Temple • “Mountain of the Gods”
Akkadians, Babylonians, & Beyond • Sumerians fell to the Akkadians, who contd. Much of Sumerian culture. • Another period of decline was followed by the Babylonian conquest. • The Akkadians and Babylonians spread civilization to other parts of the Mid. East. through conquest. • Under the Babylonian rule of king Hammurabi, the 1st codified system of law was introduced. • By 2100 B.C.E. invasions by Semitic peopes from the south brought Semitic language to the region. • Btwn. 1200 and 900 B.C.E. the Assyrians and then the Persians created large empires in the Mid East.
Works Cited • Adas, M., Gilbert, M.J., Schwartz, S.B., & Stearns, P.N. (2007). World civilizations: The global experience. (5th ed.). New York: Pearson Education. • Images from Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY, http://www.pptpalooza.net/.
