Unit 1: Foundations (Periods 1 & 2)

1. Unit 1: Foundations(Periods 1 & 2) 8,000 BCE to 600 CE

2. Foundations of What?(Periodization) • Social structures (patriarchy, hierarchical) • Economic systems (agriculture, trade) • Political systems (from villages to empires) • Major world religions

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

4. 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

5. Paleolithic Era Lascaux Caves (France) 32,000 years ago • Also known as Old Stone Age • Began 2 million years ago • Humans found shelter in caves; left behind cave art (purpose?)

6. 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

8. Neolithic Revolution • 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

9. 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

10. 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

12. 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

13. 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 Change for the Better?

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

26. 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. 

27. Databases for Research • http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com • Username – midtownstaff • Password - midtownstaff

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

29. Today’s Exit Ticket • Answer on the provided exit ticket slip: How did agriculture and pastoralism lead to civilization?