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In The Beginning

In The Beginning. Unit One. Discovering the Past One Broken Piece of Pottery at a Time…. Prehistory • Time before the invention of writing, about 5,000 years ago. Scientific Clues • Archaeologists study bones and artifacts —human-made objects

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In The Beginning

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  1. In The Beginning Unit One

  2. Discovering the Past One Broken Piece of Pottery at a Time… Prehistory • Time before the invention of writing, about 5,000 years ago Scientific Clues • Archaeologists study bones and artifacts—human-made objects • Anthropologists study culture—a group’s way of life • Paleontologists study fossils—plant or animal remains preserved in rock

  3. Discovering the Past One Broken Piece of Pottery at a Time… • •Paleolithic Age(Old Stone Age) lasted from about 2.5 million to 8000B.C. • cold temperatures and large Glaciers (Ice Age) • Use of tools, fire, and language develops during the Stone Age Tools Needed to Survive • Paleolithic humans were nomads—moved in search of food • Hunted animals, collected plant foods—hunter-gatherers Types of Tools Spears, bow and arrow, early shovels for digging up plants or cleaning animal hides, and bone needles for making clothes

  4. The Dawn of a New Time… Neolithic Revolution— “agricultural revolution” began about 10,000 years ago • Nomadic women scattered seeds, then discovered crops growing • Shift from food-gathering to food-production great breakthrough!! Causes of the Agricultural Revolution • Rising temperatures was the key reason • Longer growing season, drier land for wild grasses • Constant supply of food led to population growth

  5. So What Really Changes?

  6. The Dawn of a New Time… Agriculture Causes Change • Farming success leads to larger communities…less people starve  Economic Changes • Ancient people build irrigation systems to increase food production • Food surpluses free some people to develop new skills • Craftspeople make cloth, objects; traders profit from exchange of goods • Invention of wheel and sail enable traders to travel longer distances Social Changes • Social classes develop; religion becomes more organized

  7. Keys to a Civilization Sumer • Located in Mesopotamia, now part of modern Iraq • One of the first civilizations—a complex culture: - advanced cities - specialized workers - complex institutions - record keeping - advanced technology Advanced Cities • Cities with larger populations arise, become centers of trade

  8. Keys to a Civilization Specialized Workers • Labor becomes specialized—specific skills of workers developed • Artisans make goods that show skill and artistic ability Complex Institutions • Institutions—(governments, religion, the economy) are established • Governments establish laws, maintain order • Temples are centers for religion, government, and trade

  9. Keys to a Civilization Record Keeping • Professional record keepers, scribes, record taxes and laws • Scribes invent cuneiform, a system of writing about 3000 B.C. • People begin to write about city events

  10. The Big Four

  11. Leaders of the Big Four Mesopotamia • Sargon 2350 B.C. • Conquered the Northern and Southern parts of Mesopotamia creating the first empire • Hammurabi 1792 B.C. • Made the city of Babylon the capitol = Babylonian Empire • Created the Code of Hammurabi • Had all of the laws written in stone and posted in city centers Egypt • Menes 3100 B.C. • Also known as the Scorpion King • Unified Upper and Lower Egypt • Was seen as a God • Hyksos 1630-1523 B.C. • “the rulers of foreign lands” • Hatshepsut (1485-1470 B.C.) • One of the first women pharaohs • Known for diplomacy not war • Akhenaten (1364-1347 B.C.) • Removed polytheism (many gods) made self only god

  12. Leaders of the Big Four Egypt • Tutankhamen “Tut” (1347 B.C.) • Boy King, brought back all gods • Viewed as less important, which is largely why his tomb is believed to not be robed • Ramses II (1279-1213 B.C.) • Took control of Palestine • Commissioned the building of the Valley of the Kings • Cleopatra VII 1st century B.C • Tried to gain full independence for Egypt from Rome, not successful • Involved with Julius Caesar Indus River Valley • No known leaders • Believe it was a theocracy • Domestication of animals: 7000 B.C. • Planned cities along Indus River 3200 B.C. • Little known because we have not broken their language code yet • 1750 B.C. fell apart and people disappeared

  13. Leaders of the Big Four China • Emperor Yu • Shang (Xia Dynasty) 2000 B.C. • Tamed the Yellow River (Huang He) • Irrigation purposes and controlled flooding • Engineer and mathematician • Zhou Dynasty 1045-256 B.C. • Longest ruling Dynasty • Mandate of Heaven: Divine approval • Introduced feudalism • Coin money • Process to cast iron

  14. Religion and Culture of the Big Four Mesopotamia • Theocracy • Priests and rules share control • Ziggurat • Priests controlled irrigation system • Collected Taxes • Culture • Has social classes • Kings, landholders and priests • Wealthy merchants • Workers • Slaves • Egypt • Theocracy • Pharaoh was the god and king • Built pyramids at tombs for the pharaoh • Mummification • Hieroglyphics: system of writing • Continual preparation for the afterlife • Created calendar: 365 days, 12 months, 30 days per month

  15. Religion and Culture of the Big Four Indus River Valley • Harappan People • Well planned cities • Oven baked bricks of uniform sizes • Plumbing and sewage systems • Strong central government • Zoning • Written language…can’t understand it though  • May have all been of the same social class • Few weapons = no/limited conflict • Traded with many people (maker/shipment seals) China • Family is central as is respect for elders • Very distinct divide of classes • Warrior-nobles were the ruling class • Peasants were like slaves • Religion was tied to elders • Spirits of the elders brought +/- things • Communicated through use of Oracle bones (animal or tortoise shells) • Writing System • Made-up of several “characters” each represents an idea • Can read it without being able to speak it.

  16. New Empires Assyrian Empire • Assyrians 700 B.C. • Empire included areas of Mesopotamia, Iran, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Israel • Ruled by Kings • King Sennacherib brutally destroys enemies • Glorified armies wear metal armor, copper helmets, leather protection • Efficient messenger system, one week to send message anywhere in the empire • King Ashurbanipal • Established library in Nineveh 20,000 tablets including Epic of Gilgamesh • Empire fell in 612 B.C. to the Medes and Chaldeans (from the East) • King Nebuchadnezzar took over and made Babylon the center of empire • Hanging Gardens were commissioned by him Persian Empire

  17. New Empires Assyrian Empire • Persians 539 B.C. • Ruled by Kings • Cyrus The Great • Force only when required • Loved by his people • Allowed the captive Jews to return to homeland • Cultural and religious tolerance Persian Empire

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