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Introduction Ancient World History Origins to 1500. The Big questions. How & why did the first civilizations arise? What role did cross-cultural contacts play in their developments?
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The Big questions • How & why did the first civilizations arise? • What role did cross-cultural contacts play in their developments? • What was the nature of the relationship between these permanent settlements and nonagricultural peoples living elsewhere in the world? • What brought the demise of these early civilizations, and what legacy did they leave for their successors in the region?
Extra Credit • Based on what you have learned in this class, write a letter to a future employer that explains how religion, language, philosophy, material culture, non-material culture, and/or interaction with the environment have shaped the origins and evolution of world civilizations. • Please provide at least two concrete examples.
Chapter 1 Part I Early Humans & The Agricultural Revolution
I. The First Humans • A. The Emergence of Homo sapiens • Hominids • Australo Pithecines • Homo Habilis • Homo Erectus • Homo Sapiens • Neanderthals • Homo Sapiens Sapiens • Out of Africa/Multiregional Theory
Paleolithic – “Old Stone”2,500,00 – 10,000 B.C.E. • B. The Hunter‑Gatherers • Seasonal Rounds • Horticulture • 20-30/band – social institution (not nuclear family) • Women gathered plants and engaged in hunting & fishing • Stone tools • Fire – 50,000 yrs. ago • Social Advancement • Cooperation & Communalism/Gender equality
C. The Neolithic Revolution, c. “New Stone” 10,000‑4000 B.C.E. • Agricultural Revolution • The systematic growing of foods developed independently throughout the world. • New type of polished stone axes • Shift to agriculture • Domestication of animals – meat milk and fibers • Seasonal patterns shifted to sedentary living for some groups of people • This led to a increase in the population
Mesolithic – Middle Stone age10,000 – 7,000 B.C.E. • Transition from food gathering society and economic system • To systematic agricultural society or Pastoralism • Women’s status relatively high • Practices that elevated women’s role continued • Women’s work valued as men’ • Textile producers • Female spirituality elevated
Agricultural Revolutions8,000 – 5,000 B.C.E. Figure 1-2 p6
Neolithic Farming VillagesAfter 10000 BCE • Eurasian Villagers & Pastoralists • Institution of the family elevated • Parents and children became the major social group • Pastoralist lifestyle - women had fewer children • New sedentary lifestyle – women had more children and for longer periods • Some communities were matrifocal, others increasingly patrifocal
Statue from Ain Ghazal in Jordan, 6500 B.C.E. Oldest human figurine known
Catal Huyuk • Catal Huyuk in modern Turkey was larger, 32 acres, 6000 people by 6700-5700 • Fruits, nuts, wheat, cattle • Artisans • Figures of gods and goddesses • Female statuettes • Evidence of role of women/female in spirituality
Consequences of Neolithic Revolution • Development o of trade • Specialization of crafts • Division o f labor/not necessarily of value • Pottery & Baskets • New tools • Gender divisions of labor • Beginning of development of Practice of patriarchy- society dominated by men • Beginning of decline of status of women
Bronze Age3,000 – 1200 B.C.E. • 4000-3000 technical development began to transform Neolithic towns • Copper works after 4000 • Copper and tin = bronze 3000 • Bronze Eventually replaced by iron • Walled cities and armies developed to protect new communities
Women’s Status • 40,000 yrs ago to 1000 B.C.E • Flexible Gender Roles • Little emphasis on the control of women’s sexual conduct • Equal regard for women’s work • Prominent role for female Spirituality Austria
4 types of Communities after 1000BCE in Eurasia • Hunter Gatherers • Women enjoyed equality with men • Pastoralists & villagers • Some degree of inequality • Gender roles flexible • Women’s work held in high regard • Cult leaders, priestesses, mother godess • Urban Dwellers • Cities that developed after 3500 BCE new degree of inequality for women
II. The Emergence of Civilization • A. Early Civilizations Around the World
Civilization • Civilization– complex culture in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements • An urban focus • New political and military structures • New social structure based on economic power • The development of more complexity in a material sense • Distinct religious structure • Development of writing • New significant artistic and intellectual activity
“Civilization” & Women’s Status • After 1000 BCE in Eurasian Civilizations • Decline of women’s status and equality • Gender roles became rigid • Men controlled political power of states • Women’s sexual morality became an issue of public concern • Stringent laws enforced single women’s virginity or wife’s fidelity to her husband • Sexual double standard imposed by law made by men • Creation of “Women’s work” or domesticity
City States of Mesopotamia Figure 1-3 p10