Transcript Unit 1

The Beginnings of
Civilization
Our World: Formation
• Big Bang Theory
– The universe was created by an
explosion
– Universe – all of outer space,
including the stars, planets, and
galaxies
• Creation
– Universe was created by a
supernatural being (God)
– Christians: Universe was
Created in 6 Days by God:
Support - Genesis 1
Geographic Orientation
• Earth: 5-6 Billion years old
– Originally formed a
single subcontinent
called Pangea
• Movement of the Earth’s
plates and other
geographical forces cause
change
• 7 Continents
• Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, North
America, South America
Humanity & the Environment
• Geography of an area is important, but there are other
important factors that impact the shaping of a society
• Other Key Factors:
– Climate
– Fertile Land
– Water source
– Topography (the shape of the land), permits easy
movement
– Access to a river or a seacoast, or both; allowing easy
transport of food, supplies, trade goods, or people
Geographic Determinism
• School of thought that geography was the
paramount force behind a society’s
development.
• Is this school of thought still a prevailing
school of thought? Why/Why not?
Building Blocks of Civilization
• History of human civilization stretches
back to 5000 years ago
• The vast period of time prior to the birth of
civilized societies, which included the use
of writing is called Prehistory
Environment
• If the environment helps to influence the
development of human societies, the
development of human societies in return
has a profound environmental impact.
• Do you agree/disagree? Defend your view.
Early Humanity
• Hunter/gatherers
• Nomadic
–Men hunted while women gathered
nuts/berries/seeds
• Traveled in clans of 40-50
• Used crude tools (technology and tools
developed as time passed)
Ice Ages
www.salzburg.com/ freizeit/185_3920.htm
• Long periods of freezing
weather
• Forced humans to learn how
to make and control fire
• Caused Humans to migrate
to other areas
• Warm era that we live in
today started about 10,000
years ago – coincides with
last ice age
Stone Age Living
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Hunters & Gatherers
Gender division of labor = Gender inequality
Lived off natural resources
Nomadic Lifestyle
Lived in clans & tribes
Worked as a team
Three Stone Ages
Old Stone Age
- Very crude tools
- Tools were mostly dull stones
Middle Stone Age
- Mesolithic Age
- Sharper, more effective tools
- Used stones & bones:
- Bows and arrows, fish hooks, &
harpoons
New Stone Age
- Neolithic Age
- Development of Agriculture
- Domestication of animals/plants
for food
- More specialized tools: Chisels,
drills, saws
Tools
• Certain tools meant for hunting and food
preparation, such as a knife, spear, ax,
and bow & arrow could be used in combat.
• Why is this important?
Stone Age - Social Organization
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Based on family unit
Extended family tended to cluster together
Small families/groups form clans
Large families/clans form tribes/bands.
Ties of Kinship bonded these groups
• Did these clans or tribes hav to use
teamwork? Why/Why not?
Gender Division of Labor
• Daily activities were assigned by sex
• Men – Hunted, made war, and performed
heavy labor
• Women – Gathered nuts, berries, and
plants, maintained the home, and tended
the children.
• Has this idea changed since the Stone
Age? If so, how? If not, why?
Neolithic Revolution
• 10,000 years ago
• “Global Warming” – warming trends end Ice Age
• Climate is warmer, drier; Sea levels rose (Why?)
• Ice age plants and animals extinct
• Human populations increased (Why?)
• People experiment with seeds and learn to farm
• Development of farming = domestication
Development of Agriculture
• Some say agriculture arose in on place and
spread to another through the process of cultural
diffusion.
– What is cultural diffusion?
– How could cultural diffusion lead to
development of agriculture?
• Some say agriculture originated independently
among many peoples at the same time
– How could this be true?
– What do you think?
Agriculture Changes Society
•
World Population Rises… Why??
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Women played a key role in stimulating the transition to agriculture.
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Agriculture provided a larger and more reliable food source
•
Lifestyle - less nomadic
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Must add land in order to farm and live
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Agricultural/Farming Societies form
– Jericho
– Catal Huyuk
• located in modern-day Turkey
• 32 Acres
• 6000 lived there
•
Need for land = war
Agriculture to Surplus
Production
• People began to
grow more food
than they would
need – allowed
people to do things
other than farming
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0
Consequences of Neolithic
Revolution
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Need for houses and storage buildings
Development of trade
Towns are established
Specialization/Division of labor - In towns
people could specialize in one job
• Better tools
• Men – hunt and gather, Women – raise
children
New Technology
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6000 BC – People use cattle to pull plows
Pestles, grindstones
Clay used to make pottery
Created yarn from wool
Began to work with metals (tin, copper,
and bronze)
Development of Metal Ages
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Developed as an alloy
of copper and tin
Iron was smelted (melted)
from iron ore
Easily made into tools
Much stronger
than bronze
Weakness: not strong
enough
Gave those
who possessed
iron weapons a huge
advantage over those who did
not
What are the features/characteristics associated with a civilization?
• Civilization: A complex and organized society
• An economic system able to provide basic goods and
services
• Formal Government
• Social classes
• Moral Code/Formal religion
• Laws
• Specialization of labor
• Writing/written language
• Art & Architecture
Calendars & Writing
www.hcc-nd.edu/images/ Calendars-Oct03.gif
• Needed to track seasons
for planting/harvesting
and migrations (if needed)
• Writing forms because of
a need for communication
• Early forms were
cumbersome with too
many symbols – became
better as time past
What causes civilizations to
change?
• Environmental
Changes/Influences
• Changes in government
• Spread of People and Ideas
• Cultural Diffusion
• Expansion and Warfare
Mesopotamia: “Land between the Rivers”
xenohistorian.faithweb.com/ worldhis/Hist02.html
• Situated along the TigrisEuphrates River valleys
• Settlement - 8000 BC
• Agriculture - 5000 BC
• Needed rivers to flood for
irrigation
• Area will be the location
of the world’s first
civilizations due to it’s
fertile soil
Sumer
• Located in between Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers
• Between 3500-2350 BC the
1st true Mesopotamian
Civilization was began by
the Sumerians
• Location of the world’s first
city-states
Sumerians
• Located in Sumer
•Class system
•Nobles (Royalty/Priests)
• Cuneiform writing
•Commoners
• Economy: based on
•Slaves (belonged to palace owners,
farming, trade, and
rich land owners)
industry (metalwork,
•Gods were forces of nature and heavenly
pottery, textiles)
bodies (polytheistic)
•Ziggurat: Sumerian Temple, Most
prominent building in Mesopotamia
•Gods and Goddesses own the Cities
•Theocracy: A government by divine
authority
Akkadians
www.utexas.edu/courses/ clubmed/sargon.jpg
• 2330 B.C. – Sargon I
creates permanent army
(1st ruler to do so)
• Conquered Sumer and
northern Mesopotamia
• Created world’s 1st Empire
• Used Sumerian Cuneiform
writing
Babylon
www.globalsecurity.org/.../
images/hammurabi.jpg
• Governed by small ruling
class of priests/kinglike
figure (lugal, “big man”)
• Greatest Leader –
Hammurabi
– Code of Hammurabi
• Harsh, Death & Mutilation were
common punishments
• Favored upper class
Assignment
• Hammurabi developed the world’s first written code
of laws. There were 282. His code was very harsh.
• With a partner, you are to develop your own written
code of laws. The code must include the type of
crime and punishment that people will face for
committing the crime. Your law code can be as
harsh/lenient as you wish. The code must contain a
minimum of 15 crimes and punishments.
• You have 30 minutes to complete the assignment.
Begin now.
Achievements of Mesopotamians
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Pottery work
Metalwork
Study of Astronomy
Base-60 number system (still used to
measure time and in navigational
calculations
• Great traders
• Developed an economic network
throughout the Middle East
Hittites
nefertiti.iwebland.com/ hittites.jpg
• Indo-European
• Warlike
• Among first peoples to smelt
iron
• Military Success came from
use of horse-drawn chariot
(held 3 soldiers), 1 drove, 1
fought, 1 held shields for
defense
• Were from Asia Minor
• Invaded Babylonian area
around 1600 B.C.
Assyrians
members.shaw.ca/ scud/assyrians.jpg
• Warrior like
• First people to use
chariots and cavalry in
battle
• First to effectively rule a
large empire
– Kings ruled through local
leaders
– Kept peace by punishing
anyone who opposed
them
• Capital was Nineveh
Chaldeans
www.cts.edu/.../Images/ oldtest/TissNebu.jpg
• Greatest leader was
Nebuchadnezzar
– Built Hanging Gardens of
Babylon
• Skilled astrologers
• Calculated the length of
a year
• Defeated by the
Persians
Egypt: Role of the Nile
• Civilization found
upon the Nile River
Valley
• Nile River is the
longest river flowing
north in the World
Nile River: Lifeblood of Egypt
• Flows northward – divided into two
parts:
– Upper Egypt (South)
– Lower Egypt (North)
• Surrounded by two deserts
• Flows into delta – then into the
Mediterranean
• Nile River floods yearly leaving silt –
provides fertile soil
– < Flooding – Bad crops
– > Flooding – Villages
swept away
Egypt moves toward
Civilization
astro.temple.edu/ ~rguay/rosetta%20stone.jpg
• 3000 B.C. –
Hieroglyphics
developed
• Rosetta Stone
allows us to
interpret
heiroglyphics
Egyptian Society
• Egyptians developed a centralized society presided over by
a monarch (pharaoh) considered to be the living incarnation
of the sun god.
• Egyptians built cities as their civilization grew and
proceeded to build up a sizable economic network.
– Why would it be beneficial for a society to build cities?
– How world building cities impact a civilization?
– How would a sizeable economic network benefit a
civilization?
Menes
members.tripodnet.nl/ ancientegypt/history.html
• Unites Upper
(southern) and
Lower (northern)
Egypt in 3200 B.C.
• Begins the first of
30 dynasties of
Egypt
Old Kingdom – 2680 BC to 2180 BC
• Achievements: Great
Sphinx
• Social Structure:
– Class system
• Upper Class: Pharaoh,
Royalty, Priests, Scribes
• Lower Class: Farmers,
Peasants, Slaves
First Intermediate Period: 2180-2050 BC
• End of a dynasty = more power for pharaohs
• Revolutions: because of famine and lack of
food
• Time period marked by many civil wars
• Period ends as new line of pharaoh comes to
power
Middle Kingdom: 2050 B.C. to 1650 B.C.
• Considered the “golden age” of Egypt
• Noble and Priests challenge Pharaoh –
led to instability
• Hyksos Invade
– Some say lots of devastation from
invasions
– Hyksos did bring in new tools of warfare:
the chariot and compound bow
Second Intermediate Period
• Begins as Hyksos gain control of all of
Egypt – probably because of the
weakness of Egypt
• Period ends as new line of rulers come
to power
New Kingdom: 1570 B.C. to 1080 B.C.
• Kingdom centered around their capital,
Thebes
• Drove the Hyksos out of Egypt with use of a
strong army
• Begin to build an empire
• The strongest of the rulers were….
Hatshepsut
www.antropos.galeon.com/ html/FARAON.htm
• First female to ever
hold the title of
Pharoah
• Technically co-ruler
– with her son
• Kept empire’s
boundaries secure
and built trade
Thutmose III
www.fruitofthenile.com/ tuthiii.htm
• Stepson of
Hatshepsut
• Continued trend of
mother
• Expanded Egypt’s
territory to its
largest extent until
his death in 1450
B.C.
Amenhotep IV
nefertiti.iwebland.com/ portraiture/18d/amenho...
• First monotheistical
leader of Egypt
• Believed in the sun
god, Aton
• Changed name to
Akhenaton
• After his death,
Egypt returns to
polytheism
Ramses II (the Great)
forums.tactical-ops.de/ showthread.php?t=59060
• Ruled from 1279
B.C. to 1215 B.C.
• Great Builder
• Considered to be
the pharoah at the
time of the Exodus
• Later pharoahs were
weak
Egyptian Achievements
Arts and Architecture
forum.paradoxplaza.com/ forum/showthread.php?g...
• Pyramids – close to
perfect symmetry
• Used as tombs for
the pharoahs
Egyptian Achievements
Science, Math, and Medicine
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Devised a 365 day calendar
Used numbering system based on 10
Used herbs for medicinal purpose
Mummification – preservation of dead
Hebrews & Judaism
• Judaism – monotheistic religion originating
with Israelites, tracing its origins to Abraham
• Accounts of the Hebrews are found in the
Torah
• Basic beliefs:
– Belief in one god (monotheism)
– Justice & Righteousness (treat others with
kindness & fairness, tell the truth, respect families,
do not cheat, treat people equally)
– Obedience to the Law
Patriarchs
religion-cults.com/art/abraham.gif
• Abraham
– Considered father of Hebrews
– Married to Sarah
– God made a covenant to him (God promised to
lead Abraham and his descendents to
Promised Land)
– Had illegitimate, son Ishmael by maid-servant
Hagar
– After legitimate son Isaac is born will shun
Ishmael
– Israeli-Palestinian Conflict originates with the
births of Ishmael and Isaac
• Isaac
– Son of Abraham & Sarah
– Married to Rebekah, has a son named Jacob
• Jacob
– Son of Isaac & Rebekah
– Father of 12 sons, leaders of the 12 tribes of
Israel
Joseph
biblia.com/ jesusm/genesis.htm
• Son of Jacob and
Rachel
• Best known for his
being sold into
slavery and rising to
power in Egypt for
correctly
interpreting the
Pharaoh's dreams
Moses & the Exodus
www.fraema.it/religiosa/grandi/moses.jpg
- Sent down river by
mother – raised by
Pharaoh's family
- Will eventually lead his
people out of Egyptian
bondage to the
Promised Land
- Ten Commandments
Unification of Hebrew Kingdom
Three Important Kings
SAUL
•First king of Israel –
elected by people for
good looks – military
based
•Not looked upon
favorably by Hebrew
God, Yahweh –
Disobedient
•Served as king for two
years
•Tries to kill popular
David – will eventually
kill himself
DAVID
•Best known for slaying
Goliath
•Does more to bring
Israel under one ruler
•Begins taxation of
people
Solomon
•Known for his wisdom
•Built Israel and
Jerusalem to the heights
of other capitals
•Did so at a price –
taxation and even selling
land to enemies
•Will eventually split
Israel in to two kingdoms
Persians
• Greatest leaders
– Cyrus the Great
• Conquered present day Iran in 550
BC
– Darius the Great
• Expanded empire to areas that
stretched fro turkey & Libya to India
– Xerxes
• Kept large empire
• Built extensive road system
• Governed with help of an advanced postal
system
• Single, uniform currency
• Flexible form of government (Officials
called satraps ruled in the name of the
Emperor
• Religious beliefs (Zoroastrianism)
• Persian army defeated by Alexander the
Great (Macedonian)