Historical Empathy Attempting to understand how people from the past thought and felt. People from the past have the same capacity for creativity and intelligence as we do. Generally, we should avoid judging people from the past according to modern standards. Someone casually and publicly using racist language today = social/legal consequences Someone casually and publicly using racist language 400 years ago = normal

Chapter 1: The Rise of Civilization Prehistory – 2300 BCE Mr. Shipp 2017-2018

Simulation The year is 10,000 BCE. You are a society of hunters and gatherers. Each person must consume 1 serving of vegetables and 1 serving of meat each day. One person can either hunt 2 animals or gather 2 vegetables each day. How would you organize your group to make sure that everyone is fed each day? What happens if there are no more animals or vegetables nearby?

Simulation It is now the year 8,000 BCE. You have learned how to grow food and keep animals. One person can either farm 6 vegetables or hunt 3 animals each day. Now how do you organize your group to provide food for everybody? Does everybody need to work?

Simulation It is now the year 7,000 BCE. You are better able to steadily grow crops and raise animals. Do you continue to move from place to place? Why/why not?

Simulation It is now the year 6,000 BCE. As a result of your ability to grow crops and raise animals, you now have more food than you need. What will people in your society do if they do not have to farm?

Sections 1 & 2: Early Humans and the Neolithic Revolution

Early Development Hominid: humanlike creature that walked upright 4 million years ago. Homo sapiens: “wise human” Featured rapid brain growth and mastery over fire. Existed 250,000 years ago. Homo sapiens sapiens: “wise, wise human” Modern humans, first appeared ~200,000 years ago in Africa. Out-of-Africa Theory: Homo sapiens sapiens migrated out of Africa and replaced other hominids across the globe.

Agricultural Revolution During the Neolithic Age (8000 BCE – 4000 BCE), humans shifted away from hunting and gathering to systematic agriculture. Systematic agriculture: Growing food on a regular basis More food = more control Single most important development in human history?

Agricultural Revolution Neolithic Farming Villages Systematic agriculture gives rise to more permanent settlements Steady food supply leads to food surplus New forms of work; artisans (skilled workers) Shrines and statues point to religion

Agricultural Revolution Effects of the Agricultural Revolution Surplus  artisanal products  trade  greater variety of products Traditional family roles emerge End of the Neolithic Age Discovery of metals led to the Bronze Age (3000 BCE – 1200 BCE)

Civilization Emerges What is culture? What is a civilization? Way of life What is a civilization? Complex culture in which large numbers of humans share basic characteristics: cities, government, religion, social structure, writing, and art.

Systematic agriculture  Permanent settlements  Artisanal Products Food surplus   Population Increase Building of walls/defenses  Formation of government

Civilization Emerges Every civilization during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages developed religion. Why? Religion explained forces of nature; humans’ purpose Art, architecture, and writing flourished

Section 3: Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia The Fertile Crescent Fertile Crescent – arc of land between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Includes Mesopotamia (“land between the rivers”) Tigris and Euphrates rivers flood once a year, leaving rich soil Mesopotamia = most of modern-day Iraq

Fertile Crescent Environmental Challenges Around 3300 BCE, Sumerians begin farming southern Mesopotamia Environment poses three disadvantages: Unpredictable floods; sometimes droughts Land is flat– no natural defense against invasion Few natural resources; building materials scarce

City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia Sumerians create first Mesopotamian civilization City-state: large cities with political and economic control over the surrounding area Built irrigation ditches to control water, crops Built walls around cities for defense Trade grain, cloth, tools for raw materials like stone, wood, and metals Organization, leadership, and laws are the beginning of civilization

Sumerian City-States Religion and Rulers Gods and spiritual beings influenced all aspects of the universe; Mesopotamians had nearly 3,000 gods. Polytheism: many gods Theocracy: Government ruled by divine authority The largest building in Sumerian cities were ziggurats, or temples atop stepped towers that were dedicated to the chief god of the city.

Sumerian Culture Sumerian Economy and Society Trade and industry become more and more important Sumerians traded textiles, pottery, metalwork, and food for natural resources Three major social groups: Nobles Commoners Slaves

Sumerian Culture Life in Sumerian Society Nobles– Royalty, priests, landowners Commoners– Merchants and farmers (farmers = 90% of society) Slaves– Construction laborers, farmhands Technology Invented the wheel, sail, plow, sundial First to use bronze Invented a number system based on 60 Used complex geometry for construction Complex writing system called cuneiform