Development of Civilizations

Key Vocabulary Technology – a new tool/resource that improves the way things are done. Agriculture- the growing of crops & raising of animals for a food supply. Revolution – a dramatic change. Culture- a people’s way of life (art, government, dress, food, religion, etc.). Codes - set of laws. Dynasty- Family power past down through generations Institution – a practice, relationship or organization in a society or culture.

Slash and burn farming – a primitive farming method that involved burning to fertilize the soil. Nomads - people who moved from place to place in search of food. Cuneiform – the first writing system. Civilization - encompasses the 5 characteristics of record keeping, complex institutions, advanced cities, specialized workers, and advanced technology.

Warm Up What is an agricultural revolution?

Activation Wall Questioning: the Five Characteristics of Civilization

What do we know about pre-history? Archaeologists Search for evidence of prehistoric people and animals. Look for bones and artifacts. Artifacts are human- made objects. Anthropologists Study culture, or a people’s unique way of life. Examine artifacts to re- create a picture of early people’s cultural behaviors.

Artifacts

Stone Age: the invention of tools, the use of fire, and development of language Paleolithic Age 2.5 million to 8000 B.C. (Ice Age) Earliest stone chopping tools Neolithic Age 8000 to 3000 B.C. Polished stone tools Pottery Grow crops Raise animals

Homo sapiens Neanderthal Cro-Magnon 200,000 to 30,000 B.C. Developed religious beliefs and rituals. Resourceful; they used wood, animal bones, and skin. Took shelter in caves to survive winter. 40,000 to 8000 B.C. Pre-historic humans. Skeletons identical to modern humans. Planned their hunts and studied animal habits. Advanced language skills.

Homo Sapiens Neanderthal Cro-Magnon

Cave Paintings Oldest ones are about 35,000 years old. The purpose of cave paintings is still unknown. In Europe and Africa, they often show images of hunting and daily activities.

The first species of man, Austrailopithocenes, live approximately 4 million years ago.

By about 8000 BC (10,000 years ago), the Neolithic Age/Agricultural Revolution began. It was during this time period that humans first began to farm and raise animals.

The discovery of farming created a drastic change in how humans lived. People stopped being nomadic. Nomads were people who wandered around in search of food and water. People also stopped being hunter- gatherers, and settled down in to permanent settlements.

What allowed man to do this? Farming created a surplus of food. This allowed people to specialize in jobs such as artisan, weaver, and potter.

Early farming methods were crude Early farming methods were crude. They often used slash and burn farming where trees and grasses were cut down and burned to clear a field. The ashes helped fertilize the soil. However, this method was ineffective. The soil was easily depleted and farmers were forced to move in a year or two.

During this time, humans began to domesticate animals. This would create and provide a constant food source.

As people began to stay in one place, towns and cities began to develop. People who lived together began to form their own culture and unique way of life. A person’s culture is made up of: tools, art, customs, social and family relationships. It was essentially a person’s way of life. As people developed their own cultures, towns, and cities, new civilizations began to arise.

Five Characteristics of Civilization Advanced cities: City is a center of trade. Dwellers depend on others to grow food for them and they exchange goods for food. Specialized workers: Abundant food/crop production allowed others to become specialized workers. Carpenters, priests, weavers, potters.

Complex institutions: Larger populations in cities made a system of rule necessary to keep them from being too chaotic. Religion became structured. Government affairs took place at the temple because the religious leaders were also the government leaders. This is a form of government known as a theocracy.

Record keeping: As society grew and became more complex, it became necessary to record what was going on. This led to the development of the first writing form known as cuneiform. People who could write were called scribes.

Advanced Technology: New technologies and tools were needed to solve problems of societal life. This led to the creation of the wheel, plow, and metal (bronze).

Assessment Prompt: 3-2-1 Complete the following by giving examples of each: 3 examples of Specialized Workers 2 examples of Advanced Technologies 1 example of a Complex Institution

Reflection What made it possible for people to be able to live in towns and cities? Explain.