Why this periodization? Unit 1: 8000 BCE – 600 CE Why this periodization?
Agricultural Revolutions
Transition from clan to village to cities to civilizations to empires
1st river valley civilizations Emerged where agriculture, aided by irrigation, flourished Nile Tigris-Euphrates Indus Huang He
Origins of trade and trade networks Jericho and Catal Huyuk (chaht-l-hoo-yook) Silk Roads Trans Sahara Indian Ocean Mediterranean
Development of culture & religion
Development of Empires Persia Rome Han Gupta Hellenistic
Beginnings of Syncretism