Source 1: “. . . .recent discoveries suggest that the adoption of agriculture, supposedly our most decisive step toward a better life, was in many ways a catastrophe from which we have never recovered.” Jared Diamond, The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race, 1999 Source 2: “This brings us. . . to the meaning of the so-called Neolithic Revolution. If you generalize, and take the typical effects on culture of hunting life on the one hand and of farming life on the other, you can see that something stupendous took place. . . it was a breaking of one of nature’s bonds, the freeing of man from the limits of the natural food supply.” William Howells, “Back of the History(Man in the Beginning),” 1954 a)Identify and explain ONE piece of historical evidence that would support Jared Diamond’s interpretation about the Neolithic Revolution. b)Identify and explain ONE piece of historical evidence that would support William Howell’s interpretation about the Neolithic Revolution. c)From the two interpretations above, select the one that, in your opinion, better describes the results of the Neolithic Revolution. Briefly explain your choice using additional evidence beyond that used to answer a or b.

Paleolithic Review What are foraging societies? What are pastoral societies? What was life like in a pastoral society? What caused a food surplus? What was the effect of the food surplus? What is the impact of agriculture on the environment? Why could metallurgy be considered the most significant technological development? -H-G who collect wild plants and hunt wild animals -herders who run around with domesticated animals -nomadic, lots of moving, no home, focused on finding good land to feed animals -Neolithic Revolution – agriculture -more food = more people, civilization and all the requisite characteristics -decreased biodiversity, irrigation, deforestation, land used for crops not wild -tools, weapons, everything is easier with tools

Mesopotamia What is the Fertile Crescent? What was the name of the civilization here? What were some significant developments by these people? How were the Sumerian people organized? They lived in… -The Tigris and Euphrates River Valley into Palestine -Sumerians -wheel, cuneiform, calendar, ziggurat -city-states

Continuity and Change: Sumer - Continuity and Change: Sumer

Egypt Did the Egyptians trade? If so, what did they trade? What were Egyptian rulers called? How did women fair in Egypt? What was the social structure of Egypt? -Yes, gold, papyrus, linen, grain -pharaohs -they faired well, they could own property, run a business -

Compare: Decline of Egypt and Mesopotamia

Indus Valley How was the Indus River protected from outside invaders? Who were the Aryans? What two things were major impacts of the Aryan Migration? -The Himalayas -A group who invaded northern India -Caste System and Hinduism, Sanskrit

Shang China What did the Shang bring to Chinese culture? What was the religion of the Shang Dynasty? Why were the Shang isolated from the rest of the river valley civilizations? -writing, stratified government bronze tech, chariots -Afterlife and ancestor worship -Himalayas and distance

Migrations Why do people migrate? Why and to where did the Bantu people migrate? -Food, a hospitable environment, overpopulation, people -drought and famine, South Africa

An early exception The Olmecs (Mexico) and the Chavin (Andes) Developed the same way as the river civilizations What is the key difference between the two? -No river

Technology Farming tools: plows, hoes, rakes and the wheel Pottery How did metal make everything better? Irrigation Monumental architecture Writing -stronger

Big Picture Civilizations What contributed to the development of civilizations? Why do civilizations grow? What happens when a civilization is so dominant they have no rivals? Why do they eventually fall apart? -advanced cities, technology, complex institutions, record keeping and specialization -when people can focus on something other than food acquisition -a golden age occurs -A new empire with new technology or strategy comes and takes over

Big Picture Sources of Change Simultaneous adaptation and innovation What are the two main methods of cultural diffusion? Major belief systems

Big Picture Humans vs. Nature How did humans change the environment? How did the environment effect humans?

Identify and explain ONE factor that enabled ancient Egypt to develop the society alluded to in the painting. Identify and explain ONE way in which the painting reflects the development of powerful new states in the 1300 BCE – 600 BCE time period. Identify and explain ONE way in which the painting above illustrates unifying cultural influences in ancient Egyptian society.