Early Humans - Mesopotamia
Who Studies History? Archaeologist – search for artifacts and buried evidence underground Anthropologist – study cultures and how humans relate to one another Historians – research and write about the human past Artifact – things left behind by humans from the past Fossils – traces of plant or animals preserved in rock
What is a culture? Culture is the way of life of a group of people. technology language religion food jobs beliefs government
Ancient Mesopotamia Mesopotamia – Greek “mesos” = between “potamos” – rivers Mesopotamia translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan means "the fertile cresent"
Mesopotamia stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.
Early Humans Paleolithic Times – “old stone age” Hunters & Gatherers Hunted with clubs, wooden spears, & other rough weapons. Gathered berries, grains, and nuts. Nomads = moved from place to place based on food source, climate, etc. created fire Cooked food – smoked meat for preservation Developed language and art – cave paintings Developed technology – the use of tools to make work easier Tools like axes & spears - wood and stone (flint) helped with hunting. fishhooks and needles - animal bone - fishing nets or baskets. II. Neolithic Times 8000 B.C – 4000 B.C. “new stone age” Domesticated animals provide meat, milk, and wool. They also carried goods and pulled carts.
Antler and Bone Sickles / Early Shelter
Neolithic Advances Farming Revolution People began to form villages and live in permanent homes. a) Jericho and Catal Huyuk are oldest neolithic villages 2. Steady food supplies = healthy & growing populations 3. population growth = more workers for crops. a) surplus (extra) food = growth of trade with other communities. b) The food surplus also = specialized jobs. 1. Everyone was not needed to farm anymore. 2. craftspeople such as potters, toolmakers 4. Neolithic people heated rocks to melt copper inside & form tools a) copper and tin were mixed to form bronze. - bronze age was 3000 B.C. to 1200 B.C.
Ancient Neolithic Cities