PART I: THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION

PART I  Paleolithic Age –Humans had spread around globe –Humans were hunter-gatherers –Life style could not support large numbers –Man makes tools of stone, bone  Began around 9,000 BCE –Rise of agriculture –Culture becomes increasingly complex

RISE OF NEOLITHIC  Areas where Neolithic cultures arose –Harsh environments –Water shortages –Few reliable sources of foodstuffs  Causes of the Neolithic Revolution –Development, spread of agriculture –Domestication of animals –Improvement of technology

ASPECTS OF NEOLITHIC AGE  Effects of Neolithic Age –Sedentary culture develops –Surplus of food leads to increased populations –Rise of differentiated occupations –Complex cultures –Gender relations change –Humans begin to change environment –Communicable diseases become common

PALEOLITHIC vs. NEOLITHIC  Many resist sedentarism –Pastoralists –Hunter-Gatherers survive until 20 th century  Development uneven across regions  Change often slow  Indigenous development vs. diffusion

CIVILIZATION’S 1 ST PHASE  Five major centers beginning around 4,500 BCE –Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia) –Nile River Valley –Indus River Valley –Northern China (Huang He) –Central America  Civilizations arose in few areas, spread out  Often arose around control of water –Called “hydraulic” (Hydro = water) civilizations –Irrigation, flood control at center of power, changes  Ancient period lasts generally to 1000 BCE

THE CULTURE OF CIVILIZATION  Permanent Institutions –Religious: Theocracies, priesthoods, polytheism –Political: Monarchy, aristocracy, militaries –Social: Rise of classes –Gender: Patriarchy  Trade and Commerce  Systems of Record Keeping  Intellectual Traditions –Arts, Architecture –Literatures

WIDER CONTACTS  Each civilization had particular patterns  Effects of Geography –Either facilitated, hindered communication –Strengthened, weakened local culture  Contacts –War, Trade, Diseases –Nomads –Migration

PROBLEMS OF WORLD HISTORY  Role of technology, effects on environment  Comparisons between civilizations  Importance of early heritages –How much did ancient influence later cultures –How much is later, indigenous development  When did ancient period end?  Can we compare ancient, modern eras?