Pre-History & the Dawn of Civilization Paleolithic Age: 2.5 Million – 8000 B.C.E. ↓ Neolithic Age: 8000 B.C.E. – 3500 B.C.E. The Rise of River Valley Civilizations Essential Questions How do we study pre-history? From what did man evolve, how & why? What was life like during the Paleolithic Age? How did the Neolithic/Agricultural revolution affect people? What makes something a civilization?

How do we study pre-history? I. Pre-Historic Terms History = the study of man’s past politically, socially and economically Pre-History = prior to written records. Pre-History is broken down into two basic periods: Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) 2.5 million to 8000 B.C.E. Neolithic (New Stone Age) 8000 B.C. to 3500 B.C.E How do we study pre-historic times? = through multiple sciences Archeology = Artifacts – Items made by human hands (example = ) Paleontologists = Fossils – Remains or impressions made by carbon based life forms (example = ) Radio Carbon Dating (Carbon 14) – up to 100,000 years old Willard Libby (1948) Nobel Prize Winner Carbon-14 radioactive half-life in FOSSILS is measured to determine age. Other sciences necessary to study pre-history. Anthropology = Botany = Zoology = Geology = Geography =

From what did man evolve, how & why? II. The Origins of Man - Evolution Humanlike Traits: Which was the most influential development? a. the use of an opposable thumb = benefits - ________ b. bipedal motion (hominids) = ______ , benefits - ______ c. The “Organ of Civilization” = ______, benefits - advanced thought (development of tools/weapons) Evolution – each developed a skill set that advanced them past the one before Australopithecus Africanus (3.8 – 3 million years ago) Lucy = discovered (1973) by Donald Johanson Homo Habilis – “skillful man” – first tool maker (2.5 million years ago) Homo Erectus – “up right man” – discovered use of fire (2.3 million years ago) ex. Neanderthals (200,000-40,000 years ago) Homo Sapien – “thinking man” – most resemble today’s humans ex. Cro-Magnons (150,000 – 100,000 years ago)

Nomadic - Hunter/gatherers = What was life like during the Paleolithic Age? III. Paleolithic Age 2.5 million – 8000 B.C.E. Paleolithic Culture Nomadic - Hunter/gatherers = Tool Making = 3 steps – utilize, fashion & standardize Paleolithic Achievements Invention of tools (stone, tempered wood, bone) Discovered the use of fire (light, warmth, cooking, protection) – who? Established a spoken language (knowledge, skills, ideas, events) Cave Art Environmental Change During the last 1.8 million years = 4 Great Ice Ages. Last Ice Age = ended about 10,000 years ago. Average temperature rose 9 degrees = polar ice caps reduced to only 1/12th (from 1/3) of the earth’s surface. Warming trend is believed to have ushered in the Neolithic Revolution.

Neolithic Advancements Neolithic Achievements How did the Neolithic/ Agricultural Revolution affect people? IV. Neolithic Age (8000 – 3500 B.C.) (food gathering → food producing) (shared thoughts through spoken langauge) Neolithic Advancements Domestication (taming) a. Farming b. Herding Food Surplus = ? Population Increases Villages are Established Sedentary Lifestyle Artisans Develop (Division of Labor) Trade Begins Neolithic Achievements Inventions Wheel Plow Baked Brick/Pottery Spinning Thread / Weaving Cloth / Making Sails Begin working with metal The 1st metal was copper The 2nd metal was an alloy of copper + tin = bronze

Complex Institutions = developed to address needs of large population. What makes something into a civilization? V. 5 Characteristics of Civilization (SCAAR) Specialized workers = division of labor & class system - priests, artisans, laborers Complex Institutions = developed to address needs of large population. Government Laws = Defense = Organization = Religion = closely tied to early government Ruler = god Laws = Commands of the gods. Taxes = support the Temple. Advanced Cities = urban centers, architecture Culture: what human group acquire by living together = knowledge, skills, language, religion, law, art & Literature. Advanced Technology The wheel, plow, sail The Bronze Age = replaced cooper & stone → armor Record Keeping

Why did people first begin to organize civilizations, in river valleys Why did people first begin to organize civilizations, in river valleys? VI. River Valleys: Location of 1st Civilizations Why River Valleys? Water Source – Humans, livestock and crops Food Source – Fish Fertile Soil – Minerals from flooding rivers Transportation – Water serves avenues of trade. The Original Four River Valley Civilizations (different cultures, one shared experience) Sumerian Civilization in southern Mesopotamia between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Egyptian Civilization in the Sahara Desert in North Africa along the Nile River. Indian Civilization in modern day Pakistan along the Indus River. Chinese Civilization in the North China Plain between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Climate Zones?

- civilization vs. culture = patterns of learning and behavior Why did people first begin to organize civilizations, in river valleys? VI. River Valleys: Location of 1st Civilizations Social Organization - civilization vs. culture = patterns of learning and behavior Family = basic social unit Extended Family = communal land Clan = group of extended families that shared common ancestors Totem = symbol of family or clan (ex. Animal, stone, etc.) – St. Ignatius? _____________ Tribe = a number of clans – common speech, culture, territory & chief Religion = animism – a belief that everything on earth possess a spirit