Chapter 1 – The Emergence of Civilization 3,700,000 B.C. – 1,200 B.C.

Prehistoric Peoples How do scientists study prehistory? What were some achievements of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon peoples? What changes did the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution bring?

Exploring Prehistory Archeologists: Study ancient civilizations through artifacts Anthropologists: Study culture via human remains Cultural Diffusion: The spread ideas from one area to another Hominids: Humans and early human-like creatures

Exploring Prehistory Prehistory that deals with people using stone tools is called the Stone Age (2.5 Million Years Ago) Paleolithic (Pre-history) Mesolithic (Pre-history to 10,000 years ago) Neolithic (10,000 to 4,000 years ago)

Early Humans The First People Had strong jaw bones, receding chins, low foreheads, and heavy brow ridges They ate seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants Became good hunters Evolved into homo-sapiens between 400K and 100K years ago

Early Humans Continued The Ice Age Earth has had extremely cold periods, each lasted 20,000 to 140,000 years We live in a “warm era” which started about 10,000 years ago Ice bridges were formed, allowing people to migrate

Early Humans Continued Neanderthal People Lived during the Paleolithic Period Buried meat and tools with their dead This showed a belief in the afterlife Eventually they disappeared Conquered by stronger group? New Ice Age?

Early Humans Continued Cro-Magnons Appeared in Europe 35,000 years ago Better tools Left behind artwork By 10,000 years ago Cro-Magnons were extinct

Agricultural Revolution Mesolithic Age Used fish hooks, bow and arrow, fish spears, harpoons made from bone People tamed dogs for hunting Used canoes Nomadic Neolithic Age Used stone and wood instead of bones for tools Began to grow crops Domesticated animals Built settlements

The Foundations of Civilization What characteristics and achievements marked the first river valley civilizations?

Early Civilizations Four main regions where civilizations began Huang (Yellow) River Valley – China Nile River Valley – Egypt Tigris and Euphrates River – Middle East (Iraq and Iran) Indus River Valley – India

Characteristics of a Civilization Surplus of Food All four early civilizations had similar problem The river would flood during rainy season & dry up during the dry season They learned to use irrigation ditches and retention walls Government Governments were formed to create rules and keep order

Characteristics of a Civilization Division of Labor As farming improved fewer people were needed to work in the fields Division of Labor- People learned different skills to make money Calendar (lunar) Written Language

Characteristics of a Civilization The use of metals Use of bronze marked the end of the Stone Age and began the Bronze age The Bronze Age came to an end with the use of iron and the Iron Age began

Characteristics of a Civilization Family and Religion Women managed the family Made food Made Clothing Made Pottery Weaved Did much of the farming There were a variety of gods that most people believed in, most dealt with gods of nature