Early Civilizations

a record and explanation of what people have thought, said, and done

Pre-history = the period before writing had been invented; any period before 5,500 years ago Most people were nomads who had few possessions

Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age) Began 2.5 million years ago and ended ~ 12,000 B.C.E. Named because they used stone tools Foraging = hunting and gathering (females gathered fruits, nuts, and seeds; males were hunters) By 50,000 B.C.E. developed speech

Stone Tools

Old Stone Age Areas of Europe

Would you survive as a Hunter-Gatherer?

Which fungus would you pick? Common Ink Cap Turban Fungus Shaggy Ink cap

Leaves and Flowers Scottish Lovage Foxglove Crocus Scurvy Grass

Nuts and Berries Horse Chestnut Yew Goose berry

Neanderthals 200,000 years ago Nomads Used fire for cooking Skillful crafting of stone knives, spear heads, bone tools Lived in small groups of around 35-50

What do you think were some of the limitations of the nomadic lifestyle?

Neolithic Period (New Stone Age) Neolithic Revolution (Agricultural Rev.)—began 10,000 years ago –Shift from gathering food to producing food –More reliable food supply –Slash and burn agriculture—slashing the bark on trees & later burning dead ones, the ashes enriched the soil for years –Grew crops like: wheat, barley, rice, potatoes –Domesticated animals- cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, dogs

Neolithic Period Life People lived longer because they could produce food People settled in communities Technological advances –Invented the plow –Fertilized their fields –Looms for weaving –Baked clay bricks for construction –Hammered metals to make weapons and jewelry –created calendars (to measure seasons) –Worshipped deities

Growth of Agriculture

Jericho

House in Jericho, in present-day Palestine

Characteristics of Civilization Civilization = comes from the Latin word “city” CHARACTERISTIC SIGNIFICANCE Organized government - Makes and enforces laws - Exercises authority over organized state - Standardizes money systems Organized religion - Offers guidance in questions of life, death, and nature - Selects clergy Division of labor - Encourages trade and development of new technology - Promotes a system of social classes Class structure - Defines a person’s place in society - Reflects the distribution of wealth System of writing - Provides a way to keep accurate records - Serves as a way to pass on knowledge