Examples of how humans have interacted and changed the environment through the ages.

This is one stone tool made by homo habilis.  Stone tools: Homo habilis was the first hominid to create stone tools and use them.  Hunting and Gathering: The men would hunt wild animals and the women would gather various edible plants.  Mastering Fire: Homo erectus was the first hominid to learn how to make, control, and cook with fire.  Speech: Homo erectus was also the first hominid to develop speech. After developing speech, homo erectus was able to hunt, travel, work, and live Early Man

 Agriculture: During this time period was the first time anyone had grown any type of edible plant or raise any domesticated animal for food.  Domestication: People also began to tame animals and, through selective breeding, adapted them to their needs.  Slash-and-burn Farming: This method of farming was used to clear an area of land so it can used for agriculture.  Plow: This agricultural innovation was used to cut, lift, and turn over soil.  Irrigation: This agricultural innovation was used to bring water from the river, stream, lake, etc., to the plants Farmers and City Dwellers Here is an example of slash and burn farming.

 Agriculture/ Silt: In Mesopotamia, silt, which is deposited along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, provides excellent soil for farming.  Monarchy/ Government: The Mesopotamians were one of the first people to use a Monarchy style government.  Bronze: The Mesopotamians were the first to mix melted tin and melted copper to make bronze, which is a much stronger metal.  Wheel: The Mesopotamians were the people who invented the wheel. Without it, almost everything we own would never have existed. Mesopotamia This is a wheel made by the Mesopotamians

 Papyrus: The ancient Egyptians used strips of the papyrus plant to make the worlds first paper. They used it to record trade, taxes, and other important things.  Mummy: The ancient Egyptians would preserve the body of their leaders using a process called mummification. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife and according to them, for there to be an afterlife, there must be a body.  Civil War: The ancient Egyptians went through a civil war and was one of the lowest points in Egyptian civilization. During this civil war, a series of droughts made it almost impossible to grow crops.  Pyramids/ Architecture: During the Old Kingdom, the ancient Egyptians would build huge pyramids to serve as tombs for their leaders. The most famous ones are the Great Pyramids of Giza. Egypt This is a picture of the Great Pyramids of Giza

 Bard: A bard was a traveling storyteller. Bards would normally tell stories about Greek gods, war heroes, and other legends.  Cultural Borrowing: The ancient Greeks borrowed many ideas from other cultures. This allowed them to become an advanced culture.  Democracy/ Majority Rule/ Oilgarchy/ Tyrant/ Government: The ancient Greeks developed many different kinds of government. An oilgarchy, which is rule by the few, tyranny, which is when someone takes control of the government by force, and a democracy, which is rule by the people.  League/ Warfare/ Acropolis: The ancient Greeks came up with advanced forms of warfare. All of their city-states started development with an acropolis, which is a large fort built at the top of a large hill/ mountain, making it easily defendable. Greece This is a picture of a Greek acropolis.

 Republic/ Government/ Confederation: The Etruscans created a confederation which is a group of governments joined together for a common purpose. The Romans created the first republic, which is a government where citizens elect leaders to represent them. We use a republic form of government today in the United States.  Agriculture/ Arable Land: Because of the many volcanic mountains around Rome, the volcanic ash enriches the soil and makes it better for farming and agriculture.  Currency: The Romans were the first group of people to use a standardized form of money. This allowed the Roman citizens to gain wealth and flourish.  Gladiator: In Rome, gladiators provided a popular form of entertainment. The gladiators were trained at special schools and then were forced to fight to the death.  Aqueducts: The Romans used aqueducts to get water. The aqueducts were a system of bridges and canals that carried water from a river, stream, and other natural sources to a town. Rome This is a picture of a Roman coin.