Introduction to World History

HM: The Problem of Evidence Primary Secondary Tertiary Bias

HM: The Problem of Objectivity Source Bias Historian Bias Is Objective History Possible?

HM: The Problem of Causation Great Men? Impersonal Forces

HM: The Problem of Motives Deciphering Witness Statements Lack of Witness Statements Actions Speak Louder Than Words Economic vs. Idealistic

The Stone Age: 1-2 Million BC to 3,500 BC Paleolithic: 1-2 Million BC to 10,000 BC –Humans become Human –Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle Mesolithic: 10,000 BC to 6,000 BC –Humans begin to domesticate animals and plants –Better tools Neolithic: 7,000 BC to 3,500 BC –Agriculture begins –First villages and towns; Civilization begins

The Bronze Age: 3,500 BC to 1200 BC Early Bronze Age (c BC) –Metalworking begins –Age of the City-State Middle Bronze Age (c BC) –Nomadic tribes gain bronze and challenge the urban civilizations Late Bronze Age (c BC) –Society now develops to incorporate large, powerful kingdoms with sophisticated bureaucracies able to rule over large areas and coordinate powerful trade networks.

Iron Age: BC Ironworking now predominates Barbarians ravage Bronze Age States Rise of Large Scale Empires

Age of Agricultural Empires (500 BC – 1789 AD) Human society dominated by Agriculture Empires exist, limited by communications and terrain The Malthusian Cycle dominates –Growth: More land than people –Apogee: Just enough land for everyone –Decline: Too many people, not enough land, corruption, war, famine, death, destruction –Go back to square 1 once enough die.