Chapter 1:The Early Civilizations AP World History I

The Basics… Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): Until about 14,000 years ago (12,000 BCE) Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): 12,000 BCE – 8000 BCE Neolithic (New Stone Age): 8000 BCE – ca. 3500 BCE Followed by Bronze Age and Iron Age

Characteristics… Paleolithic: Simple tool creation Fire tamed around 750,000 years ago 1.5 million people around 100,000 years ago Homo Erectus emerges between 500,000 and 750,000 years ago

Mesolithic: Characteristics… Improved tool making skills Better weapons and cutting edges Use of bone for needles. Improved fishing

Characteristics… Neolithic: Invention of Agriculture Creation of cities Domestication of Animals Concept of “civilization”

Human “evolution”

The Development of Agriculture… Human beings are able to settle in one spot Allows humans the ability to focus on economic, political, and religious goals Spawns a great increase in the number of people in the world 6 to 8 million people during early Neolithic to about 100 million some 3000 years later!

The end of the Ice Age Population increases Big game animals retreat…causes a decline in the effectiveness of hunting Increased dependence on wild grains, berries, and nuts sets the stage for the deliberate planting of seeds, and the ultimate improvement of crops through natural selection.

The Neolithic "revolution" Combined old systems of hunting and gathering with new concepts of Agriculture. Early agriculture could support many people…far more than hunting and gathering ever could. Agriculture requires more regular work than Hunting and Gathering. Larger populations freed some people for other specializations. Basket-making Pottery Knowledge of science (weather…flooding, etc)

The Neolithic "revolution" The Development of agriculture is driven by the following process… End of Ice Age Ice melts, flooding the earths oceans, seas, rivers Under ice, for thousands of years has been soil enriched by thousands of years of fertilization…untouched! Floods cause this highly fertilized soil (silt) to overflow the river banks This silt becomes the highly charged and energized soil necessary for agricultural experimentation!

The Bronze Age Development of agriculture causes faster development By 4000 BCE we see the development of metal tools. Copper at first… Bronze (more resilient) later Improved Farming Caused greater specialization We still live in metal ages today Bronze Age Iron Age

Civilization Tribes contained anywhere from 40-60 people Slash and Burn Agriculture existed in parts of the American South and other parts of the world Farm soil until it’s depleted Advantages to staying in one place… Houses can be built Wells can be built for water Irrigation systems

Civilization Economic surplus to form divisions of labor Formal states Cities Development of Writing

The 8 features of Civilization Cities Well-Organized Central Government Complex Religions Job Specialization Social Classes Arts and Architecture Public Works Writings

Mesopotamia The World’s first “civilization” Founded in the valley of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers An example of completely independent social creation Only occurs in China and Mesoamerica Wheel had been invented for transportation, well established pottery industry, interesting artistic forms, farming needed irrigation, gave basis for complex political structures. By 3500 BCE, the SUMERIANS developed a system of writing known as CUNEIFORM

Mesopotamia

Cuneiform

Cuneiform

Mesopotamia Arts: statues and frescoes adorned the temples of gods Science: founding of astronomy, and improved mathematical knowledge Developed a number system based on units of 10, 60 and 360. What do those numbers represent for us? Complex Religious rituals Ziggurats: monumental architecture Polytheistic Divine force was present in many natural objects Belief in an afterlife of punishment

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia Organized City-States ruled by a king who claimed divine authority. The King, noble class, and the priesthood controlled land which was worked by slaves. Farmers learned about fertilizers, and adopted silver as a means of exchange. Constant warfare in the region. Sumerians Akkadians Babylonians

Mesopotamia Babylonians King Hammurabi introduces the Code of Hammurabi, an early codified law. Established rules of procedure for courts of law Regulated property rights Set harsh punishments for crimes Continual warfare by Semitic peoples, then Assyrians, and later the Persians

Egypt Second civilization to spring up…around the NILE River forming by 3000 BCE Less susceptible to invasion Benefited from trade with Mesopotamia, but produced a unique culture due to some degree of isolation The king, or pharaoh possessed immense power. Influential in controlling the economy Built tombs for themselves…the pyramids Control of Egypt spread up and down the Nile The kingdom of Kush (southern Nile) invaded and ruled

Egypt

Egypt

Indus River and Chinese Civilization Chinese Civilization (Huang He River) Developed in considerable isolation Extensive government that regulated the irrigation projects By 2000 BCE, evidence of advanced technology and elaborate intellectual life. Writing system of ideographic symbols By 1500 BCE a line of Kings called the SHANG ruled Indus River Valley Civilization Civilization emerges by 2500 BCE Many large cities, including Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Houses had running water Writing has yet to be deciphered Infiltration by Indo- Europeans and natural calamities result in destruction of civilization

Indus Maps India and China Resources

Mohenjo-Daro

Chinese RVC Maps Chinese dynasty Art with maps

Heritage of RVC's Monuments Wheel Taming of the horse Usable alphabets Writing implements Key mathematical concepts Well-organized monarchies Bureaucracies Calendars

Heritage of RVC's Most RVC’s were in decline by 1000 BCE Phoenicians: Around 1300 BCE produced a simplified alphabet with 22 letters, which was the predecessor of Greek and Roman alphabets The Lydians introduce coined money A Semitic group of people, the Jews, influenced by Babylonian Civilization settled near the Mediterranean around 1200 BCE and introduced monotheism. Single god: Jehovah guided the destiny of the Jewish people. Forms the basis of the Hebrew Bible Domination by foreign rulers from 772 BCE . Romans seize the state in 63 BCE