1. CHAPTER 2: ERA OVERVIEW: FOUNDATIONS OF WORLD HISTORY, PREHISTORY–300 C.E. EQ: How did humans progress from bands of hunter-gatherers to the great civilizations of the ancient world?

2. 2.2: HUNTER-GATHERER (H-G) SOCIETIES Earliest humans appeared 2.5 millions years ago They lived as hunter-gatherers who: Were self-sufficient Moved as necessary to find food Used furs as clothes Lived in caves or used available materials to build shelter Made tools of wood, bone, stone, antlers

3. 2.2: HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETIES Stone Age: The period of time from when people used stone tools until they used metal tools Began 2.5 million years ago Divided into: Paleolithic = “Old Stone Age” Neolithic – “New Stone Age”

4. 2.2: HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETIES The knowledge of how to make tools became part of the tribe’s culture It was passed down through generations New tools were developed at the end of the Paleolithic period composite tools like spears H-G’s had to be mobile to find food Could not acquire possessions Most H-G bands were about 30-50 people – all related Men hunted, women gathered Men and women had equal status No government; they had leaders

5. 2.2: HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETIES May travel 50-100 miles diameter in a year May encounter other tribes Could result in trade and/or war End of Paleolithic period: H-G communities were becoming more complex Populations grew More settled Developed systems for handling food May have sowed seed

6. 2.3 THE BEGINNING OF AGRICULTURE Complex H-G societies began in areas rich in resources First farmers appeared in Fertile Crescent: area in southwest Asia(modern Turkey down to Persian Gulf) About 8000-10000 years ago

7. 2.3 THE BEGINNING OF AGRICULTURE Grasses were first domesticated plant Changes in H-G lifestyle: 1. Selected plants with favorable characteristics 2. Grew different plants 3. Stored food 4. Built houses near fields 5. Became sedentary

8. 2.3 THE BEGINNING OF AGRICULTURE By 1 C.E. most people were hunters or farmers Agriculture spread from the Fertile Crescent through cultural diffusion and migration Impact of shift to agriculture: 1. Start of the Neolithic period 2. Better tools 3. Environmental impact 4. Ownership of stuff and building of wealth 5. Hierarchies developed

9. 2.4 RISE OF CIVILIZATIONS Civilization: highly organized and complex society Characteristics of a civilization 1. Writing 2. Geography – river valleys 3. Large cities

10. 2.4 RISE OF CIVILIZATIONS Why did civilizations arise? 1. Access to water 2. Government 3. Defense 4. Specialized jobs 5. Trade