1. Warm-up GRAB AN INDEX CARD and answer This: what do you think the greatest invention of all time is?

3. Neolithic Revolution
Some hunters & gatherers were advanced, but were never able to develop complex societies because they had to migrate to find food
Early humans were nomadic hunters & gatherers & had to move around to find their food

4. Neolithic Revolution Farming changed the way humans lived:
Around 8,000 B.C., the Neolithic Revolution occurred & early humans discovered how to farm & domesticate animals
People no longer had to be nomads
Food surpluses led to population increases
Farming villages became established along river valleys for their good soil & irrigation

5. Neolithic Revolution: Spread of Agriculture

6. Neolithic Revolution
Around 3,000 B.C., some farming villages became complex civilizations. Brainstorm: What characteristics are needed to make people a “civilization”? ?
Advanced cities

7. SCAAR WORKSHEET

8. Characteristics of Civilizations
If you are a citizen of an
Ancient civilization,
Check your SCAAR!

9. Characteristics of Civilizations
S = Specialized Workers
Civilizations must have specialized workers to complete all the work within cities and to create social systems
Leaders, soldiers, builders, farmers, priests,
weavers, potters, scribes, officials

10. Characteristics of Civilizations
C = Complex Institutions
Civilizations must have complex institutions like government and religion to keep order
Formal governments had officials and laws
Religion had priests, ceremonies and temples

11. Characteristics of Civilizations
A = Advanced Cities
Civilizations must have advanced cities which provided centers of trade and protection
Uruk, Lagash and Umma were cities with populations of 10,000 – 50,000

12. Characteristics of Civilizations
A = Advanced Technology
Civilizations must have advanced technologies that make life easier
Around 3000 BCE the wheel, the plow and the sailboat were invented and used daily

13. Characteristics of Civilizations
R = Record Keeping
Civilizations must have record keeping (writing) to keep records of taxes, laws and trade
Cuneiform tablets is one example of early record keeping

14. Characteristics of Civilizations
Check your SCAAR!
S = Specialized Workers C = Complex Institutions A = Advanced Cities A = Advanced Technologies R = Record Keeping

15. Processing Activity
Now that we have defined the characteristics of a “civilization”
Is the United States a civilization? Give at least 3 examples to support your answer.
Draw an picture that supports your answer.
Review the Neolithic Revolution…
Neolithic
Revolution
Definition-
Why Important?
Visual