1. How do we know PREHISTORY?
Prehistory/EARLY CIVILIZATIONS
PREHISTORY
What is it?
Prehistory is the period of time before WRITTEN record. (about 5,000 years ago)
How do we know PREHISTORY?
Archeology
Radiocarbon Dating
Oral Traditions

2. PREHISTORY: What was it like?
Hunter/Gatherers
Nomadic people
Why did it change?
Farming Develops
Animals are domesticated
Agriculture is considered to be one of the GREATEST inventions of all time by many historians because it fostered the development of CIVILIZATIONS. These civilizations depended on agriculture.

3. Timeline 4,000,000 B.C. First Hominids appear in Africa
1,600,000 B.C. Homo Erectus appears
200,000 B.C. Neanderthals appear
40,000 B.C. Cro-Magnons emerge (identical to modern humans)
8000 B.C. Neolithic Age begins – first agriculture takes place
3000 B.C. Bronze Age well established in Mesopotamia

4. Prehistoric Human Societies
The Paleolithic (“Old Stone”) Age, c. 40,000-c. 10,000 B.C.E.
Hunter-gatherers
Trade (e.g. seashells)
Technology
firemaking
bone and stone weapons and jewelry
Art and religion: Cave paintings and female figurines

5. Prehistoric Human Societies
The Neolithic (“New Stone”) Revolution, c. 10,000-c B.C.E.
Transition from a nomadic existence as hunter-gatherers to more settled lifestyle
Invention of agriculture
Domestication of animals

6. Prehistoric Human Societies
Increasingly gender-based division of labor
Specialized crafts (metallurgy and weaving)
Emergence of social hierarchy: patriarchal organization of state and society would become the norm in the West
Invention of irrigation (c B.C.E.) facilitated establishment of settled agricultural communities in the Fertile Crescent

7. Ancient River Civilizations
Ancient river civilizations developed in four key areas: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India.
These civilizations evolved as a result of the development of agricultural practices which relied upon a steady supply of fresh water.

8. The Trigger Effect The Trigger Effect Watch the clip and then
complete the “Characteristics of Civilization” worksheet – explaining how the discovery of agriculture led to the development of:
Advanced skills
Cities & government
Division of labour
Writing
Calendars.

9. Early River Civilizations
As civilizations began to develop, the need arose for organization, and they began to develop key characteristics and cities were built.
Cities
Government & Laws
Religion
Job Specialization
Social Classes
Writing
Arts
Public Works

10. Early River Civilizations
Because of agriculture’s dependence on fertile soil and an abundance of water, most early civilizations developed near RIVERS.
Mesopotamia: Known as “the land between two rivers”. Several civilizations developed here between the Tigris and Euphrates.
Egypt: Civilization that grew along the banks of the Nile River.
Indus and Ganges River Valleys: Isolated civilizations thrived for many centuries. (Indus River)
Huang and Chang Jiang River Valleys: Earliest known cities develop here. (Yellow River)

11. Contributions of Early Civilizations
Mesopotamia: Legal code (Hammurabi’s Code), math skills, and first form of writing (Cuneiform)
Egypt: Calendar, use of paper (papyrus), and hieroglyphics
Indus Civilizations: Highly organized cities and waste disposal
Chinese Civilizations: Silk, rice farming, and bronzework.