1. Human Beginnings and Characteristics of Civilizations
Early Man
Human Beginnings and Characteristics of Civilizations

2. Pre-History What is the difference between history and pre-history?
Pre-history – no written records (5,000+)
Based on theories, hypothesis, edu. Guesses
Archeologist – excavate and study early human settlements
Artifacts – human-made remains/objects
Fossil – evidence of early life preserved in rocks
Carbon dating – determines age

3. African Beginnings
Archeologist believe that early man emerged in Africa
Over time, Early people left East Africa and  migrated north   and east to   Europe and Asia
“Out of Africa”

4. Human Ancestors Homo Sapiens 1. Neanderthals
Developed religious belief and rituals
2. Cro-Magnons
Advance skill in spoken language and hunting
The 1st intelligent hominid (human- like primate) was australopithecus
Walked up right
Opposable thumbs
Homo Erectus
Used tools
First to use fire
Developed spoken language
Lucy (1974)

5. The Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age
Hunter-Gatherers
Nomadic
Depended on environment for survival
Spoken language, clothing, fire

6. Religious Beliefs Animism Cave and rock paintings Stone statues
Belief that spirits lived in living things
Cave and rock paintings
Stone statues
Burial practices

7. Early Man’s Tools Knives, axes, scrapers Hammers, needles, spears
Harpoons, clubs
Shields, armor
Blowguns, bows and arrows
Kayaks
Snowhouses
Canoes
Poisons
snake venoms and hemlock
Preservation of food
freeze, dry, seal

8. The Neolithic Revolution
Massive Human Changes

9. Farming changes everything…
With the ability to farm, most people settled down into villages.
Acquire personal property
Develop new technologies
Develop calendars
The populations expanded and eventually villages grew into cities
Increased warfare
Out of this grew the 1st civilizations
Division of labor

10. Irrigation systems
Irrigation – ditches that carry water to their fields and allowed them to produce a surplus of crops.
Helped cultivate more land
Produce more crops
Helped people learn new trades in a village

11. Key Features of Civilizations

12. Cities
Cities
1st cities emerged as farmers produced surplus food to support growing population

13. Organized Government Bureaucracy oversaw needs: Irrigation projects
Steady food supply
Laws
Defense
taxes

14. Religions Social Classes
Polytheistic
People appealed to gods whom they believed controlled natural forces and human activities
Pre-historic religions centered around animal spirits and nature
People were ranked according to the job they performed, their wealth and power

15. Polytheism vs. monotheism
Polytheism – belief in many gods
Monotheism – belief in one god

16. Arts and Architecture Writing
Art and buildings expressed the beliefs and values of their creators
began with priests who needed to record information about rituals and prayers

17. Civilization and Change
Cultural Diffusion is the spread of ideas, customs and technologies from one people to another.
This occurred through migration, trade and warfare

18. Early Civilizations Nile River in Egypt
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Middle East
Indus and Ganges Rivers in India
Yellow and Yangtze Rivers in China
- Rivers renewed soil, brought animals, regular water supply and transportation