1. Section 1 The First People
The Beginnings of Civilization
Prehistory to 1000 BC 1

2. Studying the Distant Past
Anthropologists
Studies human material remains
Archaeologists
Excavate sites to find objects that will give them clues
New findings are constantly revising our knowledge of history
Anthropologists study culture and artifacts
Studying the Distant Past 2

3. Human Origins Key Discoveries 3
Mary Leakey finds “Nutcracker Skull” in East Africa million years old.
Donald Johanson found partial skeleton called Lucy in Ethiopia.
ML finds footprints in Tanzania - oldest evidence of hominids walking upright. 3.5 million years old
2001 skull resembling both Australopithicine and chimpanzee found in Central Africa. 6-7 million years old
Walking upright = free to use hands for handling tools
Human Origins 3

4. Human Origins Modern Humans 4
Everyone today is a Homo sapien, means “wise man.” Had larger brains than earlier species
Developed sophisticated tools, shelter, and learned to use fire
May be the first with spoken language because of increased brain function
Cooperate
Hunt in groups
Resolve issues
Form stronger relationships and interact with others
Human Origins 4

5. Spreading Around the World
Early humans began to move because of the change in climate.
1.6 million years ago, earth cycled between cold and warm periods revealing new areas of land. (Ice Age)
Ability to walk upright and control fire enabled migration out of Africa into the other continents. By 9000 BC humans spread to all but Antarctica
Spreading Around the World 5

6. Spreading Around the World
Adaptation to new environments causes genetic variety
One view – two groups of modern humans
Neanderthals (200,000-30,000 years ago). Died out. May not have been homo sapiens
Cro-Magnons (40,000 years ago) Sturdy and muscular, looked like humans today. Made tools, and had better hunting and survival skills
Spreading Around the World 6

7. First humans lived in the Paleolithic Era, the early part of the Stone Age – people made tools from stone (2.5 million to 10,000 years ago)
People were nomadic, hunted and gathered food, and men and women were equal
Later learned to work with wood and bone. Led to better tools which improved hunting
Other tools:
string from plant fiber = net for fish and small animals
Bow and arrow, bone hooks, fishing spears
Canoe for travel
Needle from bone = animal skin clothing, shoes, hats, carrying sacks
Life in the Stone Age 7

8. Began to form societies of shared cultures, which included language, art, and spiritual beliefs
Cro-Magnons and other Stone Age people produced a variety of art from coal, clay, and iron
Scholars unsure about meaning of art. Anthropologists think they practiced animism, belief that all things in nature have spirits.
Life in the Stone Age 8

9. READING CHECK! What methods are used to study the distant past?
What does evidence suggest about human origins?
How did early people spread around the world?
How did early people adapt to life in the Stone Age?
READING CHECK!

10. Section 2 The Beginning of Agriculture
The Beginnings of Civilization
Prehistory to 1000 BC 10

11. Development of Agriculture
New tools that were polished and grinded instead of chipped led to Neolithic Era – New Stone Age
10,000 years ago, people learned to farm. Turning point because it changed the way people lived.
Plants – learned to grow the best seeds and domesticated wild plants to produce larger food supplies
Development of Agriculture

12. Development of Agriculture
Domesticated animals led to larger and more reliable food supply
Dogs among the first. Used for hunting and guarding
Cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep used for meat, milk, and clothing
Large animals used for pulling heavy loads and farming
The development of agriculture and domestication of animals happened independently around the world at different times. It spread slowly through trade and travel.
Development of Agriculture

13. Agriculture Changes Society
By 6000 BC, early farming led to growth of villages and cities as more people settled together. Led to:
Job specialization – people performing different tasks in the group
Extra food for trade
Differences in social status because of wealth and influence
Religion
War with other societies for more land and resources
Spread of diseases like flu, measles, and smallpox
Agriculture Changes Society

14. Development of Agriculture
New technologies
Use of animals and new tools led to better farming and food preparation techniques (like pottery for cooking and storing food)
Learned to spin yarn from wool of goats and sheep to make blankets and clothes
Learned to use metal, first copper then bronze (a mix of copper and tin).
Bronze was harder and stronger. Led to Bronze Age in 3000 BC
Development of Agriculture

15. What new tools and technologies did early humans develop during the New Stone Age?
How did early agriculture develop and spread?
In what ways did the development of agriculture change Stone Age Society?
READING CHECK!

16. Section 3 Foundations of Civilization
The Beginnings of Civilization
Prehistory to 1000 BC 16

17. From Villages to Cities
Development of irrigation led to farming more land and producing surpluses of food to support large populations and trade
Less people needed to farm created other jobs in the village like weavers, potters, and religious leaders – division of labor
Leaders began to make decisions for the village
From Villages to Cities

18. From Villages to Cities
CHARACTERISTICS OF CITIES
Larger and more populated than villages
Diverse people
Formal organization (city centers, government buildings, boundaries/walls)
Centers of trade
From Villages to Cities

19. The First Civilizations
Civilizations formed from early cities usually near fertile river valleys. Examples:
Ur and Uruk near Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Middle East
Memphis on the Nile River, Africa
Mohenjo Daro on the Indus River, India
Anyang near the Huange He (Yellow River), China
The First Civilizations

20. The First Civilizations
Civilizations had:
Developed cities
Organized government (decision making and building projects)
Formalized religion (ceremonies and rituals)
Division of labor
Social classes (based on occupation, wealth, and influence)
Record keeping and writing (track history, calendars)
Art and architecture (symbols of power and ruler’s prestige)
The First Civilizations

21. Change in Civilizations
Environmental influences (floods, droughts, storms, etc.) led to expansion in trade to get scarce resources
Cultural diffusion – spread of ideas, beliefs, customs, and technology from one people to anther because of :
Trade
Migration
Conquest
Competition for resources led to war and conflict. Nomads became skilled warriors to protect their herds
Change in Civilizations

22. READING CHECK! Why did some early villages develop into cities?
What characterized the world’s first civilizations and where did they develop?
What factors cause civilizations to change over time?
READING CHECK!