1. Professor Markellos Camden County College
World Civilization I
Professor Markellos
Camden County College

2. What is History?

3. Conditions of History
Passion
Progress
Success
Envy
Hate
Fate

4. Patterns in History Is History cyclical or linear?
Do you view it as a pattern, which repeats over and over?
Do you view it as a progression of one damn thing after another?
1. If a pattern ... cyclical ... then how do we avoid mistakes?
2. If a progression ... linear ... is there a clear end in sight?

5. What You Will Learn
This course will unravel some of the complexities of the past.
We will look to explain, analyze, and appreciate the patterns of history.
Truffle-Hunter Theory of History

6. Historians As Detectives
“Historians are like deaf people who go on answering questions that no one has asked them.”
~ Leo Tolstoy

7. What You Will Do Cognitively and actively participate in class.
Do ALL the readings and react.
Take notes on the lecture points.
Prepare questions for discussion.
Review the syllabus for dates and topics
Quizzes (40%) and Exams (60%)

8. Resources
Lecture Notes: professor- markellos.weebly.com

9. Forming the Complex Society
Basic development:
Hunting and Foraging
Agriculture
Complex Society
Key issue: surplus capital
Major development of first complex societies BCE – 500 BCE

10. Prehistory What is “history”? Documentation
Written records
Archaeological discovery
Requisite human presence (or “natural” history)

11. Development of Hominids
Animals adapt themselves to environment
Hominids adapt environment to themselves
Use of tools
Language
Complex cooperative social structures
Skeleton of Lucy, chronology/contentpage1.shtml

12. Australopithecus
Discovery of skeleton AL-288-1, north of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Nicknamed “Lucy”
40% of SWF, 4’6”, 55lb., bipedal Brain 500 cc (modern human: 1400 cc), limited speech but opposable digit
Estimated date of death: 3.5 million years ago
Reconstruction of Lucy: chronology/contentpage1.shtml

13. Later Hominids Homo Erectus, “upright man”
Larger brain capacity (1000 cc), improved tool use, control of fire
Homo Sapiens, “wise man” Homo Sapiens Sapiens, “very wise man” (most of us)
Largest brain, esp. frontal regions
most sophisticated tools and social organization
Migrations of Homo Erectus and Homo Sapiens

15. Global spread of hominids and Homo Sapiens

16. The Natural Environment
By 13,000 BCE Homo sapiens in every inhabitable part of the world
Archaeological finds:
Sophisticated tools
Choppers, scrapers, axes, knives, bows, arrows
Cave and hutlike dwellings
Use of fire, animal skins
Hunted several mammal species to extinction
Climactic change may have accelerated process

17. Paleolithic Era (“Old Stone Age”)
Evidence:
Archaeological finds
Extrapolation from modern hunter-gatherer societies
Nomadic existence precludes advanced civilization
Groups of 30-50
Division of labor along gender lines

18. Relative Social Equality
Nomadic culture precludes accumulation of land- based wealth
More likely determinants of status: age, hunting skill, fertility, charisma
Possible gender equality related to food production
Men: protein from hunting
Women: plant and gathering

19. Big Game Hunting
Evidence of intelligent coordination of hunting expeditions
Development of weaponry
Animal-skin disguises
Stampeding tactics
Lighting of fires, etc. to drive game into kill zones
Requires planning, communication

20. Paleolithic Settlements
Natufian society
Modern Israel and Jordan
Wild wheat, herding
Jomon society
Japan
Wild buckwheat, fishing
Chinook society
Pacific Northwest
Berries, acorns, salmon runs
Groups of 1000 or more
Natufian burial w/dog dogs/facts.html

21. Neanderthal Peoples Neander valley, western Germany
Also found in Africa, east Asia
Evidence of spirituality: ritual burial

22. Cro-magnon Peoples Physically similar to modern humans
Greater capacity for speech?
Homo sapiens sapiens
Increased variety of tools
Adornments, decorative furniture, cave paintings
“Venus” figurines
Cave paintings

23. Early Human Art Art was a way of communication but also tells a story.
What is shown in these scenes???
Lascaux, France

27. Neolithic Era (“New Stone Age”)
Distinction in tool production
Chipped vs. polished
Men: herding animals rather than hunting
Women: nurtured vegetation rather than foraging
Spread of Agriculture
Slash-and-and burn techniques
Exhaustion of soil promotes migration
Transport of crops from one region to another
sanat.bilkent.edu.tr/ imot/neolithic/RMO52-27.html

28. Origins of early spread of agriculture

29. Agriculture and Population Growth

30. Surplus Food and the Specialization of Labor
Emergence of villages and towns
Discovery at Çatal Hüyük, Turkey, occupied BC
Tremendous range of manufactured products
Pottery, Jewelry, Textiles, Copper tools
Development of crafts

31. Social Distinctions
Accumulation of landed wealth initiates development of social classes
Archaeological evidence in variety of household decorations, goods buried with deceased members of society at Çatal Hüyük

32. Religious Values
Elements of natural environment essential for functioning
Archaeological evidence of religious worship: thousands of clay figurines, drawings on pots, tool decorations, other ritual objects
Fertility: Venus figurines

33. Beginnings of Urbanization
Jericho: concentration of wealth, building a wall
Craft specialization
Social stratification
Governance
Cultural workers
Photo of jericho walls may132003jericho.htm

34. Civilization ???
While this Pre-History is certainly that of “human record” does it count as history?
What about Civilization?

35. Aspects of Civilization
Language: Written and Spoken
System of Law and Justice
Cities / State / Government

36. Next Week
Be able to explain how and why Mesopotamian is considered to be the first civilization.
How did the politics, intellect, and society of Egypt further develop the process of civilization?
Make connections to the readings and primary sources for the quiz. Group discussion on what makes us civilized!!!