1. The writing of history based on the critical examination of sources.
Historiography:
The writing of history based on the critical examination of sources.

2. What is history? Tale, story A chronological record
Records and explains past events
Can be viewed from many angles: political, economic, social, cultural, etc.

3. NO!! Sources in History Primary Sources – an eyewitness to history
Diary, journal
Laws, court cases
Artifacts, art
Secondary Sources – second-hand account
Biography
Textbooks
Is a newspaper article
a primary source?
NO!!

4. Bias Prejudiced outlook Writers demonstrate bias through
Emphasis on events, repetition
Omission of information or events, points of view

5. Point of View “History is written by the winner.”
The influence of the author’s background, standing, or purpose
Who is the author and why does he think or emphasize what he does?
“History is written by the winner.”
Is this statement true or false? Is history absolute?

6. Dating Used to use B.C. and A.D. Now, we use BCE and CE
BCE means before common era
CE means common era

7. Centuries
When you hear “17th century,” what years are we referring to?
Texas A&M Century Tree- Gig ‘em!
Remember, whatever number the century is, the years in the century will actually start with the number before
Ex. The 18th century includes the year 1728

8. Development of Early Civilization
From hunting-gathering to the Neolithic Revolution

9. Hunting and Gathering Use wild animals and plants for food.
Migrate seasonally (nomadic)
Live in family or tribal groups.

10. Advantages The land supplies whatever is needed.
Movement is easier when food is scarce.
Life encourages cooperation and language skills.
Special weapons and tools develop for hunting and digging up plants.

11. Disadvantages People are always searching for new food sources.
It is more difficult to store food.
People must carry everything along when traveling.
Only simple social organization was possible.

12. Neolithic Revolution Possible cause could be climate change
Last Ice Age
Possible cause could be climate change
Rising temperatures = longer growing seasons
More food = population boom
Raise herds of tame animals.
Plant seeds and raise crops.
Domestication
Live in permanent settlements.
Analysis: What is this chart saying?

13. Advantages Crops provide a reliable food supply.
Population grows as life becomes more complex.
Societies become more complex.
Trade increases and commerce develops.
Division of labor allows workers to specialize.

14. Disadvantages Crop failures due to weather or pests cause famines.
Floods, fire, or even raiders could destroy villages.
Disease spreads easily when people live together.

15. To summarize… The Neolithic Revolution:
Was a fundamental shift in human society from hunting-gathering for survival to agriculture.
Included domestication of plants and animals
Led to civilizations!***

16. Civilization: A complex culture with five basic characteristics:
S- Specialized workers
C- Complex institutions
A- Advanced cities
A- Advanced technology
R- Record keeping

17. Specialized Workers—workers who specialize in a specific skill
Food surpluses allowed for specialization
Artisans – workers with a specific, valuable skill
Examples: priests, metalworkers, scribes, soldiers, teachers, weavers, merchants, gov’t officials, farmers

18. Complex Institutions Used to maintain order among people.
Government and laws created by them
Ancient Babylon had “Hammurabi’s Code”
World’s first uniform code of law
Applied to all who lived in Babylon
Ancient Egypt had a “Theocracy”—Religious Government
Pharaoh—God-King

19. Complex Institutions Religion Education systems
Ziggurats in Mesopotamia were used for…
Religious ceremonies
Pyramids in Egypt were used for…
Burying Pharaohs
Education systems

20. Advanced Cities
A city is a large group of people living together…like, duh!
The 1st cities were…
Centers of trade for a region

21. Advanced Technology—new tools and techniques that solve problems OR make life easier.
Examples:
Wheel
Pottery
Plow
Sailboat
Metal weapons and tools

22. Record Keeping—a written language
Scribes—professional record keepers
(the only dudes who could read and write)
Where did Record Keeping begin?
Mesopotamia
Cuneiform— “wedge-shaped”

23. Record Keeping…Continued
Later on…
In Egypt
Hieroglyphics
Used pictures for objects and ideas
What allows us to translate Egyptian hieroglyphics into modern languages?
The Rosetta Stone