1. The Stone Ages
Paleolithic Era
Neolithic Era

2. Paleolithic Era OLD STONE AGE 4.5 million years ago Hominids emerged
Nomadic; Hunter/Gatherers

3. Neolithic Era NEW STONE AGE 10,000 years ago
Neolithic Revolution = Agricultural Revolution
Shift from food gathering to food producing

4. Neolithic Era
Included domestication: taming wild animals to ensure a constant food source

5. Neolithic Era
So, what’s the big deal?

7. The Birth of Civilization

8. Birth of Civilization
Farming develops in many places: Americas,Africa, China,
Various crops

9. Birth of Civilization
Prosperous farming villages, food surpluses, & new technology lead to the rise of civilizations
Civilizations form all over the world; most are farming settlements in river valleys

10. Birth of Civilization
Four of the earliest settlements are known as the Cradles of Civilization

11. Cradles of Civilization
Tigris/Euphrates Rivers: Middle East (mostly Iraq)
Nile River: Africa (Egypt)

12. Cradles of Civilization
Indus River: South Asia (Pakistan/India)
Huang He (Yellow) River: East Asia (China)

13. The 5 Characteristics of Civilization How Civilization Develops

14. Characteristics Civilization: a complex culture featuring:
Advanced Cities
Specialized Workers
Complex Institutions
Record Keeping
Improved Technology

15. Advanced Cities
Cities with larger populations rise, becoming centers of trade

16. Specialized Workers
Due to food surpluses, fewer people have to farm; time to refine skills & specialize
Artisans arise; make goods that display certain skill and artistic ability
Job specialization leads to social classes

17. What are some examples of specialized workers in ancient cultures?
Farmers
Merchants
Priests
Potters
Scribes
Teachers
Soldiers
Metalworkers
Weavers
Gov’t officials
Traders

18. Complex Institutions Institutions: government, religion, the economy
Governments establish laws, maintain order
Temples are centers for religion, government and trade

19. Record Keeping Need to preserve & pass on information
Professional record keepers (scribes) record taxes and laws

20. Record Keeping
Scribes invent cuneiform, a system of writing in about 3,000BC
Priest record myths: traditional stories of how earth was formed (found in every civilization)

21. Improved Technology
New tools & techniques to solve problems & make work easier
Irrigation: Less dependency on rainfall
Use ditches to flood fields; dams to control water

22. Improved Technology More time allows for more creativity
People replace copper & stone with bronze to make tools, weapons, etc…

23. Improved Technology Search for metals leads to long distance trade
Use animals for transportation

24. Cultural Diffusion
The exchange of goods and ideas when cultures comes in contact
How would this improve the lives of people?