1. 2.2 Global Economic Systems
The Emergence of Civilization | BCE

2. Similarities and Differences
Humans shifted from pastoral societies to semi-pastoral or agricultural societies
This shift depended entirely upon geography, giving rise to diverse new economies and societies

3. East Asia
The earliest agricultural societies in East Asia grew in the Yellow River Valley
Valleys are low elevation and subject to flooding
Floods come from spring rain and winter melting running downhill
Yellow River full of loess, a fine yellow dust
China’s deserts, plateaus, and western mountain ranges
Efforts to control the flooding: death and destruction
Reliance upon river for irrigation and transportation
Rice grew naturally and became the staple of East Asia

4. South and Southeast Asia
The earliest agricultural settlements in South Asia grew in the Indus River Valley
Valley formed by Hindu Kush, Karakorum, and Himalaya Ranges
Monsoons brought abundant rain
These combined to create huge agricultural surpluses
When the monsoons shifted eastward, the surpluses shrank
Trade with Mesopotamia brought wheat, which became the staple crop in South Asia
South Asia exported its lumber to Mesopotamia
Southeast Asia inhabited later from two directions
Primarily traditional economies (aboriginal later absorbed)

5. The Middle (Near) East
The earliest agricultural societies in the Near East developed in Mesopotamia
The Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys
The Taurus Mountain Range
Irregular and violent flooding
Impacted view of gods and rulers: angry gods and absolute rulers
Earliest agricultural settlements for humans
Wheat/barely as staple

6. Africa Climate change dried up the once-green Sahara region
Humans migrated to more suitable environments
The Nile River Valley
Upper and Lower Egypt as well as Nubia
The Ethiopian Highlands and the various Nile Rivers
Wheat/barely as the staple crop
Predictable flooding affected society in a positive way: order; stability

7. Europe Remained largely primitive in comparison with Eastern cultures
Local, tribal economies
Minoan Civilization on Crete a unique exception
Trade-based and under Egyptian influence
Celtic societies in Europe were localized agrarian communities
Stonehenge constructed c BCE
No major river valleys to capitalize on

8. The Americas
The earliest agricultural societies in the Americas developed in Mesoamerica
The Yucatan Peninsula’s access to water
Large, underground water reservoirs
Cultivation of maize (corn) as staple crop
Various agricultural settlements established throughout region
Limited domestication of animals = limited disease transmission (turkey; dog)
Cleaner and healthier than “Old World” inhabitants

9. Recommended Resources
Independent research
Be sure to cite with Chicago Manual of Style with footnotes.1
Suggested reading
Human Legacy.2 Make sure the title of the text is in italics (see below).
These notes
When pulling information directly from me, cite me as a source, the slide title, and the title of the presentation in italics.3
1 Use this website to easily cite your source
2 Human Legacy, pages 1-10.
3 Mr. Geier, Political Systems, 2.1 East Asia.