1. Chapter 1
Overview & Discussion

2. The Calendar: Time
• B.C. – before Christ = B.C.E.–before the common era
• A.D. – anno domini = C.E-common era
The 1st century BCE, started on the first day of 100 BC and ended on the last day of 1 BC
2nd century BCE started the first day of BCE and ended the last day of 101 BC
The 1st century CE was the century that lasted
from 1 to 100
2nd century CE is the period from 101 to 200

3. Five Themes of Geography
Location - where on earth a place is.
latitude
Longitude
Place - physical features and human
characteristics (where people live).
Human-environment interaction - how people have changed the environment.
Movement - of people, goods, and
ideas.
Region - defined by physical, economic, or
cultural features.

4. Prehistoric People http://www.becominghuman.org/
Birth of Civilization
Prehistoric People

5. Hominids The first humanlike creatures
Hominids – earliest primate ancestors of humans (65 million yrs ago)
98% human DNA identical to apes
Oldest complete skeleton found in Ethiopia (Africa)

6. Homo: humans
Scientists have divided the genus of humans into 3 species:
Homo habilis (handy human)
Existed 2.5 million to 1.5 million years ago
Homo erectus (upright human)
Existed between 1.8 million and 30,000 years ago
Homo sapiens (wise human)
Existed between 400, ,000 years ago

7. Evolution’s Theory…

8. Controversy… Evolution Vs Creation
Charles Darwin’s Theory of evolution creates controversy!
“humans were descended from a hairy, tail quadruped (four footed animal)” – The Descent of Man 1870
Many considered this to be offensive, atheistic, blasphemous

9. Great Ice Age (Pleistocene)
Occurred between 2 million to 11,000 yrs ago
At their peak, glaciers covered a third of the earth’s surface
Created land bridges (causing migration to occur)
What was the result?
Led to the evolution of large number of new species

10. What is culture? Consists of learned patterns of action and expression
Art, music, clothing, dwellings, tools, values, beliefs, and language

11. Describe the culture of Stone Age Humans
Cave paintings reveal much about human imagination, society, and wildlife
Tool and weapon design changed along with new methods of hunting and agriculture, revealing the adaptability of the human species.

12. What conditions led to the transition from food gathering to food cultivation?
Changes in global climate about 10,000 years ago made increased food supplies necessary
Used fire and tools for land cultivation
Selecting seeds from high yielding plants led to new types of crops
Climate and soil conditions heavily influenced the development of agriculture

13. Neolithic revolution Agricultural societies emerge
Led to economic, social, and political organization
Rose independently throughout the world
What was the effect of the revolution?
Permanent settlement was formed to ensure dependable food supply
Population boom

14. What were the advantages and disadvantages of Neolithic communities?
Helped developed and spread language
Architecture evolved as towns grew
Trade and craftwork became important
Disadvantage
Diets not as varied or nutritious
Farmers worked longer hours
Increased death rate from contamination and disease

15. What is a civilization
Society with high levels of culture and social organization
Formal states, writing, cities, trade, etc
Where did the first civilization emerge?
Along river valleys (3500 BCE)
What contributes to the development of civilization
Specialization of labor (steady supply of food allows other people to build, invent, create tools, art, govt. etc