1. Early Humans and the Beginning of Civilization
Mr. McCubbin

2. Early Humans
Modern humans - believed to have originated in Africa about 50,000 years ago, and then spread to other continents.
They lived by hunting and gathering, and developed tools such as hammers, axes, and spears.

3. Early Humans, cont.
lived in temporary structures, and moved as their food needs demanded.
(Our knowledge of early humans is limited to archaeological evidence, due to the lack of written records.)

4. The Neolithic Revolution
the gradual shift from gathering and hunting food to producing food (agriculture).
Agriculture was used in the middle east as far back as 8000 BC, and in China and the Americas as far back as 4000 BC.

5. The Neolithic Revolution, cont.
Along with growing crops, farmers raised animals for meat, milk and eggs.
Farming caused people to stay longer in one place and gave them a more steady food supply, but this meant working harder.

6. The Neolithic Revolution, cont.
developed where there was fertile soil and abundant water.
Technological advances- including the wheel, clay bricks, metal jewelry and weapons.

7. Civilization Neolithic villages slowly evolved into civilizations.
Civilization: a highly organized society marked by advanced knowledge of trade, government, arts, and science.
Civilization = the rise of cities.

8. Civilization, cont. Early cities were all formed in river valleys:
The Nile River valley (Egypt)
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers (Iraq)
The Indus River valley (Pakistan)
The Huang He River valley (China)

9. Civilization, cont.
All of these civilizations arose between 4000 BC and 1500 BC, but there were still agricultural villages and nomadic societies in addition.
Civilizations depended on farmers growing surplus crops that they could sell, freeing other people to earn their living in other ways.

10. New Developments of Civilization
Massive irrigation systems for watering crops
Specialization of labor
Long-distance trade by animal caravans or ships
Organized government to direct the labor force and protect the cities – kings came into being
Writing

11. Characteristics of Early Civilizations

12. 1. Cities

13. Ur (Mesopotamia)

14. Uruk (Mesopotamia)

15. Memphis (Egypt)

16. Thebes (Egypt)

17. Harappa (Indus Civilization)

18. Mohenjo-Daro (Indus Civilization)

19. Anyang (China)

20. 2. Organized Governments
Mesopotamia
City-states each had a king
Babylonian Empire would have the first comprehensive set of laws: Hammurabi’s Code.
Egypt
King (pharaoh) who was viewed as a god, bureaucracy led by a vizier

21. 2. Organized Governments, etc.
Indus Civilization
Features unknown, but were able to organize and protect complex cities.
China
King (not yet an emperor) ruled, used torture and human sacrifice.

22. 3. Complex Religion Both Mesopotamia and Egypt Indus Civilization
Polytheistic, believed in afterlife, built temples.
Indus Civilization
Probably polytheistic, certain animals were sacred.
China
Polytheistic (gods and nature spirits), prayer to spirits of ancestors, sacrifice.

23. 4. Job Specialization
Not particularly different for each civilization.

24. 5. Social Classes (from top to bottom)
Mesopotamia
Ruling family, officials and high priests
Lesser priests, scribes, merchants and artisans
Peasants
Egypt
Pharaoh and royalty
Government officials and priests
Merchants, scribes and artisans
Peasants (farmers)

25. 5. Social Classes, cont. Indus Civilization China Unknown
Royal family and noble warriors
Artisans, merchants
Peasants

26. 6. Art and Architecture 7. Public Works

27. Mesopotamia

28. Mesopotamia

29. Mesopotamia

30. Egypt

31. Egypt

32. Egypt

33. Indus Civilization

34. Indus Civilization

35. Indus Civilization

36. China

37. China

38. China

39. 8. Writing

40. Mesopotamia: Cuneiform

41. Egypt: Hieroglyphics

42. Indus Civilization

43. China