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Prehistory to Early Civilizations Paleolithic Era Neolithic Era Civilization
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SOL Standards Essential Questions How did physical geography influence the lives of early humans? What were the characteristics of hunter-gatherer societies? How did the beginnings of agriculture and the domestication of animals promote the rise of settled communities? How does archeology provide knowledge of early human life and its changes?
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Prehistory The period of time before writing existed Includes the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras
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HOW DO WE LEARN ABOUT PREHISTORIC HUMANS?
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Archaeologists Study past cultures by locating and analyzing human remains, fossils, and artifacts
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Artifacts Things made by people
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Archaeologists apply scientific tests such as carbon dating to analyze fossils and artifacts.
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Carbon dating: used to find the age of organic materials based on their content of carbon-14; it is reliable up to 40,000 years
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Stonehenge An example of an archaeological site Located in England it was begun during the Neolithic and completed during the Bronze Age.
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Paleolithic Era old stone age lasted from the emergence of man (2 million BC) until the development of agriculture (about 8000 BC)
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Where are the oldest remains of humans found?
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Homo Sapiens Modern man Emerged in Africa between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago
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How did geography affect the lives of early humans?
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Hunter-gatherers Early humans were hunters and gatherers whose survival depended on the availability of wild plants and animals Early humans were nomadic (they migrated in search of food, water, and shelter).
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Migration of Man Homo sapiens migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas
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WHAT WERE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETIES DURING THE PALEOLITHIC ERA?
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Paleolithic Societies Spent most of their time hunting or gathering food and water necessary for survival.
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Nomads Nomadic –because they followed herds of wild animals and ripening fruit, they lived in temporary shelters (caves and tents).
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Clans Lived in clans (extended family groups)
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WHAT TECHNOLOGIES WERE DEVELOPED DURING THE PALEOLITHIC ERA?
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Technology The way people apply knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet their needs.
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Paleolithic Technology Invented the first tools and simple weapons (made of stone and wood)
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Learned how to make fire Made clothes from animal skins and grasses
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Developed oral (spoken) language
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Created cave art
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Neolithic Era The key invention of the Neolithic era was the development of agriculture (farming). Humans learned how to cultivate crops and domesticate animals. New Stone Age
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Domesticated Animals they penned or herded animals and learned how to raise and breed them
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How did the beginning of agriculture and the domestication of animals promote the rise of settled communities?
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The agricultural revolution dramatically changed the way people lived. They no longer had to migrate in search of food and could settle down.
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Settled Farming They built permanent dwellings and settled in small villages
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Neolithic Ruins Skara Brae
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New Technologies They spent less time obtaining food and had some 'spare time' in which to innovate and create new technologies.
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What technologies were developed during the Neolithic era?
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Developed agriculture Domesticated animals Neolithic Technology
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Used advanced tools and weapons
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Made pottery
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Developed weaving skills
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The Emergence of Civilization T h e S e c o n d G r e a t R e v o l u t i o n
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What is the key feature to the emergence of civilization?
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The Growth of Cities Ushered in civilization
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WHAT CAUSED CITIES TO GROW?
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Farming Technology Better tools Plows Irrigation Over thousands of years, farming technology improved to the point that in fertile areas people were able to produce more food then they needed.
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Agricultural Surplus extra food Caused population to grow and trade to develop
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Trade on Rivers and Seas The wheel and the sail allowed traders to transport more goods over longer distances.
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What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of early civilizations?
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Characteristics of Early Civilizations Cities T h e S e c o n d G r e a t R e v o l u t i o n
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Written Language Developed from pictures Pictograms – earliest written symbols ideograms –stood for ideas phonetic signs – stood for sounds.
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Centralized Governments City-states, kingdoms, and empires Power was often based on religious authority
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Hereditary Rulers Dynasties of Kings, Emperors or Pharaohs Dynasty: ruling family Ramesses Dynasty Ref.book: 73; Bibliography; Ref. files:Bibliography © 2001, Rodney R. Baird Power usually passed from father to son
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Written Law Codes Code of Hammurabi Ten Commandments
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Job Specialization An abundant food supply allowed some people to become expert at jobs besides farming. Artisans: blacksmiths, brick-layers, potters,weavers Scribes: could read and write Merchants: bought and sold goods (traded).
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Rigid Class System Slavery was accepted Kings Priests Nobles Merchants Artisans Peasants
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Polytheism Belief in many gods Practiced by most early civilizations Indian Gods
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Metal Tools and Weapons Bronze and iron Egyptian Sword
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