Prehistory• Hunting and gathering societies

dominated human history until 9000 B.C.E.

• These people helped propel migration over most of the lands on earth.

Human Life Before Agriculture• The nature of the human species

gradually changed during the Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age.

• Homo erectus: A less apelike species whose larger brain, erect stance, and opposable thumbs emerged btwn. 500,000 and 750,000 years ago.

• More advanced humans killed off competitors over time, and the newest human breed Homo sapiens originated c. 240,000 years ago in Africa.

• All humans in the world today are descendents of homo sapiens…….. Except Sasquatch, maybe.

Human Life Before Agriculture• The greatest achievement of Paleolithic people was

spreading the human species. • Mesolithic ppl. Domesticated cows, improving food

supply. • Neolithic ppl. Invented agriculture, and built the 1st

cities, foreshadowing civilization. • The invention of agriculture and the discover of metal

tools (Bronze Age, 4000 B.C.E.), moved the human species toward civilization.

• With agriculture, humans were able to settle in one spot and focus on particular economic, political, and religious goals and activities.

Indo-European Migrations: 4m-2m BCE

The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three Continents”

The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area

The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

Civilization• The word civilization comes from the Latin word for

city. • The first civilizations formed in Mesopotamia, Egypt,

the Indus River basin, China, and Central America. • The very 1st arose in the Middle East along the banks

of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. • Mesopotamian civilization is one of only a few cases

of a civilization developed completely from scratch, with no examples to imitate (& China, Olmecs).

Sumerians• 1st Mesopotamian Civ. 3500 B.C.E. • Developed cuneiform alphabet, 1st

known case of human writing. Scribes wrote on clay tablets.

• Devised syst. of #s based on units of 10, 60, and 360 that we still use in calculating circles and hours.

Sumerians• Ziggurats: 1st monumental architecture. Each

cit had one, devoted to patron god. • Sumerians polit. structures were organized

around city states, led by king. • Govt. regulated religion, provided a court

system, and kings were military leaders. • Land was worked by slaves, beginning long

tradition of slavery.

Sumerians

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Cuneiform Writing

Deciphering Cuneiform

The Importance of Writing• Most civilizations developed writing. Societies that

employ writing can organize more elaborate political structures, b/c it allows them to send messages and keep records.

• With writing, they could tax more efficiently, and make contracts and treaties.

• Societies with writing can generate a more intellectual climate b/c of their ability to record data and build on past, written wisdom.

• Becoming literate changes the way people think, encouraging them to consider the world as a place that can be understood rationally.

Sumerian Religion – Polytheistic

Government-Theocracy

Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh Epic Tablet:Flood Story

Ziggurat at Ur Temple “Mountain of the Gods”

Mesopotamian Harp

Board Game From Ur

Akkadians, Babylonians, & Beyond

• Sumerians fell to the Akkadians, who contd. Much of Sumerian culture.

• Another period of decline was followed by the Babylonian conquest.

• The Akkadians and Babylonians spread civilization to other parts of the Mid. East. through conquest.

• Under the Babylonian rule of king Hammurabi, the 1st codified system of law was introduced.

• By 2100 B.C.E. invasions by Semitic peopes from the south brought Semitic language to the region.

• Btwn. 1200 and 900 B.C.E. the Assyrians and then the Persians created large empires in the Mid East.

Sargon of Akkad:The World’s First Empire

[Akkadians]

The Babylonian Empires

Hammurabi’s [r. 1792-1750 B. C. E.] Code

Hammurabi, Theocracy

Babylonian Numbers

Babylonian Math

Works Cited• Adas, M., Gilbert, M.J., Schwartz,

S.B., & Stearns, P.N. (2007). World civilizations: The global experience. (5th ed.). New York: Pearson Education.

• Images from Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY, http://www.pptpalooza.net/.