the earliest beginnings of civilization. history and prehistory definition of history definition of...

THE EARLIEST THE EARLIEST BEGINNINGS OF BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

HISTORY AND HISTORY AND PREHISTORYPREHISTORY

Definition of Definition of HistoryHistory

The word “history” The word “history” comes from the comes from the Greek “historia,” Greek “historia,” which means “to which means “to inquire” or “to inquire” or “to research.” research.”


Period of Ancient Period of Ancient HistoryHistory

Ancient history Ancient history covers the period covers the period from the first from the first appearance of appearance of human beings up to human beings up to the middle of the the middle of the sixth century of the sixth century of the Common Era (550 Common Era (550 CE.). CE.).


Difference between History and PrehistoryDifference between History and Prehistory

Prehistory refers to the period prior to the Prehistory refers to the period prior to the discovery of writing around 3500 B.C.E. discovery of writing around 3500 B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) in the Ancient (Before the Common Era) in the Ancient Near-East. Near-East.

Before the discovery of writing, historians Before the discovery of writing, historians rely on the techniques of archaeologists rely on the techniques of archaeologists and anthropologists in constructing their and anthropologists in constructing their descriptions of ancient life. descriptions of ancient life.

THE APPEARANCE OF THE APPEARANCE OF MANMAN

Human EvolutionHuman Evolution

Human Evolution

Scientists estimate that the Earth is 4 to 6 billion years old.

A controversy rages among paleontologists (scholars who study fossils and ancient forms of life) as to the date of the evolutionary split between ape-like (pongids) and man-like (hominid) creatures.

Human Evolution

A few scholars maintain that an animal called Ramapithecus, which lived 14 million years ago, is man’s most distant ancestor.

Human Evolution

The First Humans

In 1974, Donald Johanson and Maurice Taieb discovered in Ethiopia a partial skeleton of a three-foot-tall female member of the species Australopithecus afarensis.

Known popularly as “Lucy”, she was very apelike in build and estimated to be just over 3 million years old.

The First Humans

Emerging perhaps 2.5 million years ago was Homo habilis, who walked erect, had a larger brain than the apes, and fashioned primitive tools.

In 1960, the first early member of this genus was identified by Louis Leakey at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.

The First Humans Homo habilis is the likely

immediate ancestor to Homo erectus (who appeared about 1.6 million years ago), which is to say, the first in a line that leads to us.

It was Richard Leakey

who, in 1984, found a nearly intact skeleton of Homo erectus that was more than 1.5 million years old; the fossil was dubbed “Turkana Boy” (after Lake Turkana in northern Kenya).

From Nature to History

Early human development was marked by four periods of glaciation (Ice Ages) that occurred intermittently from 3 million B.C.E. to 40,000 B.C.E

Humans (Homo sapiens) appeared near the beginning of the last Ice Age (80,000-70,000 B.C.E.).

Gobekli-Tepe


Homo sapiens, sometimes called Cro-Magnon Man (after a cave where fossil remains were discovered in France), shared the world with other populations.


Neanderthal Man (whose remains were discovered in the Neander River valley in Germany) was Cro-Magnon Man’s chief competitor.

Neanderthals lived in camps, used fire, and ritualistically buried their dead. Cro-Magnon Man triumphed over his rivals by 40,000 B.C.E. (end of last Ice Age).

THE PALEOLITHIC AGETHE PALEOLITHIC AGE The Early Paleolithic The Early Paleolithic

AgeAge Archaeologists divide Archaeologists divide

the Age of Stone into the Age of Stone into the Paleolithic Age (Old the Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) and the Stone Age) and the Neolithic Age (New Neolithic Age (New Stone Age). Stone Age).

The Paleolithic period The Paleolithic period runs from roughly 2 runs from roughly 2 million B.C.E. to 10,000 million B.C.E. to 10,000 B.C.E. B.C.E.

The early Paleolithic The early Paleolithic peoples (up to 30,000 peoples (up to 30,000 B.C.E.) lived as foragers. B.C.E.) lived as foragers.

THE PALEOLITHIC AGETHE PALEOLITHIC AGE The Later The Later

Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age Between 30,000 Between 30,000

and 10,000 B.C.E., and 10,000 B.C.E., Paleolithic peoples Paleolithic peoples showed a notable showed a notable advance. advance.

New and more New and more complicated tools complicated tools like the fishhook like the fishhook and harpoon and harpoon appeared. appeared.

THE PALEOLITHIC AGETHE PALEOLITHIC AGE

End of Paleolithic End of Paleolithic AgeAge

The Old Stone Age The Old Stone Age ended around ended around 10,000. The retreat 10,000. The retreat of the glaciers that of the glaciers that followed the end of followed the end of the Ice Age the Ice Age transformed the transformed the available food available food supply. supply.

THE PALEOLITHIC AGETHE PALEOLITHIC AGE Some animals, such Some animals, such

as the reindeer, as the reindeer, migrated to the migrated to the north. north.

Others, such as the Others, such as the mammoth, became mammoth, became extinct. extinct.

The period from The period from 10,000 to 5000 is 10,000 to 5000 is called the Mesolithic called the Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age (Middle Stone Age).Age).

THE NEOLITHIC AGETHE NEOLITHIC AGE The Agricultural The Agricultural

RevolutionRevolution The development of The development of

systematic systematic agriculture and the agriculture and the domestication of domestication of animals (10,000 to animals (10,000 to 6000 B.C.E. in the 6000 B.C.E. in the Near East) made Near East) made possible the possible the emergence of emergence of civilization. civilization.

THE NEOLITHIC AGETHE NEOLITHIC AGE

Wheat and barley Wheat and barley were probably the were probably the first wild grasses to first wild grasses to come under come under cultivation. Animals cultivation. Animals such as sheep, such as sheep, goats, pigs, and goats, pigs, and donkeys were donkeys were adapted to human adapted to human use. use.

THE NEOLITHIC AGETHE NEOLITHIC AGE

Archaeologists Archaeologists speculate that the speculate that the dog was the first dog was the first animal to become animal to become domesticated. domesticated. Systematic Systematic agriculture and the agriculture and the domestication of domestication of animals gave animals gave humans control over humans control over their food supply. their food supply.

Economic and Social Economic and Social Character of Neolithic Character of Neolithic

CulturesCultures Population:Population: The revolution in The revolution in

agriculture had a agriculture had a direct impact on direct impact on population growth. population growth.

Archaeologists have Archaeologists have found evidence of a found evidence of a sharp increase in sharp increase in population among population among Neolithic peoples. Neolithic peoples.

After 8000 B.C.E., After 8000 B.C.E., villages appeared.villages appeared.


CulturesCultures Division of Labor:Division of Labor: The existence of an The existence of an

agricultural surplus agricultural surplus permitted specialization. permitted specialization.

There is evidence that There is evidence that women were the first women were the first farmers. farmers.

The settled life of Neolithic The settled life of Neolithic villages facilitated the villages facilitated the establishment of traditions, establishment of traditions, crafts, and lasting crafts, and lasting institutions. institutions.


CulturesCultures Trade:Trade: The The

agricultural agricultural revolution marked revolution marked the beginning of the beginning of commerce between commerce between different regions. different regions.

Different Neolithic Different Neolithic peoples traded with peoples traded with one another, one another, exchanging raw exchanging raw materials and materials and handcrafts. handcrafts.

Neolithic Culture and Neolithic Culture and Technological InnovationsTechnological Innovations

Neolithic culture spread to every part Neolithic culture spread to every part of the habitable world. of the habitable world.

Despite their many differences, Despite their many differences, Neolithic cultures possess certain Neolithic cultures possess certain common traits such as woodworking, common traits such as woodworking, pottery manufacture, and a textile pottery manufacture, and a textile industry. industry.


Woodworking. Woodworking. During the Paleolithic During the Paleolithic Age tools were Age tools were manufactured from manufactured from stone by one of two stone by one of two processes: chipping processes: chipping flakes (Flake Cultures) flakes (Flake Cultures) or cutting away from a or cutting away from a core (Core Cultures). core (Core Cultures).

In the Neolithic period, In the Neolithic period, tools with edges that tools with edges that had been ground had been ground down appeared for the down appeared for the first time.first time.


Pottery: Pottery: Pottery Pottery probably emerged out probably emerged out of the need for vessels of the need for vessels in the preparation and in the preparation and storage of foods. storage of foods.

The discovery of The discovery of pottery is one of the pottery is one of the earliest examples of earliest examples of early man’s efforts to early man’s efforts to control and utilize the control and utilize the processes of chemical processes of chemical change.change.

“ “Firing” transforms Firing” transforms clay’s consistency and clay’s consistency and color. color.


TextilesTextiles: : Knitting and Knitting and weaving were weaving were developed by Neolithic developed by Neolithic peoples. peoples.

Spinning wool Spinning wool appeared shortly after appeared shortly after the domestication of the domestication of animals. animals.

Cotton was cultivated Cotton was cultivated as early as 3000 as early as 3000 B.C.E. in the Indus B.C.E. in the Indus Valley. Valley.

APPEARANCE OF APPEARANCE OF CIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

Between 4000 and 3000 B.C.E., the earliest Between 4000 and 3000 B.C.E., the earliest civilizations appeared in the Near East. civilizations appeared in the Near East.

Between 6000 and 3000 B.C.E., humans Between 6000 and 3000 B.C.E., humans invented the plow, utilized the wheel, invented the plow, utilized the wheel, harnessed the wind, discovered how to smelt harnessed the wind, discovered how to smelt copper ores, and began to develop accurate copper ores, and began to develop accurate solar calendars. solar calendars.

These events were part of a gradual process These events were part of a gradual process in which small villages grew into populous in which small villages grew into populous cities. cities.

Civilization begins with the appearance of the Civilization begins with the appearance of the first cities. first cities.


Definition of Culture and Definition of Culture and CivilizationCivilization

The word “culture” refers to the The word “culture” refers to the variety of ways of living (thought and variety of ways of living (thought and action) created by a group and action) created by a group and transmitted to its successors. transmitted to its successors.

Eight Features of Eight Features of CivilizationCivilization

CitiesCities Centralized GovernmentsCentralized Governments Complex ReligionsComplex Religions Job SpecializationJob Specialization Social ClassesSocial Classes Arts & ArchitectureArts & Architecture Public WorksPublic Works System of WritingSystem of Writing

Eight Features of Eight Features of CivilizationCivilization

The PyramidThe Pyramid

How does the pyramid shape How does the pyramid shape represent the eight features of represent the eight features of

civilization?civilization?


Paleolithic and Neolithic Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures depended on cultures depended on an oral tradition to an oral tradition to transmit the skills and transmit the skills and discoveries of one discoveries of one generation to the next. generation to the next.

The invention of writing The invention of writing (3500 B.C.E., in (3500 B.C.E., in Mesopotamia) marks Mesopotamia) marks the beginning of the beginning of civilization and divides civilization and divides prehistoric from historic prehistoric from historic times. times.


Causes for the Rise of Civilization Causes for the Rise of Civilization A number of theories seek to account A number of theories seek to account for the appearance of civilization after for the appearance of civilization after 4000 B.C.E. 4000 B.C.E.

Climate, geography, economic it- Climate, geography, economic it- sources, food supply, and cross-sources, food supply, and cross-cultural contact have been offered as cultural contact have been offered as explanations for the rise of specific explanations for the rise of specific civilizations. civilizations.


The First Civilizations The First Civilizations Archaeologists and historians Archaeologists and historians disagree as to which of the great disagree as to which of the great civilizations of antiquity was the civilizations of antiquity was the oldest. oldest.


Some scholars believe that the first Some scholars believe that the first civilization appeared in the Nile Valley in civilization appeared in the Nile Valley in Egypt. Egypt.

A CASE STUDY:URA CASE STUDY:UR

More think that civilization first More think that civilization first appeared in the area between the appeared in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia.

A CASE STUDY: URA CASE STUDY: UR

Climate and Climate and GeographyGeography: : The The most popular most popular explanation for the explanation for the rise of civilization rise of civilization links climate and links climate and geography. geography.

A CASE STUDY AT URA CASE STUDY AT UR

Soil Exhaustion Soil Exhaustion Theory:Theory:

Neolithic farmers Neolithic farmers constantly faced the constantly faced the inevitability of inevitability of overworking the overworking the land. land.

The flooding of a The flooding of a river revitalizes the river revitalizes the soil, making soil, making continued farming continued farming possible. possible.


The need for The need for collective action in collective action in the building of dikes the building of dikes and reservoirs, and and reservoirs, and the enlargement of the enlargement of the farmer’s diet, the farmer’s diet, which followed the which followed the introduction of fruit, introduction of fruit, date, and olive trees date, and olive trees during this period.during this period.


Complex Complex InstitutionsInstitutions

Formal governments Formal governments with officials and laws.with officials and laws.

Priests with both Priests with both religious and political religious and political powers.powers.

A rigorous education A rigorous education system for training system for training scribes.scribes.


Advanced CitiesAdvanced Cities Uruk with population of about 50,000Uruk with population of about 50,000 Lagash & Umma with populations of Lagash & Umma with populations of

10,000-50,000 people.10,000-50,000 people.


Advanced Advanced TechnologyTechnology

c. 3000 BCE, the c. 3000 BCE, the wheel, plow, and wheel, plow, and sail in daily use.sail in daily use.

Bronze toolsBronze tools


Record Record KeepingKeeping

Cuneiform Cuneiform tablets keeping tablets keeping records for records for business business transactions, transactions, historical historical events, events, customs & customs & traditions.traditions.


Specialized WorkersSpecialized Workers

ScribesScribesTeachersTeachersMetal WorkersMetal Workers

MerchantsMerchantsSoldiersSoldiersPriestsPriestsPottersPotters

Government OfficialsGovernment OfficialsFarmersFarmersWeaversWeavers

the earliest beginnings of civilization. history and prehistory definition of history definition of...

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