The Rise of Civilization

Essential Questions

What caused the shift in humans from hunting/gathering to settlements?

What are the characteristics of a civilization?

Stone AgeStone Age- 2 million BCE-3,000 BCE

Survived on hunting and fishing, and collecting berries, nuts, and roots.

Very few if any settlements, humans were migratory.

Stone AgeThe human brain began to develop and intelligence increased.

Spoken language evolved, groups settled together to pool resources

Primitive tools

Formation of art and religion

Rise of Early CivilizationAround 3,000 BCE, humans developed the first written language, and settle into the first major cities

Properties of these new city locations?

Characteristics of Civilization

a system of writingcities and townsstates separated by definite boundary linesorganized governmentsfarmers, herdsmen, and fishermen who produced food for specialized workersspecialized workers—blacksmiths, carpenters, shopkeepers, priests, government officials—who furnished manufactured goods and a variety of services

more leisure timeroads and harborstemples, palaces, and monumentstrade routesorganized religionsa variety of metal tools and weaponsa system of educationthe use of science and mathematicsbookkeeping and recordkeeping

Civilized societies developed certain characteristics which prehistoric Stone Age cultures did not have:

Learning About CivilizationsFirst Civilizations:-Fertile Crescent -Egypt-Indus River Valley -Huang He River (China)We know about the people of ancient times because of the work of anthropologists and archaeologists:– Anthropologists- study the culture and behavior of ancient humans– Archaeologists- collect and study artifacts (bones, tools, etc…)

Coin AnalysisPretend that you are an archaeologist living in the year 5,000 CE. You have just found the coin pictured below. Assume you have never seen the coin before, that you have never heard of the United States, and that you know nothing at all about the people who made the coin. Pretend this coin is an artifact which was found at a site where people lived thousands of years earlier. The coin is the only source of information available about these people.As an archaeologist, it is your job to draw conclusions about the people who made the coin. Briefly describe these people and their ways of living based on information found on the coin. Try to write at least 5 (5) conclusions and how you know this information.List five (5) things that CANNOT be determined about these people from the information on the coin.

Coin Analysis

DebriefWere the people who made this coin civilized or uncivilized? Explain your answer in 25-50 words. Mention specific facts to support your opinion.