Time Periods Time Periods

Just the Basics, Please!Just the Basics, Please!

Prehistory and History…Prehistory and History…What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Prehistory is the Prehistory is the period before period before writing.writing.

History is the History is the period after period after writing.writing.

Time…Comprehending ItTime…Comprehending It

Imagine that the Imagine that the entire prehistory of entire prehistory of the earth was equal to the earth was equal to the height of the the height of the Empire State building.Empire State building.

Placing a book on top Placing a book on top of it would represent of it would represent the time that man has the time that man has existed on the planet.existed on the planet.

A coin stacked on top A coin stacked on top of the book would of the book would represent recorded represent recorded history!history!

Or…Imagine This….Or…Imagine This….

If the history of the 5 billion year old If the history of the 5 billion year old Earth was shrunk to fit within the Earth was shrunk to fit within the span of one calendar year…span of one calendar year…

Man would first be seen making tools Man would first be seen making tools on December 31.on December 31.

He wouldn’t begin farming until the He wouldn’t begin farming until the last 60 seconds of December 31.last 60 seconds of December 31.

History would not begin until man History would not begin until man began to write during the last began to write during the last millisecond of December 31!millisecond of December 31!

Tracking TimeTracking Time

Draw a horizontal line across your Draw a horizontal line across your paperpaper

Write “0” in the middle. This Write “0” in the middle. This represents the approximate date of represents the approximate date of the birth of Christ.the birth of Christ.

Write B.C. to the left of the “0” and Write B.C. to the left of the “0” and A.D. to the right.A.D. to the right.

Do you know what these letters Do you know what these letters represent?represent?

B.C. means Before Christ.B.C. means Before Christ. A.D. is the Latin, “anno domini” A.D. is the Latin, “anno domini”

which means in the year of our Lord.which means in the year of our Lord.

But…Things Change!But…Things Change!

Historians have begun using a new Historians have begun using a new designation.designation.

B.C.E. and C.E.---Can you guess what B.C.E. and C.E.---Can you guess what these letters mean?these letters mean?

B.C.E. means before the common era.B.C.E. means before the common era. C.E. means in the common era.C.E. means in the common era. Write B.C.E. to the left of the “0” on Write B.C.E. to the left of the “0” on

your timeline and C.E. to the right.your timeline and C.E. to the right.

More About Tracking TimeMore About Tracking Time

YearsYears DecadesDecades CenturiesCenturies MilleniaMillenia

Back to Your Timeline….Back to Your Timeline….

Divide your timeline into five equal spaces, both to Divide your timeline into five equal spaces, both to the left and right of the “0”. Each division will the left and right of the “0”. Each division will represent 100 years.represent 100 years.

How many total years are represented on your How many total years are represented on your timeline? How many years fall in B.C.E. (B.C.)? timeline? How many years fall in B.C.E. (B.C.)? How many years fall in C.E. (A.D.)?How many years fall in C.E. (A.D.)?

What do historians mean when they refer to the 1What do historians mean when they refer to the 1stst century C.E. or 1century C.E. or 1stst century B.C.E.? Write it in on century B.C.E.? Write it in on your timeline. Do the same for 2your timeline. Do the same for 2ndnd, 3, 3rdrd, 4, 4thth, and 5, and 5thth centuries C.E. and B.C.E. centuries C.E. and B.C.E.

Now, write the years 100, 200, 300, and 400, both Now, write the years 100, 200, 300, and 400, both B.C.E. and C.E., above the lines dividing your B.C.E. and C.E., above the lines dividing your spaces. What years are included in the 1spaces. What years are included in the 1stst century? century? The 4 The 4thth century? century?

Be Careful!Be Careful!

What is the difference between “100 What is the difference between “100 C.E.” and “100 years ago”?C.E.” and “100 years ago”?

What is the difference between What is the difference between “2000 C.E.” and “2000 years ago”?“2000 C.E.” and “2000 years ago”?

What is the date for 4000 years ago?What is the date for 4000 years ago? The Iceman lived around 3000 B.C.E. The Iceman lived around 3000 B.C.E.

How many years ago was this?How many years ago was this?

Time Periods…What’s in a Time Periods…What’s in a Name?Name?

The Paleolithic The Paleolithic period is also period is also called the Old called the Old Stone Age.Stone Age.

It began about It began about 2,000,000 B.C.E. 2,000,000 B.C.E. and lasted until and lasted until about 8000 B.C.E.about 8000 B.C.E.

The Neolithic period The Neolithic period is also called the is also called the New Stone Age.New Stone Age.

It began around It began around 8000 B.C.E. and 8000 B.C.E. and lasted until about lasted until about 4000 B.C.E, but not 4000 B.C.E, but not at the same time in at the same time in all places! Can you all places! Can you explain why?explain why?

The Copper Age is The Copper Age is sometimes included as sometimes included as part of the Bronze Age part of the Bronze Age because in some places because in some places the Bronze Age began the Bronze Age began almost at the same almost at the same time!time!

The earliest evidence The earliest evidence for the use of copper for the use of copper occurs around 8000 occurs around 8000 B.C.E., but not until B.C.E., but not until 3000 B.C.E. in China 3000 B.C.E. in China and Europe. Remember and Europe. Remember the Iceman’s axe?the Iceman’s axe?

The Bronze Age began The Bronze Age began when man began when man began alloying copper with alloying copper with tin.tin.

This occurred about This occurred about 3500 B.C.E. in the 3500 B.C.E. in the Fertile Crescent (the Fertile Crescent (the Middle East today), Middle East today), but not until 1000 C.E. but not until 1000 C.E. in the New World!in the New World!

The Iron Age began The Iron Age began when man discovered when man discovered that iron made better that iron made better tools and weapons tools and weapons because it was harder because it was harder and more durable.and more durable.

The use of iron tools The use of iron tools began around 1300 began around 1300 B.C.E in Egypt, Persia, B.C.E in Egypt, Persia, Assyria, and India.Assyria, and India.

Early Time Periods in Our Early Time Periods in Our World History CourseWorld History Course

Unit One 8000 B.C.E.-600 B.C.E.Unit One 8000 B.C.E.-600 B.C.E.

Let’s Do History & Getting CivilizedLet’s Do History & Getting Civilized

Unit Two 600 B.C.E.-1450 C.E.Unit Two 600 B.C.E.-1450 C.E.

Not All Roads Lead to RomeNot All Roads Lead to Rome

Another Timeline…Another Timeline…

Draw another timeline 5 or 6 inches below Draw another timeline 5 or 6 inches below the first. the first.

Write 2,000,000 B.C.E. on the left side and Write 2,000,000 B.C.E. on the left side and 1000 C.E. on the right. 1000 C.E. on the right.

Label and date the timeline with the Label and date the timeline with the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Copper, Bronze and Paleolithic, Neolithic, Copper, Bronze and Iron time periods. Iron time periods.

Add Unit One and Unit Two time periods Add Unit One and Unit Two time periods from our course.from our course.