unit one. prehistory time before the invention of writing, about 5,000 years ago scientific clues...
TRANSCRIPT
Unit One
In The Beginning
Discovering the Past One Broken Piece of Pottery at a Time…
Prehistory•Time before the invention of writing, about 5,000 years ago
Scientific Clues•Archaeologists study bones and artifacts—human-made objects•Anthropologists study culture—a group’s way of life•Paleontologists study fossils—plant or animal remains preserved in rock
Discovering the Past One Broken Piece of Pottery at a Time…
• Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) lasted from about 2.5 million to 8000B.C.• cold temperatures and large Glaciers (Ice Age)• Use of tools, fire, and language develops during the Stone Age
Tools Needed to Survive• Paleolithic humans were nomads—moved in search of food • Hunted animals, collected plant foods—hunter-gatherers
Types of ToolsSpears, bow and arrow, early shovels for digging up plants or cleaning animal hides, and bone needles for making clothes
The Dawn of a New Time…Neolithic Revolution— “agricultural revolution” began about 10,000 years ago
• Nomadic women scattered seeds, then discovered crops growing
• Shift from food-gathering to food-production great breakthrough!!Causes of the Agricultural Revolution
• Rising temperatures was the key reason
• Longer growing season, drier land for wild grasses
• Constant supply of food led to population growth
So What Really Changes?
The Dawn of a New Time…Agriculture Causes Change• Farming success leads to larger communities…less people starve Economic Changes• Ancient people build irrigation systems to increase food production• Food surpluses free some people to develop new skills• Craftspeople make cloth, objects; traders profit from exchange of goods• Invention of wheel and sail enable traders to travel longer distancesSocial Changes• Social classes develop; religion becomes more organized
Keys to a Civilization
Sumer• Located in Mesopotamia, now part of modern Iraq• One of the first civilizations—a complex culture:
- advanced cities- specialized workers- complex institutions- record keeping- advanced technology
Advanced Cities• Cities with larger populations arise, become centers of trade
Keys to a Civilization Specialized Workers• Labor becomes specialized—specific skills of workers developed• Artisans make goods that show skill and artistic ability
Complex Institutions• Institutions—(governments, religion, the economy) are established• Governments establish laws, maintain order• Temples are centers for religion, government, and trade
Keys to a Civilization Record Keeping• Professional record keepers, scribes, record taxes and laws• Scribes invent cuneiform, a system of writing about 3000 B.C.• People begin to write about city events
The Big Four
Leaders of the Big FourMesopotamia Sargon 2350 B.C.
Conquered the Northern and Southern parts of Mesopotamia creating the first empire
Hammurabi 1792 B.C. Made the city of Babylon the
capitol = Babylonian Empire Created the Code of
Hammurabi Had all of the laws written in
stone and posted in city centers
Egypt Menes 3100 B.C.
Also known as the Scorpion King Unified Upper and Lower Egypt Was seen as a God
Hyksos 1630-1523 B.C. “the rulers of foreign lands”
Hatshepsut (1485-1470 B.C.) One of the first women pharaohs Known for diplomacy not war
Akhenaten (1364-1347 B.C.) Removed polytheism (many gods)
made self only god
Leaders of the Big FourEgypt Tutankhamen “Tut” (1347 B.C.)
Boy King, brought back all gods Viewed as less important, which is
largely why his tomb is believed to not be robed
Ramses II (1279-1213 B.C.) Took control of Palestine Commissioned the building of the
Valley of the Kings Cleopatra VII 1st century B.C
Tried to gain full independence for Egypt from Rome, not successful
Involved with Julius Caesar
Indus River Valley • No known leaders• Believe it was a theocracy• Domestication of animals: 7000 B.C.• Planned cities along Indus River 3200
B.C.• Little known because we have not
broken their language code yet• 1750 B.C. fell apart and people
disappeared
Leaders of the Big FourChina Emperor Yu Shang (Xia Dynasty) 2000 B.C.
Tamed the Yellow River (Huang He) Irrigation purposes and controlled
flooding Engineer and mathematician
Zhou Dynasty 1045-256 B.C. Longest ruling Dynasty Mandate of Heaven: Divine approval Introduced feudalism Coin money Process to cast iron
Religion and Culture of the Big Four
Mesopotamia • Theocracy
• Priests and rules share control• Ziggurat
• Priests controlled irrigation system
• Collected Taxes• Culture
• Has social classes• Kings, landholders and priests• Wealthy merchants• Workers• Slaves
Egypt Theocracy
Pharaoh was the god and king Built pyramids at tombs for the
pharaoh Mummification Hieroglyphics: system of writing Continual preparation for the afterlife Created calendar: 365 days, 12
months, 30 days per month
Religion and Culture of the Big Four
Indus River Valley• Harappan People
• Well planned cities• Oven baked bricks of uniform sizes• Plumbing and sewage systems• Strong central government• Zoning• Written language…can’t
understand it though • May have all been of the same
social class• Few weapons = no/limited conflict• Traded with many people
(maker/shipment seals)
China Family is central as is respect for elders Very distinct divide of classes
Warrior-nobles were the ruling class Peasants were like slaves
Religion was tied to elders Spirits of the elders brought +/-
things Communicated through use of
Oracle bones (animal or tortoise shells)
Writing System Made-up of several “characters”
each represents an idea Can read it without being able to
speak it.
New EmpiresAssyrians 700 B.C.
Empire included areas of Mesopotamia, Iran, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Israel
Ruled by Kings King Sennacherib brutally destroys enemies
Glorified armies wear metal armor, copper helmets, leather protection
Efficient messenger system, one week to send message anywhere in the empire
King Ashurbanipal Established library in Nineveh 20,000 tablets
including Epic of Gilgamesh Empire fell in 612 B.C. to the Medes and
Chaldeans (from the East) King Nebuchadnezzar took over and made
Babylon the center of empire Hanging Gardens were commissioned by him
Assyrian Empire
Persian Empire
New EmpiresPersians 539 B.C.
Ruled by Kings Cyrus The Great
Force only when required Loved by his people Allowed the captive Jews to return to homeland Cultural and religious tolerance
Assyrian Empire
Persian Empire