Human+Origins+and+Early+Civilizations

Unit 1: Chapters 1-6 Themes: Geography as a determinant of history; humanity becomes increasingly diverse; civilizations struggle to discover social, political, economic and cosmological order; slow pace of historical change.



Pre-Agricultural Revolution- hunter-gatherers - nomadic people

Paleolithic- “old stone age” Neolithic- “new stone age”

Agricultural Revolution- permanent establishments -birth of religion -organized division/specialization of labor -women’s role in society increased because the men were out farming during the day -systemized regulation -laws formed -private property- people needed reassurance that land would still be theirs the next year; other wise, why go back?

Civilization- a sedentary existence in which a code of laws or justice system governs a group of people arranged into a social system. This existence is based on religious beliefs and contains certain luxuries set to make said peoples lives easier. These people are able to communicate and have organized a system of writing as well as created a division of labor.

Diffusion theory- knowledge spreads through human contact; like water spreading through paper

Agrarian Civilization- primarily rural societies - based on peasant agriculture or livestock breading - maintained like in balance with natural habitat - thought sacrifices as way to control gods - had religious specialists to control gods - lived life in accordance to natural time- ex: got up when the sun rose - social values

Metals- copper- combined with ones to form bronze Metal uses • First used: soft copper • Bronze: harder that copper, resistant to weathering -Bronze Age- 700-1500 BCE - used for weaponry - Heavy - Expensive -Iron Age- cheaper -more durable than bronze - More common - Used as weapons - Spread: 1200 BCE - First used by Indo-Europeans (Hittities_

· A Few Definitions of Terms
 * History**- a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account


 * Historiography-** the body of literature dealing with historical matters; histories collectively

· The Evolving Past · Paleolithic Age · Neolithic age: Agriculture Most people maintained life in balance with their natural environment. They believe gods and spirits. They sacrifice as way to control the deities. They communicate with gods. They believe time to be cyclic. They have king and clan.
 * Archaeology-** the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, esp. those that have been excavated
 * Archaeology** is the fastest evolving science in the world we are learning more now than ever before.
 * Neanderthals-** Example of failed hominid (ps. It’s not human kind)
 * 30,000 years ago-** All other hominids died off and Homo sapiens appeared on Europe
 * Homo sapiens-** what we are, in the Paleolithic used stones to make tools, started speech around 100,000 BCE
 * Agricultural revolution-** The beginning of human’s activity to grow and breed their food.
 * The dramatic series of changing in human-** could be a better word to describe the agricultural revolution.
 * Expanding population-** the number of population keeps increasing.
 * Permanents settlements-** People start to settle down.
 * Privately owned** **property-** there were no concept of private own property until farming and livestock became common.
 * Systematized regulation-** laws of use of resources, including land and water.
 * Specialization of labor-** carpenter and soldier are who weren’t expected to grow or breed the food supply.
 * Matriarchy-** female social and political dominance
 * Female- centered religion rituals-** female has more power than male.
 * Diffusion theory-** Knowledge of new things sprays like water through human contacts.
 * Agrarian Civilization-** They were rural societies.
 * Copper-** first metal people use.
 * Bronze-** combined with lead tin ores, and copper. Harder than copper and more resistant to weather.