Prehistory, the Prehistory, the Neolithic Neolithic

Revolution, and Revolution, and River CivilizationsRiver Civilizations

BIG PICTURE: Development of BIG PICTURE: Development of agriculture a MAJOR CHANGE in agriculture a MAJOR CHANGE in human history. Most societies were human history. Most societies were agricultural. Still a clash between agricultural. Still a clash between industrialized world and agricultural industrialized world and agricultural patterns.patterns.

I. Human EvolutionI. Human Evolution Emergence of humans 2.5 million BCE Emergence of humans 2.5 million BCE

– 9,000 BCE – Hunter - Gatherers– 9,000 BCE – Hunter - Gatherers Earliest versions of humans from East Earliest versions of humans from East

Africa (Olduvai Gorge) Africa (Olduvai Gorge) Use of tools and domestication of Use of tools and domestication of

animalsanimals Homo sapiens sapiensHomo sapiens sapiens (H.s.s.) – (H.s.s.) –

120,000 years ago120,000 years ago Migration around the world – resourcesMigration around the world – resources 25,000 BCE – H.s.s. spread around the 25,000 BCE – H.s.s. spread around the

world (few exceptions)world (few exceptions)

Early Human SitesEarly Human Sites

II. Neolithic (Agricultural) II. Neolithic (Agricultural) RevolutionRevolution

People spread out and formed distinct People spread out and formed distinct cultures based on their environmentcultures based on their environment

10,000 – 9,000 BCE – 5 – 10 million 10,000 – 9,000 BCE – 5 – 10 million peoplepeople

H.s.s. coexisted with other species H.s.s. coexisted with other species (Neanderthals) but eventually triumphed (Neanderthals) but eventually triumphed over themover them

Development of Agriculture and Development of Agriculture and Industrial Revolution – two MAJOR Industrial Revolution – two MAJOR changeschanges

Agricultural RootsAgricultural Roots

Middle East/Black Middle East/Black Sea -9000 – 8000 Sea -9000 – 8000 BCEBCE

Wheat and barleyWheat and barley

South South China/Continental China/Continental Southeast Asia – Southeast Asia – 7000 BCE7000 BCE

RiceRice

Central America – Central America – 5000 BCE5000 BCE

Maize (corn)Maize (corn)

POSSIBLY Sub – POSSIBLY Sub – Saharan Africa and Saharan Africa and Northern ChinaNorthern China

III. Changes from III. Changes from Neolithic RevolutionNeolithic Revolution

5000 BCE – agriculture common but slow 5000 BCE – agriculture common but slow – disadvantages– disadvantages

Few contacts among far – flung populationFew contacts among far – flung population Environment not suitable (desert, heavy Environment not suitable (desert, heavy

forest)forest) Success of nomadic herding in some Success of nomadic herding in some

regionsregions Staying in one place…waiting…Staying in one place…waiting… GREATER WORK LOADGREATER WORK LOAD

Gender relations changed – patriarchal Gender relations changed – patriarchal societiessocieties

Higher birthrate necessaryHigher birthrate necessary Men primary cultivatorsMen primary cultivators Inequalities between men/womenInequalities between men/women Settled, clustered groups at higher risk of Settled, clustered groups at higher risk of

diseasedisease Altered local environments (slash and burn)Altered local environments (slash and burn) INCREASE IN FOOD SUPPLY RESULTED IN INCREASE IN FOOD SUPPLY RESULTED IN

INCREASED POPULATIONINCREASED POPULATION Agricultural societies – 80/20Agricultural societies – 80/20 Spring and divine creationSpring and divine creation Surpluses - potterySurpluses - pottery

WHY?WHY?

Why would perfectly happy and Why would perfectly happy and healthy hunter-gatherers have healthy hunter-gatherers have settled down to be farmers? What settled down to be farmers? What processes encouraged this processes encouraged this transition?transition?

How do periods of cold and warm How do periods of cold and warm weather affect human development?weather affect human development?

IV. Early CivilizationsIV. Early Civilizations

Why Rivers?Why Rivers? Agriculture- dependable water Agriculture- dependable water

supplysupplyAND stuff already grows thereAND stuff already grows there

Domesticated animalsDomesticated animals Ability to settleAbility to settle More temperate climateMore temperate climate Irrigation possible- plays a big role Irrigation possible- plays a big role

in emergence of civilizations in emergence of civilizations

A. MesopotamiaA. Mesopotamia

First “civilization”= Sumeria, 5,000 First “civilization”= Sumeria, 5,000 BCEBCE

Tigris & Euphrates – large Tigris & Euphrates – large agricultural surplusagricultural surplus

Later, Akkad (empire 2340 BCE), Later, Akkad (empire 2340 BCE), Babylon (early 2Babylon (early 2ndnd millenium BCE) millenium BCE)

Used bronze – improved military, Used bronze – improved military, required long distance traderequired long distance trade

Wheel (Central Asian nomads)Wheel (Central Asian nomads)

Mesopotamian firstsMesopotamian firsts

First because:First because: Writing - cuneiform (long distance Writing - cuneiform (long distance

comm., trade, knowledge passed on)comm., trade, knowledge passed on) City-states, formal/structured City-states, formal/structured

governmentgovernment Monumental architecture (ziggurat) Monumental architecture (ziggurat) Military strategies and armor Military strategies and armor Irrigation (need rules to regulate)Irrigation (need rules to regulate)

Not first, but remembered for:Not first, but remembered for: Law code of Hammurabi (c. 1750 BCE)Law code of Hammurabi (c. 1750 BCE)

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

B. EGYPT- Gift of the B. EGYPT- Gift of the NileNile

MIGRATION ~5000 BCE to MIGRATION ~5000 BCE to Nile- ran out of water in Nile- ran out of water in SaharaSahara

Civilization emerged 3000 BCECivilization emerged 3000 BCE Nile – very regular, viewed as a Nile – very regular, viewed as a

benevolent godbenevolent god Made Egypt hugely productiveMade Egypt hugely productive Creation myths – flood cycleCreation myths – flood cycle 5X the area of France, 6M 5X the area of France, 6M

years oldyears old

Increasing population needs greater Increasing population needs greater political organizationpolitical organization

Larger % of pop. lived in farming Larger % of pop. lived in farming villages than citiesvillages than cities

Ethnically diverseEthnically diverse Less stark social divisions than Less stark social divisions than

MesopotamiaMesopotamia Women had more mobility (esp. upper Women had more mobility (esp. upper

class)class)

Social PyramidSocial PyramidPHAROAH

PRIESTSNOBLES

MERCHANTS/ARTISANS

PEASANTS

SLAVES

PoliticsPolitics Three major periods: Three major periods: OLD KINGDOM 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C.OLD KINGDOM 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C. MIDDLE KINGDOM 2050 B.C. to 1652 B.C.MIDDLE KINGDOM 2050 B.C. to 1652 B.C. NEW KINGDOM 1532 B.C. to 1070 B.C. NEW KINGDOM 1532 B.C. to 1070 B.C.

(height)(height)

Major rulers:Major rulers:Old Kingdom: Narmer (Menes), Khufu, Old Kingdom: Narmer (Menes), Khufu,

Khafra, MenkureKhafra, MenkureNew Kingdom: Ramses II, Hatshepsut, New Kingdom: Ramses II, Hatshepsut,

AkhenatenAkhenaten

ReligionReligion Re (Sun god), Osiris, Isis - Re (Sun god), Osiris, Isis -

reincarnation (Egyptian Book of reincarnation (Egyptian Book of the Dead) – Papyrusthe Dead) – Papyrus

Pharoahs divine (Horus)Pharoahs divine (Horus) Pyramids, mummies – Pyramids, mummies –

postmortem judgmentpostmortem judgment Gods of conquered territories Gods of conquered territories

incorporatedincorporated

HieroglyphsHieroglyphs

HieroglyphsHieroglyphs

(formal writing)(formal writing)Ancient EgyptianAncient Egyptian

HieraticHieratic

(cursive ‘handwriting’)(cursive ‘handwriting’)

DemoticDemotic

(evolved from hieratic)(evolved from hieratic)DemoticDemotic

CopticCoptic

(evolved from Demotic, (evolved from Demotic, uses Greek characters)uses Greek characters)

CopticCoptic

Written script Spoken language

Hieroglyphic pictograms can be read in up to three Hieroglyphic pictograms can be read in up to three different ways:different ways: they can represent exactly what they look likethey can represent exactly what they look like they can represent an idea (i.e. son of), orthey can represent an idea (i.e. son of), or they can represent a sound (sa)they can represent a sound (sa)

C. INDUS VALLEYC. INDUS VALLEY 2500 BCE – Major cities Harappa and 2500 BCE – Major cities Harappa and

Mohenjo – Dara (now underwater) Mohenjo – Dara (now underwater) Written language (still uncoded) – lots of QsWritten language (still uncoded) – lots of Qs Architecture indicates strong central Architecture indicates strong central

authorityauthority Indus River was very unpredictable- flooded Indus River was very unpredictable- flooded

the cities frequently, also frequent monsoonsthe cities frequently, also frequent monsoons Trade with north and west – tools/stones of Trade with north and west – tools/stones of

high quality/valuehigh quality/value Fell before the invasions of Indo – Europeans Fell before the invasions of Indo – Europeans

(natural disaster? “systems failure”?)(natural disaster? “systems failure”?)

Mohenjo-Daro & Mohenjo-Daro & HarappaHarappa