Prehistory/EARLY CIVILIZATIONSPREHISTORY

What is it?

Prehistory is the period of time before WRITTEN record. (about 5,000 years ago)

How do we know PREHISTORY?1.Archeology

2.Radiocarbon Dating

3.Oral Traditions

PREHISTORY: What was it like?1. Hunter/Gatherers

2. Nomadic people

Why did it change?

1. Farming Develops

2. Animals are domesticated

Agriculture is considered to be one of the GREATEST inventions of all time by many historians because it fostered the development of CIVILIZATIONS. These civilizations depended on agriculture.

4,000,000 B.C. First Hominids appear in Africa

1,600,000 B.C. Homo Erectus appears 200,000 B.C. Neanderthals appear 40,000 B.C. Cro-Magnons emerge

(identical to modern humans) 8000 B.C. Neolithic Age begins – first

agriculture takes place 3000 B.C. Bronze Age well established in

Mesopotamia

The Paleolithic (“Old Stone”) Age, c. 40,000-c. 10,000 B.C.E. Hunter-gatherers Trade (e.g. seashells) Technology

firemaking bone and stone

weapons and jewelry Art and religion:

Cave paintings and female figurines

The Neolithic (“New Stone”) Revolution, c. 10,000-c. 4000 B.C.E. Transition from a

nomadic existence as hunter-gatherers to more settled lifestyle Invention of agriculture Domestication of

animals

Increasingly gender-based division of labor

Specialized crafts (metallurgy and weaving)

Emergence of social hierarchy: patriarchal organization of state and society would become the norm in the West

Invention of irrigation (c. 6500 B.C.E.) facilitated establishment of settled agricultural communities in the Fertile Crescent

Ancient river civilizations developed in four key areas: Mesopotamia, Egypt,

China and India. These civilizations evolved as a result

of the development of agricultural practices which relied upon a steady

supply of fresh water.

The Trigger Effect Watch the clip and thencomplete the “Characteristics of

Civilization” worksheet – explaining how the discovery of agriculture led to the development of:

Advanced skills Cities & government Division of labour Writing Calendars.

As civilizations began to develop, the need arose for organization, and they began to develop key

characteristics and cities were built.

Cities

Government & Laws

Religion

Job Specialization

Social Classes

Writing

Arts

Public Works

Because of agriculture’s dependence on fertile soil and an abundance of

water, most early civilizations developed near RIVERS.Mesopotamia: Known as “the land between

two rivers”. Several civilizations developed here between the Tigris and Euphrates.

Egypt: Civilization that grew along the banks of the Nile River.

Indus and Ganges River Valleys: Isolated civilizations thrived for many centuries. (Indus River)

Huang and Chang Jiang River Valleys: Earliest known cities develop here. (Yellow River)

1. Mesopotamia: Legal code (Hammurabi’s Code), math skills, and first form of writing (Cuneiform)

2. Egypt: Calendar, use of paper (papyrus), and hieroglyphics

3. Indus Civilizations: Highly organized cities and waste disposal

4. Chinese Civilizations: Silk, rice farming, and bronzework.