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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.
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