THE BEGINNINGS OF HUMAN SOCIETY

Chapter 1

GEOGRAPHY and HISTORYSection 1

History- written and recorded events of people

Prehistory- the time period before history Archaeologists- scientists who examine

objects to learn about past people and cultures.

UNDERSTANDING HISTORY

ICEMAN?

WHAT DID HE TEACH US?

Civilization, Organized? Chaotic? Advanced? Misdirected/Fledgling? How would archaeologists use the

artifacts (pieces of history) to draw conclusions about the iceman?

RECORD SPOKEN WORD

Oral Traditions- stories passed down by word of mouth

Geography- study of the earth’s surface and the processes that shape it (includes climate, landscape and location)

DID WE LEARN?

What do scientists study to learn about prehistory?

Name some geographic features! How can geography help us understand

history?

PREHISTORY

Hominids- Refers to modern humans as well as early humans and their ancestors

Why scientists think hominids existed for millions of years? Footprints in the sand!

STONE AGE/HUNTERS & GATHERERS

Stone age- period of time when hominids began making lasting tools

What did they make them out of? Wood, stone, bones Old Stone age- Had not yet learned to

farm, were hunter gatherers Almost all Prehistory took place during

the old stone age

FIRE

1,400,000 to 500,000 years ago, hominids learned how to use fire

How? We cannot be sure Possibly a grass fire caused by lightening Hominids learned to create fire by

rubbing sticks to create a spark Big step in the advancement of life Allows us to live in colder climates

TRAVEL BEGINS

Nomads- people who have no settled home

They stay and hunt and gather until the food has run out or moved on

Early nomads spread throughout most of the earth

FARMING

Middle stone age- characterized by the use of more refined tools

New stone age- characterized by the use of even better tools and the advent of farming

If you could grow crops, you did not need to be nomadic

Colonies begin to form Women gathered and planted seeds while

men hunted

FARMING WORLD WIDE

Some places were better for growing than others

You needed warmth, water, and good soil. Many took up farming as a way of life

Domestication

Plants and Animals were domesticated Plants? Yes Plants Farmers selected only the best grown

crops to take seeds from to grow. Animals also became domesticated, they

were used for work as well as companionship

TELL ME ABOUT IT

Divide and conquer

THE BEGINNINGS OFCIVILIZATION

The worlds first construction workers

How To Farm In the Desert

What are the ideal farming conditions we learned about?

So how do we farm in the desert? Irrigation-supplying land with water from

another location using a network of canals

How did it work?

Getting Settled

Farm life was more difficult than hunting and gathering, but it was much more rewarding

Could give people huge supplies of food Surplus- having more than what you need What effect did this have on population?

Population Explodes

Surplus food allowed families to grow Larger families meant more workers Now tell me what’s next? 10,000 years ago est. population- 5

million 7,000 years ago est. population- 20

million

Early Villages and Towns

With the three basics met, what can civilizations do?

Artisan- worker who is especially skilled at crafting things by hand

Examples- basket weaving, creating cloth, tools, pottery, and leather goods

The Growth Of Cities

Early cities typically sprung up next to a clean water source with lots of materials for shelter

River water beds led to fertile soil to farm on

Cities differed largely from towns, (exp. More people, less farmers, more craftsman.

Farmers had about enough by this point In the cities farmers became craftsmen

Governments Form

What is the purpose of government? Keep order, solve disputes, manage

public buildings, irrigation projects

Civilization

A society with cities, with a central government, run by leaders, and workers who specialize in specific jobs

The Bronze Age

6600 BC Artisans discover copper 3000 BC Artisans discover mixing copper

and tin makes bronze (much stronger than either)

Bronze was used for tools, weapons, and protection

Trade and the Spread of Ideas

People knew they were not alone Artisans began to trade their items for

items from far away lands Major Invention- Axle and rod connected

to wheels. Now we could transport farther, easier.

Development of large boats called ships allowed us to travel over water to ship

Development of Social Classes

Social Class- a group of people with a similar background, income, and way of life

Kings and Queens were at the top, then nobles and military/government officials, the artisans and merchants, and common people and farmers bring up the lower class.

The lowest class, slaves

HOMEWORK

PG. 25- 1-6 (use complete sentences)

PG. 26- 7- A/B/C 8- B/C 10- A/B/C Map Mastery