History Condensed

1. 6 billion B.C. (B.C.E.) or so ……………birth of planet earth2. 2 million years ago ……………….man-like creatures appear3. 100,000 B.C. …………………….humans appear4. 7500 B.C. ………………………beginning of civilization (agriculture) This was considered the beginning of civilization

because… people didn’t have to hunt for their food; they could

grow it. This meant that they had time to develop things like government, the arts, etc.

5. 3500 B.C. …………………….. Writing appears• The first writing was done by the Sumerians

and was called cuneiform

Not real Sumerians…

•They used to call anything before this prehistoric, but then they changed the name to preliterate. Why? “Prehistoric” means “before history.” Since there really isn’t anything before history, they changed the name to “preliterate” which means before writing.”

Example of cuneiform

Ancient Civilizations

• Egyptians – Nile . The Nile would flood predictably. They knew when it was going to happen

•Sumerians – Tigris and Euphrates Rivers The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers would NOT flood predictably. Sometimes there would be no flooding; sometimes there would be TONS of flooding.

Sumerians

Sumerians

Nile River -- Egyptians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMJiibdVYjE

Example of how bad the flooding can be in this part of the world… It causes huge mud slides

6. 2000 B.C. to 550 A.D. …………Rise of Classical CivilizationsExamples: Greece (Athens, Socrates, democracy, gods like

Zeus…) Rome (Republic, Caesar, Roman Empire)

The Acropolis in Greece at night

Julius Caesar

Roman Empire

7. 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D. …..European Middle Ages

• Also called Medieval or Dark Ages• Feudalism existed• Divine Right of Kings: Kings were supposedly

ordained or chose by God to be king. This meant ordinary people could never be rulers.

• Serfs, knights, Crusades• The Pope had tremendous power

Middle Ages medicine

8. 1350 to 1600 A.D. ………… the Renaissance (“rebirth”)• Art, literature, architecture, theater• The Reformation and Martin Luther• Exploration• Machiavelli wrote a book about government

called The Prince

Renaissance Art

Martin Luther rebelling against the Catholic Church