The Journey Begins

• The Beginning– What are many theories about how the world

began?

– Consider three myths:• “Creation from the Waters” (Egypt)

• “The Gods come to Mount Olympus” (Greece)

• “How the World Began” (China)

Venn Diagram

Egypt

ChinaGreece

Setting the Stage:The Early Peopling of Europe

I. The Formation of Societies

A. Migration of Early Humans

B. Social Organization

C. Ability to Adapt and Survive

i) Tool Making

ii) Speech

iii) Mastery of Fire

D. Types of Primitive Societies

i) Hunting and Gathering

ii) Pastoral

Neanderthal Peoples in Europe75,000 BCE - 35,000 BCE

35,000 BCE

FORMATION OF SOCIETIES

Neanderthal Peoples75,000 BCE - 35,000 BCE

Migration of Early Humans: 25,000 Years Ago

• Earth as one big land mass (and Land Bridge)

• Migration from Asia to North America

• Following animals

• Melting of Glaciers and Loss of Land Bridge

Social Organization

• Hunting and Gathering– Small Groups (40)– No Settlements– Nomadic– No Political System (decisions made together)

Social Organization

• Pastoral– Relied on Domesticated Herd Animals– Produced Food– Larger Groups of People– Economic and Political Institutions– Hereditary Chieftainship– Nomadic (new grazing land)

Survival: Tool-Making

Stone (Flint or Obsidian)BoneWood

Primitive• Hand Axe• Scrappers• Knives• Points• Blades

Advanced• Beads• Ornaments• Fishing Hooks• Bows and Arrows• Needles

Surviving: Speech

• Language – probably developed when humans started to make different kinds of noises to mean different things:– Grunts– Sighs

Thus developed rudimentary language

• Language helped bring groups together to share aspects of their culture

Surviving: Mastery of Fire

• Natural Fires– Bolts of Lightening– Gathering Embers and carrying to various locations

• Human-Made FiresRubbing Sticks/Stones togetherCampfires/Fire PlaceAllowed for Travel to Colder Regions

EuropeAsia

Food is now cooked – Food Supply IncreasedAdvanced Tool-MakingDefence Against Animals

Europe About10,000 BCE

Cultural Hearths of Civilization

Mesopotamia: Cultural Hearth

Black Sea

Euphrates

Tigris

Anatolian Hearth

The Anatolian Hearth: Diffusion 6000 BCE - 3000 BCE

Pastoral Societies in Europe2000 BCE - 1000 BCE

CeltsItalicsSlavsIllyriansGreeksGermansBaltsThracians

The Urnfield Culture, 800 BCE

Early Classical Greek Civilization, 1250 - 1000 BCE

Athenian League 435 BCE During the Golden Age of Greek Culture

The Roman Empire

Roman Coins

Roman Roads

4 feet 8.5 inches

Roman Architecture

Barbarian Kingdoms and Migrations 4th and 5th Century

Germanic Invasionsinto Britain

Diffusion of Islam: 630 – 1600 CE

The Empire of Charles the Great, "King of the Franks" 700s CE

The Beginnings of Feudalism

About 800 CE

Suggested Routes of the Vikings700s - 1000s CE

Suggested Routes of the Vikings2005 CE

Feudalismca. 1150

Emerging Nation States, ca. 1500

Germany at the time of the Reformation, Early 1500s