Chapter 1 Notes

From Prehistory to Civilization 3000-1200 B.C.

Learning Objectives:

-        Trace the key developments of prehistory, from the emergence of our human ancestors to the beginnings of village life.

-        Explain why the society that grew up in Sumer is considered one of the first civilizations, and describe later developments in Mesopotamia.

-        Contrast the ancient civilization of the Nile with that of the Tigris-Euphrates, and discuss the defining features of Egyptian life.

“Language, religion, art, technology. Farming, Family life, and village communities- all these basic features of human existence originated in prehistoric times.”

Prehistory- the millions of years in which human beings appeared on the earth, spread across the planet, and advanced in organization and skills.

With the development of agriculture and the move away from a hunting and gathering way of life, the quality of human life improved.

The temple of Amon- made in 1600 B.C. remains the world’s largest religious building and its located near the city of Thebes

Before Civilization: The Prehistoric Era  

The Origins and “Ages” of human beings

The Hunting and Gathering of Life

Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)- earliest period of human prehistory

Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)- advanced tool making

Pictures of beast were found painted on cave walls from 25,000 years ago. These beast were probably praised not hunted.

The Agricultural Revolution

Agricultural Revolution- the shift to hunting and gathering food to a more settled way of life.

-        Between 8000-4000 B.C.

-        Based on farming and herding

Southwestern Asia- where the first agricultural Revolution began

Climate, Skills, and technology

Beginning of Agriculture:

-        New environmental conditions

-        The development of Techniques for domesticating plants

-        The development of techniques for domesticating animals

Villages and families

Polytheism-the belief in many gods

Men, Women, and Farming

Villages and Civilization

“Nurtured by a favorable environment and then toughen by harsher conditions, there grew in Mesopotamia a new kind of society”  

The Earliest Cities: Mesopotamia  

Sumer

Landscape, Climate, and Cities