World History

Chapter 1: Prehistory – 300 B.C.

Section 1

Understanding Our Past

Geography and History Geography

Study of people, their environment and the resources available to them

Five themes that show the relationship between geography and human history Location

Relative Location Where one place is located in relation another place

Exact Location Determined by latitude and longitude Example: Seoul, South Korea is located at 37ºN, 127ºE

Geography and History (Con’t) Place

The physical features and human characteristics of that location

Human-Environment Interaction How humans have been shaped by the

environment and vice versa Movement

The movement of people, goods and ideas Trade is a major example

Geography and History (Con’t)

Region Division of the world based on different

characteristics Missouri is in the Region called the Midwest,

or Breadbasket Iraq is located in the Region called the Middle

East

How Do We Know?

Prehistory Long period of time before the invention of

writing systems History passed on by stories

Anthropology Origins and development of people and

their societies

How Do We Know? (Con’t) Archaeology

Find and analyze the material remains of humans and animals

Artifacts Objects made by human beings Tools, weapons, pottery, etc.

Today, Archaeologist have traced the development of technology

They also use modern technology to study and interpret their findings

How Do We Know? (Con’t) Geologist

Study the rocks to help determine the age of artifacts and conditions on earth at that time

Historians Study how people lived in the past They study artifacts and especially written

documents Desire to understand the questions… Who? What?

Where? When? And most importantly… Why?

Section 2

The Dawn of History

The Old Stone Age

Also known as the Paleolithic Age 2 million B.C. to 10,000 B.C.

African Beginnings Oldest humanlike bones found in Africa Theory suggest life started in Africa

The Old Stone Age (Con’t)

Hunters and Food Gathers Paleolithic people were nomads

Moving place to place as they followed game animals and ripening fruit

Used very primitive weapons Eventually developed spoken language Lived through ice ages

Development of glaciers throughout earth

Early Religious Beliefs

Use of animism Belief the world is full of spirits and forces

that reside in animals, objects and dreams Eventually people began burying their

dead

The Neolithic Agricultural Revolution

Development of the New Stone Age Learned to farm around 11,000 B.C. Some people moved away from being nomadic Also began domesticating animals

The population began to explode No greater change in population would happen

again till around 1700’s A.D. Development of wealth with the growth of

individual’s personal property

New Technology Development of:

Calendars Use of oxen or water buffalos to plow Better, more smooth tools Weaving of clothing begins

Technologies were not the same in all parts of the world

Neolithic period led to the creation of civilizations

Section 3

Beginnings of Civilizations

The Rise of Cities

Civilization Complex, highly organized social order First began developing along River Valleys

River Valley Civilizations (RVC) Tigris and Euphrates in Middle East Nile River in Egypt Indus River in India Yellow River in China

The Rise of Cities (Con’t)

Common conditions: Rivers flooded annually Animals flock to rivers Regular water supply and for of

transportation Development of walls, temples, palaces,

etc.

Features of Civilization

Cities Organized Government

Started out ruled by elders or priest Then powerful rulers took and claimed

power from Gods Became more complex as laws, taxes and

systems of defense developed

Features of Civilization (Con’t) Complex Religions

Most were polytheistic Believed in many Gods

Used ceremonies like construction of temples and sacrifices to appease the God’s

Job specialization Development of artisans, or skilled craft workers No longer could one person specializes in all crafts

Features of Civilization (Con’t)

Social Classes Ranking based on jobs

Priest normally top and slaves lowest

Arts and Architecture Expressed the beliefs and values of the

people Normally beautiful temples, statues etc.

Features of Civilization (Con’t) Public Works

Irrigation systems Roads Bridges Defensive walls

Writing Earliest writings were pictograms

Drawings representing objects Only scribes learned to read

Spread of Civilization

Developed into city-states A political unit that included a city and its

surrounding lands Power struggles help build empires

A group of states or territories under one ruler

Nomads continued their way of life, many on steppes

Civilizations and Change

Environments greatly changed human life in these civilizations Droughts Floods Volcanic eruptions

Could be human caused Over farming Overuse of resources

Civilizations and Change (Con’t)

Development of Cultural Diffusion Spread of ideas, customs and technologies

from one people to another Trade the biggest reason for cultural

diffusion Warfare caused forceful cultural diffusion

many times