Chapter 1

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

First Settlers 

part 2

Early people had many gods

Invented stories

Epic of Gilgamesh a story about a big flood

Good at subdividing time

King Hammurabi of Babylon created a series of laws known as "Hammurabi's code"

+ three of Hammurabi's laws+

• If he satisfy the elders to impose a fine of grain or money, he shall receive the fine that the action produces.
•  If any one ensnare another, putting a ban upon him, but he can not prove it, then he that ensnared him shall be put to death.
• If any one steal the property of a temple or of the court, he shall be put to death, and also the one who receives the stolen thing from him shall be put to death.

First Settlers 

The western world is Europe the Americas

pre History-before things were written down

Not fully civilized people

200 thousand years ago is when human species were discovered

groups of 20's or 30's

earliest prehistoric age is the Paleolithic age

thousands of years to make weapons + plows

learning how to cook

had their own higher Archie

 woman did not wave men jobs

woman had to care for children

woman were at the bottom of the high Archie

invention of the wheel & plow was a huge advancement

Believed in many go

sun god, moon god

kill big animals a ate them for there "force"

 Fertile crescent & Mesopotamia

Now Iraq is arid and dry, used to be lush green  Big city States mow (40,000 people)

lots of conflicts with more people

 Now have professions

Make laws for the many people

They INVENTED the VERY First FORM of writhing  "CUNIFORM" (little symbols)

Girl Rising 

Today in class we talked about the movie we watched on Thursday. "Girl Rising" was a very emotional and moving story about girls from third world country's and how they live there lives and the struggles they face. Girls everywhere are being shut down for wanting an education and good jobs for later in life. They are forced to be married at ages as young as 10, putting three year old's in manual labor till there old enough to provide for themselves, and not allowing girls to go to school for more then a few years if not none. A good education is such an important quality to have. When some one deprives you of that quality you rise up and fight back. That's exactly what these girls and many others around the world are doing.    

First Day of West Civ.

Today was the first day of Western Civ. We have most of the same people as we did in human geo but a few different and a few less. It's still a really good and hopefully fun class. I'm not really sure what what west civ is but I'm ready to learn. I hope it'll be interesting and exciting to learn about.