Chapter 1 Reading Guide: From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations

Chapter Summary. Between the Old Stone Age (Paleolithic) and the New Stone Age (Neolithic)—12,000 to 8,000 B.C.E.—changes in human organization and food production prepared the way for the emergence of the first civilized societies. Neolithic development of agriculture was the first truly revolutionary transformation in human history. Neolithic farmers were able to remake environments to suit their needs, producing surpluses for the support of specialized elites in agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing. The combination of factors usually resulted in urban settlements marked by complex social stratification. Full civilizations emerged first in the Tigris-Euphrates valley, by 3500 B.C.E., and in Egypt along the Nile by 3000 B.C.E. The two very different civilizations had distinct political and cultural characteristics that influenced political forms, art, science, and architecture of neighboring and distant succeeding generations. Many small centers sprang up after 1500 B.C.E., mixing their cultures with Mesopotamian influences. Some of the smaller cultures had major influences. The Phoenicians, a maritime commercial society, absorbed important influences from major civilization centers, and around 1300 B.C.E., they devised a simplified alphabet that became the ancestor of the Greek and Latin lettering systems. The Hebrews, a Semitic people influenced by Babylonian civilization, moved into the southeast corner of the region around 1600 B.C.E. Their distinctive achievement was the development of a monotheistic and ethical religion that has persisted through the ages and is the basis of Christianity and Islam. East and South Asia also developed unique civilizations near great river systems. Chinese civilization emerged along the Huanghe River. In North China the formation of the Shang kingdom, from around 1500 to 1122 B.C.E., and the succeeding Zhou dynasty, marked the origins of the distinctive and enduring Chinese civilization. The ancestor to Indian civilizations, Harappa, flourished in the Indus River Valley. All early river valley civilizations encountered difficulties around 1000 B.C.E., establishing a break between the early and later periods of civilization. Climatic change, administrative weakness, and Nomadic Aryan invaders brought an end to the Harappan period in India between 1500 and 1000 B.C.E. The Aryans established the basis for a new pattern of civilization in South Asia.

How long have humans impacted the history of the earth?

What was life like during the Paleolithic Age? (technology, art, religion, etc.)

What distinguishes the Mesolithic Age?

THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTIONWhat are the 2 reasons for the initial development of agriculture?

What accompanied farming?

How long did the revolution take?

Why is it referred to as a revolution?

What are the positive and negatives that go with sedentary agriculture?

What was the general reception to settled farming?

1

Chapter 1 Reading Guide: From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations

In what parts of the world did agriculture not take hold? Why?

How did agriculture spur specialization?

What kinds of innovations were very helpful to agriculture? Which were most helpful? Why?

CIVILIZATIONThe need to manage what caused people to establish towns and develop the first governments?

What is, Catal Huyuk? Why is it so significant?

Where did early civilizations arise?

What are key characteristics of civilization?

Why did civilizations develop writing?

Who is not included in the history of civilization? Why?

What are the social differences between civilizations and hunter-gather societies?How did civilizations impact their environment?

In general, where were the first civilizations located? Why?

INDIVIDUAL CIVILIZATIONSTIGRIS-EUPHRATES INDUS RIVER VALLEY

POLITICAL

ECONOMIC

RELIGIOUS

2

Chapter 1 Reading Guide: From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations

SOCIAL

INTELLECTUAL/ARTISTIC

NEAR: GEOGRAPHY

EGYPT CHINA SHANGPOLITICAL

ECONOMIC

RELIGIOUS

3

Chapter 1 Reading Guide: From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations

SOCIAL

INTELLECTUAL/ARTISTIC

NEAR: GEOGRAPHY

THINKING HISTORICALLY--THE IDEA OF CIVILIZATION IN WORLD HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVEWhat do the terms barbarian and civilized mean? How have their meanings changed over time?

THE HERITAGE OF THE RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONSDescribe the legacy of these civilizations. How important were they? Why?

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

How were Egypt and Mesopotamia different?

Which of the 4 early river civilizations had the least influence? Why?

4

Chapter 1 Reading Guide: From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations

RETROSPECTIVE: FROM HUNGING AND GATHERING TO CIVILIZATIONSWhat accounts for the similarities found in the early river civilizations?

What 3 kinds of contacts existed during the early phases of human history?

What is diffusion?

**DON’T FORGET TO STUDY THE BOLD FACED KEY TERMS IN THE MARGINS.**

5