early civilizations study guide

8

As you read this section in your textbook, complete the outline below to summarizeinformation about the periods of early human history and the development of civilizations.

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Note Taking Study GuideTOWARD CIVILIZATION

PART

1.1

I. Old Stone Age/Paleolithic Period

A. From time of first stone toolmakers to about 10,000 B.C.

B. Nomadic way of life

1. Hunting and gathering bands of 20 to 30 people

2. Made simple tools and weapons

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Section SummaryTOWARD CIVILIZATION

PART

1.1READING CHECK

Who are nomads?

VOCABULARY STRATEGY

What does the word statusmean in the underlined sen-tence? Note that the word statusis repeated in the next sentence.As men gained status as war-riors, the status of womendeclined. How does this help youunderstand the meaning of theword status?

READING SKILL

Identify Causes and Effects Create a 4-step flowchart toshow how the development offarming led to the growth ofcities in river valleys. Begin yourflowchart with “Nomadic bandslearned to farm.”

The period from the time of the first stone toolmakers to about10,000 B.C. is known as the Old Stone Age, or the Paleolithic Period.Paleolithic people were nomads, or people who move from place toplace to hunt for animals and edible plants. They lived in bands of20 to 30 people and made simple tools and weapons. They devel-oped spoken language, invented clothing made from animal skins,and learned to build fires.

About 10,000 years ago, nomadic bands learned to farm. Thisallowed them to remain in one place, which ushered in the New Stone Age, or Neolithic Age. Neolithic people established permanent villages and learned to tame animals. Village lifereshaped the roles of men and women. During times of want, war-fare increased. Success in battle enabled some men to gain status aswarriors, which gave them power over both women and other men.The status of women declined.

About 5,000 years ago, the advances made by early farming com-munities led to the rise of civilizations. Historians have identifiedseven basic features common to most early civilizations: well-organized central governments, complex religions, job specializa-tion, social classes, arts and architecture, public works, and writing.

Food surpluses in the river valleys of Africa and Asia helpedpopulations to expand. As populations increased, some villagesgrew into cities. The challenge of farming in a river valley con-tributed to the development of city governments. Projects to controlflooding and channel waters to fields required organization. Overtime, city governments became more complex, and governmentbureaucracies grew.

Social organization also became more complex. People wereranked according to their jobs. Priests and nobles were usually at thetop, followed by merchants and artisans, or skilled craftworkers.Below them were the peasant farmers and slaves at the very bottom.Priests developed writing to record information. Early writing wasmade up of pictographs, or simple drawings that represented ideas.

As ancient rulers gained more and more power, they conqueredterritories beyond their cities. Some conquered many cities and vil-lages, creating empires, or groups of states, territories, and peoplesruled by one person.

Review Questions1. Why did city governments develop in river valleys?

2. How were people ranked socially in early civilizations?

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10

As you read this section in your textbook, complete the outline below to summarizeinformation about the first civilizations in North Africa and the Middle East.


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Note Taking Study GuideFIRST CIVILIZATIONS: AFRICA AND ASIA

PART

1.2

I. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

A. Villages in Nile River valley joined into two kingdoms.

B.

C. Old Kingdom (about 2575–2130 B.C.)

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Section SummaryFIRST CIVILIZATIONS: AFRICA AND ASIA

PART

1.2READING CHECK

What was the diaspora?

VOCABULARY STRATEGY

Find the word complex in theunderlined sentence. What doyou think it means? The wordsimple is an antonym of the wordcomplex. Use this clue to helpyou figure out the meaning ofcomplex.

READING SKILL

Compare and Contrast Compareand contrast the geography ofcivilizations in Egypt and inSumer.

The first civilizations emerged in river valleys and developed complex ways of life. In the Nile River valley in Egypt, villagesjoined together into two kingdoms. These kingdoms were laterunited under King Menes.

The history of ancient Egypt after King Menes is divided intothree periods, the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. During the OldKingdom, the Egyptian rulers, or pharaohs, organized a strong centralgovernment and built pyramids as tombs. During the Middle andNew Kingdoms, trade and warfare brought Egypt into contact withother civilizations, which led to cultural diffusion.

Egyptians worshiped many gods and goddesses and built tombsto preserve their bodies for the afterlife. Egyptian society was orga-nized into classes. At the top was the pharaoh, who was consideredboth a king and a god.

Another civilization, the city-states of Sumer, developed alongthe Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area was called Mesopotamia,and was located in the Fertile Crescent. The city-states often foughtfor control of land and water. War leaders eventually became rulers,and a social hierarchy emerged. The Sumerians built dikes, irriga-tion ditches, and ziggurats, or pyramid-temples. They also inventedthe earliest form of writing, called cuneiform, which scribes learnedhow to read and write.

About 2300 B.C., Sargon, the ruler of Akkad, conquered the city-states of Sumer. He built the world’s first empire. About 1790 B.C., Hammurabi, king of Babylon, conquered much of Mesopotamia. Hislaw code was the first major collection of laws in history.

About 2000 B.C., the Hebrews migrated from Mesopotamia toCanaan. They developed Judaism, a monotheistic religion based onthe belief in one God. They recorded events and laws in the Torah,their most sacred text. Prophets preached a strong code of ethicsand urged the Hebrews to obey God’s law. The Hebrews establishedthe kingdom of Israel, which eventually split into two parts. Invadingarmies captured the Hebrews, who later became known as Jews.About 2,000 years ago, many Jews were forced to leave their home-land. This scattering of the Jewish people is known as the diaspora.

Review Questions1. Why did Egyptian rulers build pyramids?

2. Who invented the earliest form of writing, and what was it called?

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12

As you read this section in your textbook, complete the outline below to summarizeinformation about early civilizations in India and China.


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Note Taking Study GuideEARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN INDIA AND CHINA

PART

1.3

I. Cities of the Indus Valley

A. India’s first civilization arose in Indus River valley about 2600 B.C.

B. Two main cities were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

C.

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Section SummaryEARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN INDIA AND CHINA

PART

1.3READING CHECK

What are castes?

VOCABULARY STRATEGY

What does the word barriersmean in the underlined sen-tence? Two examples of physi-cal barriers are given in thesentence. How do these exam-ples help you understand themeaning of barriers?

READING SKILL

Identify Main Ideas List fourmain ideas about the Aryansfrom the second paragraph ofthe Summary.

India’s first civilization emerged in the Indus River valley about 2500B.C. This civilization flourished for 1,000 years and covered the largestarea of any in ancient times. Its two main cities, Mohenjo-Daro andHarappa, were carefully planned, with plumbing systems and under-ground sewers.

About 1500 B.C., nomadic people from the north, called Aryans,overran the cities of the Indus region. They spread eastward to theGanges River basin. By 500 B.C., a new Indian civilization, with manyrival kingdoms, had emerged.

Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from the Vedas,a collection of prayers, hymns, and religious teachings. The Aryansdivided themselves into social classes by occupation. Over time,these divisions grew into a system of castes. These are social groupsinto which people are born and cannot leave. We also know that theAryans were polytheistic, or believed in many gods. They eventu-ally came to believe in a single spiritual power, called brahman,which lived in all things. Some Aryans became mystics, whodevoted their lives to seeking spiritual truth.

The ancient Chinese believed that China was at the center ofEarth and the sole source of civilization. Physical barriers, includingmountains and deserts, separated China from the rest of the worldand contributed to this belief.

Chinese civilization began in the Huang He valley. About 1650B.C., a Chinese people called the Shang came to power in northernChina. In 1027 B.C., the Zhou people overthrew the Shang. The Zhoudynasty, or ruling family, lasted until 256 B.C. They promoted theidea of the Mandate of Heaven, or the divine right to rule. This ideawas later used to explain the dynastic cycle, or the rise and fall ofdynasties.

The Chinese prayed to many gods and nature spirits. Over time,these religious practices came to center on respect for ancestors. TheChinese also believed that the universe reflected a balance betweentwo forces, yin and yang. They studied the planets and eclipses andcreated an accurate calendar. They also developed bronzemakingand silkmaking and made the first books.

Review Questions1. When and where did India’s first civilization emerge?

2. Name three achievements of the ancient Chinese.

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early civilizations study guide

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