From Hunter-Foragers to Settled Societies

Migrating Across the Globe• Modern humans (homo sapiens sapiens) appeared

in East Africa between 200,000 & 100,000 yrs. ago

• Hunter-foragers (a.k.a. hunter-gatherers): always on the search for food, migrating from place to place, gradually expanding their region

• Climate, population density, new food sources, fresh water were reasons to move; moving to new climates & environments forces these groups to adapt and/or create new technology

• The first “Americans” crossed the Bering Land Bridge 15 to 20 thousand years ago during the last Ice Age

Paleolithic Period• Began 2.5 million yrs. ago and ended about

10,000 yrs ago (8,000 B.C.E.)• Humans used tools and weapons made out of

stone, bone, antlers, and wood during this period…a.k.a. Stone Age

• One of the greatest accomplishments of the people in the Paleolithic Period was to learn to control FIRE

• Light, heat, protection from animals, hunting, and the preparation of food

• Most of these hunter-forager groups lived in a kinship group of about 20-40 people clan tribes led by a chief/priest

• Men: hunting, warfare, heavy labor; Women: gathered, prepared food, took care of children

Neolithic Revolution • Around 8,000 B.C.E., as the climate was warming up

from an Ice Age, people fundamentally changed the way they lived based on the development of agriculture…which did not happen instantaneously.

• The Neolithic Revolution can be characterized by:• AGRICULTURE AND SURPLUS – population increase• PASTORALISM/DOMESTICATION – domestication of animals• SPECIALIZATION OF LABOR – Artisans, Merchants, Soldiers,

Priests • TOWNS AND CITIES – Social classes • GOVERNMENTS – Coordinate logistics of towns/cities • RELIGIONS – Persuade the spirits of nature for help or

guidance• TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS – trade, warfare, migration

The First Civilizations• The 7 developments of the Neolithic Revolution

created the foundation for a new form of human society to emerge – civilization: a large society with powerful states

• Society became more stratified into socio-economic classes

• Human impact on the environment became more intense

• Government and religious and military institutions became larger and more complex

• Trade increased• The gap b/t rich and poor grew larger

River Valley Civilizations

The First Civilizations• Mesopotamia; valley of the Tigris and Euphrates

Rivers

The First Civilizations• Nile River Valley

The First Civilizations• Huang He (Yellow) River Valley

The First Civilizations• Indus River Valley