Narne _ Class _ Date _

CHAPTER

1 Section 1 Guide to the EssentialsUnderstanding Our Past

TEXT SUMMARY

Human beings have always been interestedin learning about the past. We know thatthe first people lived more than two millionyears ago in prehistoric times. Prehistoryis the time before people invented writing.Prehistoric people had no cities, countries,or organized governments. About 5,000

years ago, some people indifferent parts of theworld invented writing.This event marked thebeginning of history.

Archaeology is a sci-ence that helps us learnabout our past. It is the

study of how early people lived. Archaeolo-gists are scientists who study artifacts.Artifacts are things, such as tools, weapons,

•Scientists and histo-rians study the pastto see how earlypeople lived.

Archaeologists,geographers,and historiansall contribute toour knowledgeof the past.

and clothing, that early people left behind.By studying artifacts, archaeologists learnabout the beliefs and actions of our ances-tors.

Historians also study how people livedin the past. Like archaeologists, they studythings that early people left behind. How-ever, historians pay more attention to writ-ten artifacts such as letters and diaries. Theyuse records to explain how events hap-pened.

Geography is the study of Earth and itspeople. Geography and history are linkedbecause geography shows how places influ-ence the way people live. Geographers studywhat happens when groups of people movefrom one place to another. They also studythe movement of goods and ideas.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Learning About the Past

? ~ N~~----------~~~------~~ARCHAEOLOGY..A( HISTORY ~ GEOGRAPHY ~

Study of early peo~ Study of what happ~d Study of Earth, its ,\fexamining things they left and how people lived people and its resourcesbehind in the past

To learn about the beliefsand activities of a groupof people

What is it?

To learn how placesaffect the way peoplelive and how peoplemove from place to place

Who does it? Archaeolog ist Historian Geographer

What do they do? Study artifacts, such astools, weapons, clothing,pottery

Study artifacts, especiallywritten documents

Study where peoplelived and why theylived there

Whydo they do it? To learn how eventshappened

REVIEW QUESTIONS1. Give an example of how geography

affects the way people live.2. Chart Skills What do archaeolo-

gists learn from studying artifacts?

2 Reading and Vocabulary Study Guide

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~ar.ne _ Class _ Date _

CHAPTER

1 Section 2 Guide to the EssentialsThe Dawn of History

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: The First PeopleOld Stone Age or Paleolithic Period

(2,500,00~0~B~.C~.)~•••• ~~,,~~~--.

TEXT SUMMARY

The earliest people lived during the OldStone Age. This period is also called the Pale-olithic Age. The Old Stone Age began more

than two million years ago.Paleolithic people werenomads. Nomads movedfrom place to place, huntingand gathering food. Theymade simple tools andweapons from stone, bone,or wood. As time passed,they developed a spoken

•• r' language.Paleolithic people devel-

oped religious beliefs. They thought that theworld was filled with spirits. They alsobelieved in life after death. Old Stone Agepeople buried tools and weapons with their

Old Stone Age peo-ple made tools andlearned skills tosurvive. The NewStone Age broughtfarming and settledcommunities.

• Very small population• Nomads• Hunters and gatherers• Simple tools and weapons

• First spoken languages• Discovery of fire• Cave paintings• Belief in afterlife• Women important

dead so that they had what they needed inthe afterlife.

Around 10,000 B.C., people made twovery important discoveries. They learned toplant seeds to grow food. They also learnedto tame animals. These discoveries allowedpeople to stay in one place and to farm. Thischange marked the beginning of the NewStone Age, or Neolithic Age. Historians callthese discoveries the Neolithic agriculturalrevolution because they changed the waypeople lived.

After the Neolithic agricultural revolu-tion, there was more food to eat. With morefood, the population increased. People livedtogether in villages. These villages later ledto the development of advanced societiescalled civilizations.

New Stone Age or Neolithic Period(10,000 B.C.)

• Increasing population• Villages• Farmers• Domestic animalsPeople of the Old

Stone Age and the

New Stone Age made

many important discoveries.

• Calendar and technology• Personal possessions• Village headman and

counci I of elders• Women less important

REVIEW QUESTIONS1.What two discoveries were made

during the Neolithic agriculturalrevolution?

2. Graph Skills When did peoplediscover fire?

4 Reading and Vocabulary Study Guide

~arne _ Class _ Date _

CHAPTER

1 Section 3 Guide to the EssentialsBeginnings of Civilization

TEXT SUMMARY

By about 5,000 years ago, the first civiliza-tions began to develop. Historians havefound basic features common to most early

civilizations. Some of thesefeatures are cities, orga-nized governments, andsocial classes. (See chartbelow.)

The most important fea-ture of early civilizationswas the rise of cities. Thefirst cities developed as

people began to farm along river valleys inthe Middle East, Africa, and Asia. These river

•Civilizations sharebasic features.Contacts betweencivilizations broughtcultural change.

valleys provided water, fertile (rich) soil,and transportation. Farmers could produceextra food. More food helped the popula-tion to grow. As a result, villages slowly grewinto cities.

All civilizations change as time passes.Civilizations change when the environmentchanges. For example, when all the wood ina forest has been cut, people must find newbuilding materials. Civilizations also changethrough cultural diffusion. Cultural dif-fusion is the sharing of ideas and technolo-gy. Cultural diffusion results from war,trade, and the migration of people.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: What Makes a Civilization?

What MakesA Civilization?

There are eight basic

features common to

most early civilizations.

OADS, BRIDGES,TEMPLES, AND OTHER

PUBLIC WORKS

SOCIALCLASSES

ART ANDARCHITECTURE

CITIES

REVIEW QUESTIONS1. When does cultural diffusion

happen?2. Diagram Skills Name three

features of a civilization.

6 Reading and Vocabulary Study Guide

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