The March to CivilizationThe March to Civilization

History 10Mme WaiteHistory 10Mme Waite

Time LineTime Line 4 million years ago- first upright hominid 1.7 million years ago - Homo erectus appears 400 000 years ago - Homo sapiens him 100 000 years ago - Neanderthals appear in Europe 50 000 years ago - Modern-looking humans move out of Africa, into

Europe, replacing Neanderthals 35 000 years ago - Great leap forward - innovations in art and

technology 20 000 years ago - Bow and arrow developed by Paleolithic hunters 9000 BCE - Neolithic rev’n - towns develop/Animals & plants

domesticated 4500 BCE - Earliest civilizations emerge in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India

and Asia 3500 BCE - Cuneiform (earliest known form of writing) is developed in

Mesopotamia 2900 BCE - Sumerian civilization dominates Mesopotamia

4 million years ago- first upright hominid 1.7 million years ago - Homo erectus appears 400 000 years ago - Homo sapiens him 100 000 years ago - Neanderthals appear in Europe 50 000 years ago - Modern-looking humans move out of Africa, into

Europe, replacing Neanderthals 35 000 years ago - Great leap forward - innovations in art and

technology 20 000 years ago - Bow and arrow developed by Paleolithic hunters 9000 BCE - Neolithic rev’n - towns develop/Animals & plants

domesticated 4500 BCE - Earliest civilizations emerge in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India

and Asia 3500 BCE - Cuneiform (earliest known form of writing) is developed in

Mesopotamia 2900 BCE - Sumerian civilization dominates Mesopotamia

Human settlementHuman settlement 100 000 years ago, you would have

found three distinct populations in Europe, the Near East, Africa and Asia.

Homo sapiens sapiens, our direct ancestors eventually inhabited all these regions, although at different times:

Australia - 40 000 years ago The Americas - 12 000 years ago The Arctic - 10 000 years ago

100 000 years ago, you would have found three distinct populations in Europe, the Near East, Africa and Asia.

Homo sapiens sapiens, our direct ancestors eventually inhabited all these regions, although at different times:

Australia - 40 000 years ago The Americas - 12 000 years ago The Arctic - 10 000 years ago

The NeanderthalsThe Neanderthals

-lived between 100 000 and 40 000 years ago

-named after the Neander Valley in Germany where the first skeleton was found in 1857.

-were powerfully built but only about 5’3”

-lived between 100 000 and 40 000 years ago

-named after the Neander Valley in Germany where the first skeleton was found in 1857.

-were powerfully built but only about 5’3”

Neanderthal SocietyNeanderthal Society

Males worked together to hunt game Not clear if there was any formal

social relationship; I.e., males probably lived separately from females and children

There was no formal leadership or social interaction

Males worked together to hunt game Not clear if there was any formal

social relationship; I.e., males probably lived separately from females and children

There was no formal leadership or social interaction

Living conditionsLiving conditions

Neanderthal remains reveal a difficult life - high infant mortality

Adults died before age 40 Homes were simple Food was never guaranteed Danger and death a constant

threat

Neanderthal remains reveal a difficult life - high infant mortality

Adults died before age 40 Homes were simple Food was never guaranteed Danger and death a constant

threat

Characteristics of a Civillization

Characteristics of a Civillization

It has a centralized government It has a system of agriculture People have specialized employment Taxes are paid to the government There is a class structgure There is trade Writing is developed There is some type of state religion

It has a centralized government It has a system of agriculture People have specialized employment Taxes are paid to the government There is a class structgure There is trade Writing is developed There is some type of state religion

Great Leap forwardGreat Leap forward

Neanderthals disappear with the arrival of the invading, anatomically modern human from Africa. Homo Sapiens sapiens had

Better intelligence and therefore Better tools and weapons Around 35 000 years ago, the “Great

leap forward” began - humans evolved anatomically and showed signs of innovation.

Neanderthals disappear with the arrival of the invading, anatomically modern human from Africa. Homo Sapiens sapiens had

Better intelligence and therefore Better tools and weapons Around 35 000 years ago, the “Great

leap forward” began - humans evolved anatomically and showed signs of innovation.

Great Leap Forward (cont’d)Great Leap Forward (cont’d) Remember that for millions of

years, hominids evolved very slowly; but now changes would occur that separated humankind from all other animals.

* “..the achievements of humanity in the past 35 000 years are astounding, especially when

we consider that in the previous 60 000 years, Neanderthal culture remained virtually unchanged!” p. 31.

Remember that for millions of years, hominids evolved very slowly; but now changes would occur that separated humankind from all other animals.

* “..the achievements of humanity in the past 35 000 years are astounding, especially when

we consider that in the previous 60 000 years, Neanderthal culture remained virtually unchanged!” p. 31.

Homo Sapiens sapiens:Homo Sapiens sapiens: Showed curiosity, ingenuity and creativity Built tools from metal, like spears Tools had a purpose - awls for sewing,

axes for cutting, mortar and pestle for preparing food

Developed weapons, from bows and arrows, to darts and barbed harpoons

Built watercraft to navigate rivers and oceans

Developed interest in trade and aesthetic expression

Developed an interest in jewellery; sculpture, painting became important

Showed curiosity, ingenuity and creativity Built tools from metal, like spears Tools had a purpose - awls for sewing,

axes for cutting, mortar and pestle for preparing food

Developed weapons, from bows and arrows, to darts and barbed harpoons

Built watercraft to navigate rivers and oceans

Developed interest in trade and aesthetic expression

Developed an interest in jewellery; sculpture, painting became important

The Neolithic RevolutionThe Neolithic Revolution Means “New Stone Age” Refers to the period AFTER 9000 BCE,

when polished stone tools were used Animals were domesticated; crops were

planted There was a shift from hunting &

gathering to agriculture This development of a society led to the

establishment of civilizations.

Means “New Stone Age” Refers to the period AFTER 9000 BCE,

when polished stone tools were used Animals were domesticated; crops were

planted There was a shift from hunting &

gathering to agriculture This development of a society led to the

establishment of civilizations.

Ok, with all the dates and timelines, when, in fact, did human history begin?

Some historians say human history began with the arrival of the first fully human beings about 50, 000 years ago. From this point onward, humans societies evolved and developed rapidly.

Between 50,000 - 10, 000 BCE virtually every corner of the earth was populated.

Ok, with all the dates and timelines, when, in fact, did human history begin?

Some historians say human history began with the arrival of the first fully human beings about 50, 000 years ago. From this point onward, humans societies evolved and developed rapidly.

Between 50,000 - 10, 000 BCE virtually every corner of the earth was populated.

The earliest civilizations include:

The earliest civilizations include:

Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China Common characteristic: they developed along river

valleys - Mesopotamia - the Tigris and Euphrates rivers Egypt - The Nile India - The Indus river valley China - The Yellow riverThese rivers allowed for-steady source of water-fertile soil-means of communication/transportation-exchange of goods and ideas

Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China Common characteristic: they developed along river

valleys - Mesopotamia - the Tigris and Euphrates rivers Egypt - The Nile India - The Indus river valley China - The Yellow riverThese rivers allowed for-steady source of water-fertile soil-means of communication/transportation-exchange of goods and ideas

Mesopotamia - the cradle of civilization

Mesopotamia - the cradle of civilization

Means “land between the rivers” Nomadic life was abandoned for the land

between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers What important inventions were developed? Codified laws, the concept of Kingship,

writing, and the wheel were all invented by Mesopotamians!

The south was called “Sumer” and the north was called “Akkad” but they unified under the name “Babylonia.”

Means “land between the rivers” Nomadic life was abandoned for the land

between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers What important inventions were developed? Codified laws, the concept of Kingship,

writing, and the wheel were all invented by Mesopotamians!

The south was called “Sumer” and the north was called “Akkad” but they unified under the name “Babylonia.”

An inhospitable landAn inhospitable land Despite the arid soil, baked by the sun,

natural levees, embankments built up by sediment over thousands of years of flooding, could be drained, planted, irrigated and cultivated. Swamps also provided food for livestock, and were an important building material.

However, the area was susceptible to flooding and river-side communities were often at risk. See page 40.

Despite the arid soil, baked by the sun, natural levees, embankments built up by sediment over thousands of years of flooding, could be drained, planted, irrigated and cultivated. Swamps also provided food for livestock, and were an important building material.

However, the area was susceptible to flooding and river-side communities were often at risk. See page 40.

Who were “Mesopotamians”?Who were “Mesopotamians”? 3000 BCE Sumerians arrive from central

Asia 2600-2200 BCE - the Akkadians and

Amorites arrive 2000 BCE The Indo-Europeans - Luvians

and Hittites 1800 BCE The Hurrians from the

Caucasus in Asia

3000 BCE Sumerians arrive from central Asia

2600-2200 BCE - the Akkadians and Amorites arrive

2000 BCE The Indo-Europeans - Luvians and Hittites

1800 BCE The Hurrians from the Caucasus in Asia

What were the contributions of these groups?

What were the contributions of these groups?

Sumerians had an elaborate class structure - the king & nobility at the top, “free clients” who worked for the nobility; commoners who owned their own land and produced and traded goods, and lastly slaves

Sumerians had an elaborate class structure - the king & nobility at the top, “free clients” who worked for the nobility; commoners who owned their own land and produced and traded goods, and lastly slaves

Akkadians & BabyloniansAkkadians & Babylonians A Semitic chieftain called Sargon conquered

the Sumerians in 2331 BCE at Akkad, where the name Akkadians comes from.

Sargon unified Mesopotamia and spread its culture throughout the area.

Another Semitic people, the Babylonians, dominated trade and eventually took control of Mesopotamia, under the leadership of King Hammurabi in 1750 BCE.

His claim to fame is his law code, inscribed on a stone pillar for all to see. Punishment fit the crime and introduced the concept of “an eye for an eye.”

A Semitic chieftain called Sargon conquered the Sumerians in 2331 BCE at Akkad, where the name Akkadians comes from.

Sargon unified Mesopotamia and spread its culture throughout the area.

Another Semitic people, the Babylonians, dominated trade and eventually took control of Mesopotamia, under the leadership of King Hammurabi in 1750 BCE.

His claim to fame is his law code, inscribed on a stone pillar for all to see. Punishment fit the crime and introduced the concept of “an eye for an eye.”

ZigguratsZiggurats Were temples to the Gods, built by

Mesopotamians. were made of mud brick and built on

platforms in case of flooding. One of the most famous is the “Tower of

Babel”, restored by Nebuchadnezzar* who hoped to raise the tower up to heaven. The completed tower was considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world. The base was 91 m on each side!

Were temples to the Gods, built by Mesopotamians.

were made of mud brick and built on platforms in case of flooding.

One of the most famous is the “Tower of Babel”, restored by Nebuchadnezzar* who hoped to raise the tower up to heaven. The completed tower was considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world. The base was 91 m on each side!

Nebuchadnezzar*Nebuchadnezzar* King of Neo-Babylonian Empire

from 605-562 BCE. According to the Bible he

conquered Judah and Jerusalem and sent the Jews into exile

He is credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built for his homesick wife, Amytis, to remind her of her home in Persia.

King of Neo-Babylonian Empire from 605-562 BCE.

According to the Bible he conquered Judah and Jerusalem and sent the Jews into exile

He is credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built for his homesick wife, Amytis, to remind her of her home in Persia.

THE ENDTHE END