Illustrative Examples for Period 1: Technological and Environmental Transformations, to c. 600
B.C.E.
New Weapons
Item
Compound Bow
Definition
Image
A weapon that developed
in the Paleolithic time
period and evolved over
time usually made from
wood, animal ligaments,
and leather.
Significance
The bow and arrow
allowed for more
efficient hunting, as
well as warfare.
Iron Weapons
New Modes of Transportation
Item
Ziggurats
Pyramids
Temples
Defensive Walls
Definition
Step pyramid structures
built in the center of
Sumerian city-states, such
as Ur, and used as a place
for religious ceremonies.
Image
Significance
The central location of
ziggurats shows early urban
planning, as well as the
importance placed on religion.
A social hierarchy can be
traced, with those with more
power residing closer to the
ziggurat.
Streets and Roads
Sewage and Water
Systems
Arts and Artisanship
Item
Sculpture
Definition
Image
Significance
Painting
Wall decorations
Elaborate Weaving
Generally in the form of
paintings, carvings, or later
writing in both Paleolithic and
Neolithic Societies. The
image on the right is from an
Egyptian tomb and portrays a
wealthy couple laboring.
It is significant that the
wealthy couple chose to
portray themselves as
laborers, perhaps to please
the gods. Wall decorations
show high levels of ability and
talent and could convey
power, instruction, religion,
etc.
Systems of Record Keeping
Term
Cuneiform
Definition
Image
Significance
Hieroglyphs
Pictographs
Alphabets
Quipu
System of record-keeping
used in Andean South
America. Quipu were made of
series of knotted strings which
recorded a number (such as
items in a storehouse, etc.)
The Quipu are significant
because, although Andean
groups did not have writing,
they did have record keeping,
and were able to keep track of
information and disseminate it
over a large empire.
Literature
Piece of Literature
The “Epic of
Gilgamesh”
Rig Veda
Book of the Dead
Summary
Image
Significance
Gilgamesh, 2/3 god and 1/3
human was the despotic king
of Ur. Gods send Enkidu, a
wild man, and they first fight,
then become friends.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill a
demon, and the gods decide
that Enkidu must die.
Gilgamesh is heartbroken,
and seeks Utnapishtim who
survived the deluge the gods
had previously sent.
Gilgamesh finds Utnapishtim,
hears his story of surviving the
flood, and is given a plant that
restores youth, but that is
stolen by a serpent.
1200-900BCE- collection of
over 1,000 hymns which
contain the mythology of the
Hindu gods, and is considered
to be one of the foundations of
the Hindu religion.
This story is one of the earliest
examples of literature,
discovered on a series of
tablets in Sumerian cuneiform.
The epic reflects Sumerian’s
view of their gods, which could
be vindictive and were
frequently involved in human’s
affairs. There are interesting
parallels between the flood
mentioned in the Epic of
Gilgamesh and in later
documents, such as the
Torah. The outcome of the
story is that Gilgamesh
realizes that he will not live
forever, but humankind will.
The Rig Veda helped shape
Indian society and exemplifies
both Aryan and Harappan
influences. For instance, the
caste system is said to derive
from the god Purusha
sacrificing himself.
(mouth=Brahmins, arms=
warriors, thighs= vaisyas,
feet= sudra)
The common name for the
ancient Egyptian funerary text
known as “The Book of
Coming (or going) Forth by
Day.” Book of the Dead was a
description of the ancient
Egyptian conception of the
afterlife and a collection of
hymns, spells, and
instructions to allow the
deceased to pass through.
The Book of the Dead
illustrates the importance that
Egyptians placed on the
afterlife, as well as religious
customs and beliefs. It also
shows the differences in social
classes, as the book was
expensive, and was mostly
afforded to the elites.