Welcome to 8th grade
Social Studies
Mr. Crossman
The Five Social Studies
1.
Def.
History
The study of past events
Ex: World War II
Ex:
Ex: Democracy in Greece
Ex:
2.
Def.
Geography
The study of the earth
Ex: Formation of Climates
(Biomes)
Ex: Deserts
Ex:
Ex:
3.
Def.
Sociology
The study of human interaction
Ex: Foreign Relations
Ex:
Ex: Teacher to Student
Ex:
4.
Def.
Economics
Knowledge about the exchange of goods
Ex: Trading System
Ex:
Ex: Valuable goods/services
Ex:
5.
Political Science
Def. Knowledge of how human order themselves
Ex: Dictatorship
Ex:
Ex: Representative Government Ex:
Examining Sources
Why is it important to examine sources?
Fact, Reasoned Judgments, Opinions
Examining Sources
Fact – statements that can be proven (proof)
Clues - Observations, written records, fossils, etc.
Reasoned Judgment – based on fact but has not been
proven
Clues - Probably, reasonably, possibly, perhaps, etc.
Opinion – statement of personal preference
Clues - Think, feel, etc.
Timeline
s
There is no year 0 !
Uniform way of measuring the past
to the right of year 1
to the left of year 1
Before Christ = B.C.
A.D. = Anno Domini
Before Common Era = B.C.E.
400
300
200
100
B.C.E. B.C.E. B.C.E. B.C.E.
C.E.
Distance between years:
Same side of year 1  Subtract the # of years
ex: 400 B.C.E. to 150 B.C.E.
400 – 150 = 250 years
Opposite side of year 1  Add the # of years
ex: 100B.C.E. to 200 C.E.
100 + 200 = 300 years
C.E. = Common Era
1
C.E.
100
200
300
C.E.
C.E.
C.E.
400
How to calculate centuries:
Find the number of hundred and add 1
(don’t forget your labels)
Ex:
356 C.E. = 3 + 1 = 4th Century C.E.
1423 B.C.E. = 14 + 1 = 15th Century B.C.E.
92 C.E. = 0 + 1 = 1st Century C.E.
Chapter 2
Introduction:
#1 Australopithecus afarensis
Time period
Description (height, places lived, physical
traits)
1 key vocab. term
2 capabilities of your hominid
#2 Homo habilis
Time period
Description (height, places lived, physical
traits)
1 key vocab. term
2 capabilities of your hominid
#3 Homo erectus
Time period
Description (height, places lived, physical
traits)
1 key vocab. term
2 capabilities of your hominid
#4 Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
Time period
Description (height, places lived, physical
traits)
1 key vocab. term
2 capabilities of your hominid
#5 Homo sapiens sapiens
Time period
Description (height, places lived, physical
traits)
1 key vocab. term
2 capabilities of your hominid
Chapter 2
Introduction:
#1 Australopithecus afarensis
Bipedal – walked on 2 legs
#2 Homo habilis
#3 Homo erectus
Simple tools – Bone/Stone
Used Fire
#4 Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
#5 Homo sapiens sapiens
Community – cared for each other and
buried the dead
Artwork/Culture
Paleolithic Age
Means:
Old
Stone
Age
Strongest tools: Stone
Pre-history – The time before writing
About 2 million B.C.E. to 8000 B.C.E.
Early Hominids and Humans
Neolithic Age
Means:
New
Stone
Age
Strongest tools: Stone
During Pre-history
About 8000 B.C.E. to 3000 B.C.E.
Agriculture – farming and domestication of animals
People began to settle in one place
Stable Lifestyle
Avoid hunting dangers
Discovery and spread of
seeds = growing plants
Permanent Dwellings
Stable life allowed permanent
homes
Houses had rooms for specific
purposes
Communities Grow
Villages of up to 200 people
Population growth
Safety in numbers
Roles in Community
Job specialization – individuals
work in one area
Workers are more skilled
Develops better: pottery, clothing,
homes, jewelry, etc.
Trade Increases
Desire for a better quality of life
Humans seek resources from
elsewhere
Ideas and knowledge spread
Civilizations Begin
Humans Build First Cities