Human Origins
And
Early Civilizations
- Hunter Gatherer societies lived during the
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-
OLD Stone Age (PALEOLITHIC ERA)
They were NOMADIC, migrating in search of
FOOD and WATER.
Learned how to make and use FIRE.
Created the first tools out of ROCK and BONE
Lived in small groups known as CLANS
Developed an ORAL language
Created “CAVE” art
- PERMANENT societies (villages) developed
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in the NEOLITHIC Era (NEW Stone Age)
Developed AGRICULTURE (domesticated
plants)
DOMESTICATED animals
Used ADVANCED tools
Made POTTERY
Developed WEAVING skills
- Archeologist study past cultures by looking at
-
-
HUMAN remains, settlements, FOSSILS, and
ARTIFACTS.
Use tests such as RADIO CARBON DATING
STONEHENGE, in England, was begun in the
NEOLITHIC AGE, and finished in the BRONZE AGE
ALEPPO and JERICHO were early cities in the
FERTILE CRESCENT
CATALHOYUK is an early city in Anatolia or
ASIA MINOR
STONEHENGE
JERICHO
ALEPPO
CATALHOYUK
- POLYTHEISM was practiced by most early
civilizations
- Mesopotamia: Angry, Vengeful Gods
- Egypt: Happy AFTERLIFE
- Pyramids: Tombs for PHAROAHS
- PHAROAHS: GOD KINGS
- MONOTHEISM was practiced by the HEBREWS
- ABRAHAM: 1st Covenant (PROMISE) with God
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From Mesopotamia
Holy Land – Canaan – Promised by God
Moses: Led Hebrews out of EGYPT
JERUSALEM: Holy city of Hebrews
MONOTHEISTIC: Belief in one God
TORAH: Holy Book of Judaism
The moral and religious code of conduct for Judaism is
the TEN COMMANDEMENTS
 DIASPORA: The Jews were exiled (kicked out of) from
Israel in 587 BCE by the Babylonians
CUNEIFORM
STAMPS & SEALS
HEIROGLYPHICS
ORACLE BONES
PHOENICIAN
ALPHABET
- Practiced a policy of TOLERANCE towards
conquered people: CYRUS
- Developed IMPERIAL Bureaucracy
- Constructed a Road System: The ROYAL Road
- ZOROASTRIANISM – Religion of Persian
Empire
- - MONOTHEISTIC
- - TWO opposing forces in the universe
Good vs. EVIL
- Physical Barriers such as the HIMALAYAS,
the HINDU KUSH, and the INDIAN OCEAN
made invasion difficult.
- The INDUS and GANGES Rivers were the two
most important rivers in the Indian Subcontinent
- Mountain passes in the HINDU KUSH allowed for
MIGRATION in the Indian Subcontinent
(ARYANS)
- Early Cities included MOHENJO-DARO and
HARAPPA
- - Planned Cities (GRID Systems)
- - PLUMBING
MOHENJO DARO
HARAPPA
- ARYANS: Invaders that entered through the
KHBYER PASS and settled in the Indus River
Valley
- CASTE SYSTEM: rigid social structure that
influenced all social interactions and choices of
occupations
- MAURYAN Empire: ASOKA
- Continued political Unification of India
- Contributions
- - Spread of BUDDHISM
- - Free Hospitals
- - Roads
- GOLDEN AGE of classical Indian Culture
- HINDUISM
- Contributions
- Math (concept of Zero)
- Medical Advances
- Astronomy
- New Textiles
- Literature
- Belief in many forms of one god
- REINCARNATION: Rebirth based on
Karma
- KARMA: Belief that your thoughts and
actions result in future consequences
- Sacred writings of Hinduism are the VEDAS
and the UPANISHADS
- Spread along major trade routes
- Founder was Siddhartha Gautama
(Buddha)
- FOUR NOBLE Truths
- EIGHTFOLD Path
- ASOKA’S missionaries and their
writings spread Buddhism from India
to other countries in Asia
- The SILK ROAD facilitated trade and
contact between China and other
cultures as far away as Rome
- Contributions of Classical China
- Civil Service System
- Paper
- Silk
- Porcelain
PAPER
SILK
CIVIL SERVICE
PORCELAIN
- Belief that humans are GOOD, not Evil
- Respect for ELDERS (Filial Piety)
- Code of POLITENESS (still used today)
- Emphasis on EDUCATION
- ANCESTOR Worship
- FIVE Relationships
- Belief in Humility
- Simple Life and Inner Peace
- Harmony with NATURE
- YIN and YANG: Represent Opposing
Forces in Nature
- Symbol used in Taoism & Confucianism
- Chinese forms of BUDDHISM spread
throughout Asia