The Beginnings of Civilization
Bob Jones University Press
Section 1
The Beginnings of Civilization
Section 1
The Historian and His Resources
Our word history comes from a Greek work meaning “inquiry.”
Historians inquire about the past by using three basic resources.
Artifacts
• Artifacts are objects
made by man
• Can be small relics
(pottery, coins) to
towering monuments
and architecture
(pyramids, temples)
• Art depicts customs,
beliefs, way of life
Tradition
• Handing down of
information by word
of mouth
Written Records
• Word-of-mouth info
can be distorted
• Forms include
legends, ballads, folk
songs, tales
• More accurate
records preserved on
stone, clay, papyrus,
letters, diaries
• Imparts religious
beliefs, heritage,
social customs
• Insight gained into
thoughts, attitudes,
feelings
For the Christian, the proper study of history begins with a firm belief in
the Bible as the authoritative Word of God.
Bob Jones University Press
The Beginnings of Civilization
Section 1
Find the Main Idea
What resources do historians use to unlock
what happened in history?
Answer(s): artifacts, tradition, and written
records
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Section 1
The Beginnings of Civilization
The Bible and History
While artifacts, tradition, and written records are excellent resources,
the Bible is the primary source of truth and certainty.
Facts and Events
Answer’s to Questions
• Historically accurate and
trustworthy
• Where did I come from?
• Reveals character of God and true
nature of man
• Where am I going?
• Provides eternal principles to help
discern importance and relevance
of historical events
• Why am I here?
• How should I live?
It is only through the light of God’s Word that we can fully
understand the true meaning of history.
Bob Jones University Press
The Beginnings of Civilization
Section 1
Biblical Principles of History
The Bible is our guide to history. It provides principles that help us to
better understand and interpret historical events.
Concerning God
• God controls, directs the course of history (Prov. 21:1; Acts 17:26)
• God’s dealing with people reveals His character – His holiness, justice, love
• God blesses all people and nations who choose to obey Him (Duet. 11:2628; Ps. 33:12)
• God brings judgment and punishment on those who choose to disobey (Ps.
9:17; Rom. 1:18-32)
Concerning Man
• Man is a created being responsible to his Creator (Gen. 1:26-28); created to
glorify God (Ps. 86:8-10; 139:14)
• Man fell to sin and cannot please God without a Savior (Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12)
Bob Jones University Press
The Beginnings of Civilization
Section 1
Biblical Principles of History, con’t
Concerning Man, con’t
• Man is free to choose his own way
• Man is made in the image of God though it is marred by sin; man’s
achievements cannot change the sinfulness of the human heart
Concerning the Plan of History
• God has a plan for history; it is not accidental (Acts 15:18); history
demonstrates God’s desire to rescue man and restore them to Himself
• Christ is the center of God’s plan (Jn. 3:16)
• The Bible reveals God’s perfect plan and will for men and nations
• Satan opposes God’s plan; history reveals the conflict between God and
Satan – righteousness v. unrighteousness; godly v. ungodly
Bob Jones University Press
The Beginnings of Civilization
Section 1
History and You
God has a perfect plan for everything – including you. But it can only be
understood through a relationship with Jesus Christ!
Why Study History?
• It displays the greatness and goodness of God (Ps. 107:8)
• It sharpens your ability to discern good and evil, truth and error
• It illustrates the consequences of sin and the necessity of a righteous life
(Gal. 6:7-8)
• It fosters a sense of gratitude for the contribution of previous generations
• It instills an appreciation for your heritage and the responsibilities that you
have as a citizen
• It imparts a general education – a helpful tool in your service and witness for
Christ
• It gives a sense of mission and ministry as you learn of the world around you
(Mark 16:15)
Bob Jones University Press
The Beginnings of Civilization
Section 1
History and You
“For everything that was written in the past was
written to teach us, so that through endurance and
the encouragement of the Scriptures we might
have hope.” Romans 15:4
Bob Jones University Press
Section 1
The Beginnings of Civilization
Human Origins
Where did the first people come from? When did they appear? Some
key discoveries have provided important pieces to the puzzle.
Early Hominids
• 1959—East Africa
– Mary Leakey finds skull
fragments
– Hominid: humanlike being that
walked upright
• 1974—Ethiopia
– Johanson finds “Lucy”
– 4 foot-tall hominid who walked
upright
– lived 4 to 5 million years ago
Later Hominids
• More advanced hominids from
about 3 million years ago
• 1960s—Tanzania
• Louis Leakey
– Homo habilis (“handy man”)
– More humanlike features
– Made and used crude stone
tools
The Beginnings of Civilization
Other hominids
• Homo erectus (“upright man”)
• 2 to 1.5 million years ago in Africa
• Larger brain; more skillful hunter
• First hominid to control fire
Modern humans
• Homo sapiens (“wise man”)
• 200,000 years ago
• Larger brain; more sophisticated tools
• Learned to create fire
• First to develop language
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The Beginnings of Civilization
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The Beginnings of Civilization
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Spreading Around the World
The First Civilizations
• Civilization – human society characterized by cities, specialized labor,
government, arts and science, religious beliefs, and written language
• Cain built a city; specialized labor came within a few generations (Gen. 4:1722)
• Pre-flood people spoke the same language
The Fall and Dispersion
• Achievements of man could not stop sinfulness (Gen. 6:5); God decided to
destroy man
• God saved man through Noah
• The descendents of Noah gathered in the land of Shinar between the Tigris
and Euphrates rivers to build a city and a tower
• Tower of Babel – symbolic of man’s rebellion against God
• God confused language and scattered man throughout the earth
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