STEPS TO CIVILIZATION, SOCIAL STUDIES 7
Name: ___________________________
Fill in the blanks while reading Mrs. Samaddar "Steps to Civilization" PowerPoint and/or Pages 54-64
in Ancient Worlds (Farming to Cities) and complete ACTIVITIES #1, #2 & #3.
Farming: A Giant Step
•
Most of time humans fed themselves gathering ____________________ /
___________________.
•
By ____________________ years ago, people had begun farming in almost every part of
______.
•
Farming marks time when people began to grow ___________ and raise ________ for food.
•
Humans began training ______________ to be of use to them.
•
Switch to farming marks a ___________________ change in how people related to the _______
and their _______________.
•
Instead of simply finding and __________ what __________ provided, people started to
________ nature along.
•
As farmers, humans started to take control of the _________________________.
A Shift
•
Shift from food _________________ to food ____________________ meant people could now
be sure of getting ____________________ to eat.
•
Dependable source of food allowed people to __________________ in one place.
•
As food became ________________________, communities began to _____________________.
Farming was a giant step towards the development of civilization
How Farming Got Started
We can only speculate. We weren’t there.
Some Theories:
•
Spilled-Grain Hypothesis
•
Watching-the-Animals Hypothesis
•
Moov’en-and-Groov’en Hypothesis
1
1st Theory - Spilled-Grain Hypothesis
Neolithic women, noticed new grain plants grew when they ____________________ spilled grain seeds.
They tried scattering seeds on purpose – it worked!
#2 Theory - Watching-the-Animals Hypothesis
•
Animals often find plants in places with _________ / good _________ - Hunters saw pattern.
•
People stayed at sites, animals became _____________.
•
People started weeding / _____________________ so plants would grow better.
•
Started ____________________ seeds of better plants to plant.
#3 Theory - Moov’en-and-Groov’en Hypothesis
•
One season, nomads liked a site so much they ________________ around.
•
Stayed so long they ________________________ a crop and then saw it grow to harvest stage
again.
•
Groups learned to grow a ________________ from seed to harvest and then ___________ on.
Remember - A hypothesis is a theory or opinion that has not been proven – a kind of educated guess
about what the evidence means
ACTIVITY #1 On your own, explain why you agree with one of the hypotheses described or
propose one of your own. Write down two facts or reasons to justify your hypothesis
 Spilled-Grain
Hypothesis
o
Watching-theAnimals Hypothesis
 Moov’en-andGroov’en Hypothesis
2
Facts / Reasons to explain your choice above or share your own idea!
CITIES: ANOTHER GIANT STEP
Looking at how cities developed is like seeing civilization develop
1. Development of ________________ brought people together in communities.
2. People stopped farming when farmlands produced ______________ than was needed some.
3. Some people developed other _______________; moved closer together forming
_______________.
4. Sometimes these villages grew into ______________, and then ______________
ANCIENT CITIES OF THE WORLD
•
In ancient times, cities were homes of ________________ and officials who held __________
•
Officials controlled surrounding _______________; decided who could _______________
•
Some cities grew around ________________ or places of ______________
•
Communities _______________ because people could make a _____________ (e.g,
shopkeepers, craftspeople, artists, teachers, priests, and officials)
Scientists love to discover _______________ of ancient cities and want to know more about how
ancient people _______________ and met individual and common _______________
LOOK AT PAGE 62 IN YOUR ANCIENT WORLDS SOCIAL STUDIES TEXT TO SEE PATTERNS
Following the arrows! Note the development (changes) of different early civilizations
Nomadic groups travelling

People formed settled, organized communities

3
Communities grew into cities

Met other groups through trade or warfare

Cities developed unique characteristics; solve problems in different ways
In Conclusion
 You have examined the big steps that led towards civilization.
 You have seen that tools played a crucial role at every step.
 Archaeologists found evidence showing at least 6 different species of humans have walked the
earth
 Tools were important and teach us about daily life or early humans
 Scientists divided time early humans lived into three eras (periods of time) based on tools Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age
 Hunting was a way of life for early humans.
 Farming marks time when people began to grow plants and raise animals for food
 Looking at how cities developed is like seeing civilization develop ; see a pattern to the
changes (See chart)
ACTIVITY #2, IN YOUR OPINION
Which was the most important step in getting civilization started,
»
Invention of fire?
»
Tools for hunting?
»
The beginning of farming?
»
Technology for travel? or
»
The beginning of cities?
In paragraph form, provide your opinion with supporting details
4 3 2 1
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ACTIVITY #3 - CHARTING CHANGE
Using picture series on pages 62-63, Ancient Worlds:
Speculate (think about and justify) how each change must have affected people's lives. Complete work
on attached chart and for homework. We will share next class with a discussion of how the events
described in the chart did or did not contribute to a more civilized life for people
STAGE
ILLUSTRATION
HOW DID EACH CHANGE
AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES?
1. Nomadic band
hunted, fished,
and gathered
wild plants for
food
2. As people began
to grow their
own plants and
animals, they
built shelters
and formed
settled
communities
3. Rivers allowed
early farmers to
water their
lands. This
irrigation
ensured a
regular food
supply and even
surpluses that
could be stored.
4. Goods produced
by craftspeople
were traded for
food, shelter,
clothing, and
raw materials to
make other
goods
5. Trade led to
technology for
land and sea
travel which
increased the
5
contacts
between
cultures
6. Rulers and
officials found
they needed to
keep records of
trade and taxes.
Writing and
number systems
evolved to help
keep track of
things
7. Rivalries
between cities
prompted
people to
develop
technology for
warfare.
8. Some early
cities still exist
today. Some
disappeared for
unknown
reasons.
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