For review May 5, 2014, answer all of the “Aim” questions
Aim: How did the world change after the Neolithic Revolution?
I. Paleolithic Era
 Known as the Old Stone Age
 Hominids: any member of the family of two-legged primates, including all humans
 Characteristically hunter/gatherers, nomadic*
 Lived in natural caves, canyons, simple shelters/huts
 tools were made of bone, wood & stone
 Used fire
 Clothing was animal skin & guts
 Art: cave paintings
 Religion is Animism*
 The belief that individual spirits inhabit natural objects
II. Neolithic Revolution
 10,000 BCE End of Ice Age
 Warmer climate, population grew
 Farming and the domestication of animals appeared
 Led to Pastoralism*: system based on the raising and herding of livestock
III. Effects
a) Settled communities
b) Rise in population
c) Food surplus
d) Development of civilizations
e) birth of gov’t, armies, religion
f) Use of metals
The two earliest cities were Jericho & Çatal Hüyük located in Palestine & Turkey
IV. Role of women during Old Stone Age
• Gathered berries
• Tended children
• Shared equal responsibility for food
• Many religious female gods
V. Gender roles in the Neolithic Age
• Men have harder jobs: they plow, hunt and fight
• Women bear more children
• Rise of patriarchy (society based on males)
• Men own and inherit property
• Begin to regulate women’s sexual behavior
• Early idea of marriage
• Religion stressed more male gods, less females
Overtime, women’s status declines and they lose rights
Aim: How did civilizations develop in the Fertile Crescent?
I.
Mesopotamia
 Means the land between two rivers
 Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Fertile Crescent)
 Many important civilizations formed in this area
II. Sumerian Civilization
 3000 BC city-states developed
 They all shared common characteristics
 Constant fighting led to political instability
 Extensive trade with Egypt and the Indus Valley
III. Sumerian Government, Religion & Society
1. Government was a theocracy when priests or religious rulers govern society.
2. Were polytheistic and had 3000 gods
3. Woman were inferior to men, wore veils
4. Priests had political power
5. Social Structure: 1. Ruler 2. Nobles 3. Priests 4. Commoners 5. Farmers 6. Slaves
IV. Sumerian Jobs & Achievements
 Job specialization: merchants, artisans, and scribes
 Created a number system based on 60.
 Developed astronomy, algebra & geometry
 Created the wheel and schools
 Early use of bronze tools, chariots
 Created cuneiform is the earliest form of writing
 The Epic of Gilgamesh
V. Art & Architecture
 Created Ziggurats: temples built for the gods to bring the people closer to the gods
VI. The Fall of Sumer
 The Sumerian civilization was weakened severely by Saragon of Akkad.
 Saragon created the world’s first major empire (The Akkadians)
VII. Babylonian Empire
 Around 1792 BCE Hammurabi created the Babylonian Empire.
 Hammurabi created the first law code based on an “eye for an eye”
 The punishment fit the crime and was based on social rank and gender
 Ex. If a nobleman puts out another nobleman’s eye, his eye shall be put out.
 Ex. If a slave put out a nobleman’s eye, the slave shall be put to death.
 slaves were considered property
 innocent until proven guilty
VIII. Nebuchadnezzar II
 From 1500 BCE until 610 BCE Mesopotamia was divided.
 The Chaldeans reunited Mesopotamia
 Nebuchadnezzar II became the new king of the Neo-Babylonians in 610 BCE
 He destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the most prominent Jews
 He also built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife
 After Nebuchadnezzar’s death Babylon was ruled by weak rulers.
 Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Additional Resources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sohXPx_XZ6Y This is a fast paced description
by John Greene of Crash Course World History
Middle Eastern Civilizations: Summarize who they were and why they were important
Background reading on the civilizations of the Middle East:
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_wc_4/17/4387/1123165.cw/index.html
I. The Hittites
Years: 1700 – 1200 BCE
• Assimilated Sumerian culture
• Warriors that used iron weapons
• polytheistic and adopted gods from Sumer and Babylon
II. The Assyrians
Years: 911-612 BCE
a) Created a world empire
b) iron weapons
c) used cavalry
d) Created longitude & latitude
e) Helped spread cultural diffusion
f) Polytheistic: Adapted religion from Sumerians
III. The Chaldeans
Years: 626 – 539 BCE
a) Ruled by Nebuchadnezzar
b) Known as the Neo-Babylonians
c) Built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
d) Polytheistic
IV The Persians
Years: 530 – 331 BCE
 Empire stretched from Libya to Turkey in the east and to India in the west
 postal system and a network of roads
 Ruled with satraps: governors of areas that ruled in the emperor's name
 The empire fell to Alexander the Great
a) Zoroastrianism: preached monotheism
b) Religion is tolerant of other faiths
c) Zoroaster convinced king to convert
d) Was not a widespread religion
V. The Hebrews
Years: ca. 2000 BCE
a) known as Israelites or Jews
b) Practiced monotheism
c)
d)
e)
1.
2.
Enslaved by Egypt 1400- 1200 BCE
Moses led the Exodus of the Jews out of Egypt
Received the 10 Commandments
Judaism and Monotheistic
Judaism is the basis for Christianity & Islam
VI The Phoenicians
Years 1200 – 800 BCE
a) skilled traders & sailors that migrated throughout the Mediterranean
b) Known as the “carriers of civilization” because they spread people, goods and
ideas to their numerous colonies
c) Their economy prospered due to extensive trade
d) Created the world's first alphabet
VII The Lydians
Years: 600- 500 BCE
1. First metal coinage & portable currency
Egypt
I. Geography
 Egypt’s lifeline is the Nile River
 Passes through 9 countries and is 4,000 miles long
 Optimistic view on life because they could control and predict the floods of the
Nile
 associated with fertility and life.
II. Egyptian History: Early Egypt was separated into three kingdoms
 The Old Kingdom: 2700-2200 BCE
 Pyramids were built
 King Menes I united Lower and Upper Egypt
 Pharaohs were chosen by God to rule.
 Gov’t was a bureaucracy: organized structure that allowed the pharaohs power to
channel through Viziers (governors)
 Created hieroglyphics
B. Middle Kingdom
 Existed 2080-1652 BCE
 Chaos existed throughout the Middle Kingdom
C. The New Kingdom: 1567-1085 BCE
1. Hatshepsut
Claimed god selected her to rule and wore a beard
Built temples and increased trade
2. Tutankhamen
 Known as King Tut king at age 9

Died at age of 19 from a head injury
3. Ramses II
1. Military king
2. Expanded Egypt’s empire
3. Ruled for over 60 years
4. Pharaoh in the story of Exodus
III. Society
1. Society was based on agriculture
2. based on social status, land & property
3. Patriarchal society
4. Women had more rights in Egypt than in Mesopotamia
5. Trade was also less extensive than Mesopotamia
6. Strict social class system but commoners had the opportunity to rise in status
7. Religion was polytheistic
8. Believed in reincarnation and the afterlife
IV. Achievements
a. Writing Hieroglyphics 3000 BC
 began 3000 BCE
 Based on pictures
 Used Hieratic script: simpler version of hieroglyphics used to keep records
 1799: the Rosetta Stone helped historians decipher hieroglyphics
b. Art & Architecture
 Pyramids and temples showed architectural skills
c. Advances in Math
 Advances in Math and Science
 Geometry to calculate area and volume
d. Mummification
 preserved the body and kept organs in jars
 wrapped the body in linens
 gold, jewels, and gems went in the tombs
 Peasants and slaves died with Pharaoh
 process took 70 days
e. Medicine
 Anatomy: world’s first autopsy
 Performed surgery
Used herbs and minerals as medicines
Aim: What happened to the Indus Valley Civilizations?
Do Now: What are some factors that could cause a civilization to disappear?
I. Geography
1. India has many geographical features.
2. Himalaya Mountains
3. Hindu Kush Mountains
4. Indus and Ganges Rivers
5. The Deccan Plateau
6. Huge size makes it hard to unite
7. Monsoons: seasonal winds that bring rain to all of Southeast Asia
II. Indus Valley
1. 5000-4000 BCE climate, rain, food, population, and trade increased
2. 2300 BCE two major cities appear Mohenjo-Daro and Harrappa
III. Characteristics of the Indus Valley
1. Grid like patterns used for city planning
2. Also used weights & measures
3. Market places, drainage & sewage systems
4. Public baths and wells
5. Pottery, bread making were also main parts of society
6. Polytheistic belief system used many fertility gods and worshipped trees
7. Writing systems in Harrappa, which are still undecipherable today.
IV. Disappearance
1. In 1800-1700 BCE these civilizations disappeared
2. Around 1500 a new group settled in the area known as the Aryans
3. The existence of these sites was found in the 1920’s.
Aim: How did the Aryans build a great civilization?
I. Aryan Civilization
1. 1500 BCE nomads migrated from Poland & the Asian Steppes
2. The Aryans are tall and light skinned
3. The Aryans are known as Indo-Europeans
4. Dravidians were short & dark skinned
5. The Aryans encounter the Dravidians and push them south
II. Aryan Culture
 Excellent warriors: used chariots
 Pastoral were herders of cattle & other animals
 They enjoyed drinking, dancing, gambling & dice
 Led by a rajah or king chief
 Lack of art & paintings
III. Aryan Religion
 based on Vedas which are hymns & myths spread verbally
 Vedic Age (1500 BCE-500 BCE)
 Aryans was polytheistic
 They believed they were the master or superior race
 This helped the birth of Hinduism
IV. Aryan Social Structure
• Society was divided into groups and classes
• Born into an occupation, (if your father was a farmer so are you)
• Brahmins: Priests
• Kshatriyas: Warriors
• Vaishyas: Farmers, merchants
• Shudras: Laborers
• Untouchables: Polluted Laborers
Aim: How did Hinduism impact India? How did Buddhism change the world?
I. Hindu Facts
 developed from the traditions of the Aryans
 Largest single religion in India
 it is a way of life
 No single founder & no central authority
 No main written work
II. Sources of Hinduism
1. Vedas: prayers & rituals passed orally
2. Upanishads: commentary on origins of the universe
3. Ramayana: Longest poem ever written
III. Chief Religious Ideas
1. Reincarnation: a rebirth cycle of the soul into another body
2. Samsara: The eternal cycle of birth, suffering, death, and rebirth.
3. Moksha: The achievement of salvation
4. Karma: A person's actions and conduct during their life determines his future rebirth
5. Dharma: moral duties & obligations of an individual
6. Spread: Hindu beliefs spread along the Silk Roads and to Southeast Asia via
Indian Ocean trade
IV. Religious Practices
 The cow is sacred and seen as a symbol of life because it provides for the people
 Hindu’s are vegetarians
 Wash feet & hands before praying
 Patriarchal society
 Sati when women committed suicide with their husbands
V. Castes System
1. Part of life for 3000 years
2. Introduced by Aryans
3. Five main castes
o Brahmans: Priests & Elite
o Kshatriayas: Warriors & Aristocracy
o Vaisyas: Farmers, Merchants & Artisans
o Shudras: Servants & Laborers
o Untouchables: outcasts
4. People remained in caste for life
5. There is no marrying out of the caste
6. The untouchables were unfit to worship at temples
7. Lowest occupations
BUDDHISM
I. The Origins of Buddhism
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the mid-500’s BCE
Siddhartha meditated under a tree for many days in search for the meaning of
human suffering
He became known as the Buddha or Enlightened One
He wanted relief from worldly suffering through the union of soul with divine
spirit (nirvana)
II. Beliefs of Buddhism
o There is no supreme being in Buddhism
o The key to life and happiness is following the Four Noble truths
1. All humans suffer and feel pain
2. Suffering is caused by desire
3. Suffering ends when one puts desire aside
4. Desire can be overcome by following the Eightfold Path
o If a person follows the Eightfold Path they can achieve Nirvana
o Nirvana is the ultimate state in which one has attained all wisdom, compassion
and harmony.
o Buddhists believes in reincarnation, karma and dharma.
o stressed equal treatment of all people and opposed the caste system
o Spread: Buddhist monasteries established along trade routes; monks and nuns
spread beliefs throughout Asia
o Buddhism achieved widespread popularity, especially in East and Southeast Asia
III. Different forms of Buddhism
1. Theravada Buddhism
• Known as Southern Buddhism
• Meditating & living a monastic life can help obtain enlightenment
• emphasizes attaining self-liberation or freedom from the cycle of rebirth
through one's own efforts
•
Buddha was not seen as a god, but was a man that obtained
enlightenment
2. Mahayana Buddhism
• Known as Northern Buddhism
• It is a collections of many Buddhist traditions from many countries
• anyone can obtain enlightenment
• Buddha is a godlike being
• They believe in Bodhisattva, an awakened being who compassionately
refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others
Aim: How did the Shang Dynasty influence China?
Do Now: What are some things associated with China?
Notes
I. Geography
1. Chinese civilization forms near Huang He (Yellow) and Yangtze rivers
2. Huang He or Yellow river located in northern China
- Has yellow silt that fertilizes land naturally
3. Yangtze River located in central China
4. Mountains and deserts cover the country
5. Ethnocentric- superior belief system
II. Xia Dynasty
a) First isolated dynasty
b) Appeared around 2200-2100 BCE
c) Very little evidence exists to prove the existence
d) This dynasty is NOT accepted as a true dynasty
III. Shang Dynasty
a. First major Chinese dynasty-1750-1122 BCE
b. Government was centralized: power in the hands of the emperor
c. Land owners also had power: aristocracy
d. It was similar to city-state
e. Patriarchal society: male dominant
f. Traded with Southwest and South Asia
IV. SOCIAL STRUCTURE
a) King
b) Nobles and aristocrats
c) Warriors + landowners
d) Artisans, merchants
e) Peasants
f) Slaves
V. RELIGOIUS BELIEFS
 Polytheistic





Shang Di (chief god) +++ Belief in Afterlife
Ancestral worship, offer sacrifices
Shaman- priest talks to gods
Oracle bones used by king to ask questions, heated and the cracks give answers
The patterns formed the basis of writing
VI. Achievements and Advances
 Writing use pictographs and ideographs (signs that expressed thoughts or ideas)
 Became a uniform written language
 Technology: use of bronze (from Mesopotamia) and chariots
 Creation of the Yin & Yang
 Yin: Earth, Darkness & Female
 Yang: Heaven, Light & Male
 Decline Zhou seized Shang Dynasty
IV. The Zhou Dynasty
• 1027 Zhou overthrow the Shang
• Lasted until 256 b.c.e
• Longest dynasty in Chinese history
V. The Mandate of Heaven
• centralized the government
• started the formation of Chinese bureaucracy
• emperors referred to themselves as Sons of Heaven
• The Zhou invented the Mandate of Heaven
• It justified a dynastic cycle
VI. Zhou Feudalism
• Granted land to nobles in exchange for military protection
• Lords gained too much power, and created separate kingdoms
VII. Culture
• Used coins on strings
• Luxury goods such as silk making
• Book making
• Ironworking
VIII. Decline
• Zhou enters into a period of “warring states” 475-221
• There is chaos, power struggles between lords
• Confucius, Lao Tzu and Han Feizi were born during this period
• They developed their ideas based on the chaos of the period and the need for
political stability
Aim: How did Chinese philosophies affect China’s way of Life?
I. Confucianism
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Lived 551-479 BCE
wanted a government position
Was an educator & political advisor
Wrote The Analects which was his book of thoughts & sayings
His beliefs have affected Asian philosophy for thousands of years
II. Beliefs of Confucianism
1. Confucianism is a philosophy not a belief
2. It dealt with moral & ethical character
3. Wanted to restore political & social order
4. Focused on the Five Relationships
a) ruler to subject
b) father to son
c) husband to wife
d) older brother to younger brother
e) older friend to younger friend
When each person lives up to their role, society is orderly & predictable
6. Junzi: the educated are superior and focus on the good of the state.
7. Confucius saw Junzi as the ideal human.
8. Belief in Filial Piety: having respect for elders & parents
9. Women had secondary status
10. This belief was compatible to religious beliefs like Buddhism
III. Daoism
i.
500 BCE created by Lao Tzu
ii. Dao: “the way”
iii. Daoism: man's cooperation with the natural world
iv.
Believed in harmony with nature
v. Daoist’s followed the art of wu wei, which is let nature take its course
vi.
Used Yin & Yang to represent balance in the world (good & evil, light & dark,
etc.)
IV. Legalism
I.
Founded by Han Feizi ca. 280 BCE
II.
Believed that humans were evil by nature & could not be trusted
III.
Intellectualism & literacy is discouraged
IV.
harsh strong central gov’t
V. 2 most important jobs are farming & the military
VI.
The Qin Dynasty were legalists
Aim: Who were the earliest Greeks?
I. Geography
a) Located in the Balkan Peninsula near the Aegean Sea
b) coastline allowed for easy access to the sea for trade & food
c) Separated by mountains which created individual communities
d) This made unification difficult and created numerous rivalries
II. Early civilizations
1. 2800 BCE the Minoans appear on the island of Crete
2. The Minoans traded with Egypt
3. Rich culture and used bronze
4. In 1450 BCE the civilization declined
III. Mycenae
i.
1600-1100 BCE
ii. The government was a monarchy
iii. They were strong warriors
iv.
city full of gold & riches
v. constant fighting led to the decline
vi.
Major earthquakes & many invaders finished off the civilization
IV Dark Ages
1. 1200-800 BCE
2. Very little info on this time period
3. No writing
4. ca. 800 BCE: known as the Greek Renaissance
5. Adopted the Phoenician alphabet
6. Homer’s Iliad & Odyssey were written
V Greek City-State
a. 800 BCE
b. Polis: defines an ancient city-state in Greece (city & surrounding area)
c. City-state was basis of government ruled by aristocrats
d. Acropolis: located on the top of a hill, was a fortified area
e. Agora: Greek market place
VI. Military
a) 700 BCE Hoplites: Greek foot soldiers
b) Used 9ft long spears
c) Phalanx: a body of heavily armed infantry that was formed close ranks
d) Two main city-states: Athens & Sparta
Aim: What are the main differences between Athens and Sparta?
Category
Population
Social Class
Freemen- Male citizens + aristocrats
Metics- Foreigners
Slaves
Allies
Delian League
Sparta
8,000 citizens
100,000 slaves
Aristocratic gov’t which means
a few prominent member rule
society
2 kings
5 ephor’s or elder men
Spartiates- Elite warrior & Can
vote
Merchants, foreigners, no vote
Helots- slaves and serfs
Peloponnesian League
Military
Strong Navy
Strong Army
Life Style
Culturally Superior
Trade and commerce
Agriculture
Militaristic
No goods or luxuries
Education
Based on wealth
Taught philosophy, mathematics, logic
and rhetoric
Women
No rights and no sports
Forced to stay home
They could not own property except
their clothes, jewelry, and slaves
accompanied when they left the home
No schooling
Boys enter military at 7 and stay
until 30
Harsh training
Played sports to bare healthy
babies
Freedom to move around in
Sparta
Wedding nights women shave
heads to look like a man
One-year-old babies presented
to elder, if it was not perfect it
was destroyed
Government
Athens
40,000 citizens
40,000 slaves
-Direct Democracy – citizens participate
directly in gov’t rather than through
representatives
-Male citizens vote at 19