Introduction to
History
What is history?
- A record and explanation of what
people have thought, said and done.
What do you know about History?
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On a blank Sheet of paper draw a map of the
world. You have 7 minutes
How close were you to the actual map? Now fill
in as many names of continents, countries, and
bodies of water! 7 minutes
On the back of the map write down as many
people and/or events that you think we might
cover this year
Now put the events in chronological order.
Ways to Analyze Civilizations:
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Political
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Economic
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everyday life, gender, family, social class.
Intellectual
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leaders, practices, traditions, beliefs.
Social
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money, trade, business.
Religion
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government, leaders, law and order, laws.
tech. advances, education, new ideas.
Artistic
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music, paintings, architecture, literature.
Characteristics of a Civilization
CHARACTERISTIC
SIGNIFICANCE
Makes and enforces laws
- Exercises authority over organized state
- Standardizes money systems
Organized Government
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Organized Religion
-Offers
Division of Labor
-Encourages
Class Structure
-Defines
System of Writing
-Provides
guidance and questions of life,
death, nature
- Selects clergy
trade and development of
new technology
- Promotes a system of social classes
a persons place in society
- Reflects the distribution of wealth
a way to keep accurate records
-Serves as a way to pass on knowledge
Human Beginnings
Pre-History – the period before writing had been invented;
any period before 5,500 years ago.
I.
II.
Most people were nomads – moved constantly in search of
food
- Had few possessions
Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)
A. Began 2.5 million years ago and ended – 12,000 B.C.
B. Named because they used stone tools
C. Were hunter-gatherers (females gathered fruits, nuts,
and seeds; males were hunters)
D. By 50,000 B.C. developed speech
Human Beginnings Cont’d
III.
IV.
Neanderthals (200,000 years ago)
A. Nomads
B. Used fire for cooking
C. Skillful crafting of stone knives, spear heads, bone tools
D. Lived in small groups of around 35 - 50
Neolithic Period (New Stone Age) – Neolithic Revolution
A. Shift from gathering food to producing food
B. Agriculture brought about a more stable environment
- grew crops like: wheat, barley, rice, potatoes
C. Domesticated animals – cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens,
dogs
Human Beginnings Cont’d
D. People lived longer because they could produce food
E. People settled in communities
F. Technological advances
- Invented the plow
- Fertilized their fields
- Looms for weaving
- Baked clay bricks for construction
- Hammered metals to make weapons and jewelry
- Created calendars (to measure seasons)
- Worshiped deities