The Peopling of the World,
CHAPTER
1
Prehistory–2500 B.C.
Chapter Overview
Time Line
SECTION
1 Human Origins in Africa
GRAPH
SECTION
2 Humans Try to Control Nature
MAP
SECTION
3 Patterns of Change: Civilization
Visual Summary
QUIT
CHAPTER
1
The Peopling of the World,
Prehistory–2500 B.C.
Chapter Overview
Human beings first emerge in East Africa. As
they evolve, they develop complex technology
and spread over most of the world. In some
areas, people develop agriculture and settled
villages, some of which eventually grow into
complex cities and develop the five traits of
civilization.
HOME
CHAPTER
1
The Peopling of the World,
HOME
Prehistory–2500 B.C.
Time Line
4,000,000 B.C. First
hominids appear in
Africa.
1,600,000 B.C. Homo
erectus appears.
8000 B.C. Neolithic
Age begins; first
agriculture takes place.
2600 B.C. City
of Ur flourishes
in Sumer.
2500
4,000,000
B.C.
B.C.
2,500,000 B.C.
Paleolithic Age begins.
40,000 B.C. CroMagnons appear.
3000 B.C. Bronze
Age begins in
Mesopotamia.
1
HOME
Human Origins
in Africa
Key Idea
The first hominids emerge in East Africa about 3.6
million years ago. They gradually develop large
brains and learn to make tools and use fire, which
allows them to spread over the earth.
Overview
Assessment
1
HOME
Human Origins
in Africa
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• artifact
• culture
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• hominid
Fossil evidence shows
that the earliest
humans originated in
Africa.
Early humans’ discoveries
helped them survive, grow
in numbers, and spread
across the globe.
• Paleolithic Age
• Neolithic Age
• technology
• Homo sapiens
Assessment
1
HOME
Human Origins
in Africa
Section
1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List
the advances, discoveries, and inventions of hominids.
Australopithecines
Upright walking,
opposable thumb
Homo erectus
Toolmaking,
mastery of fire,
language
Neanderthals
Burial rights, care
of their disabled,
building of shelters
Cro-Magnons
Advanced hunting
and language skills
continued . . .
1
HOME
Human Origins
in Africa
Section
1
Assessment
2. How do recent findings keep revising knowledge of
the prehistoric past?
THINK ABOUT
• modern scientific methods
• the way various species of hominids are classified
• dates relating to hominids
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• By providing more accurate dates relating to
when and where various hominids originated
• By providing scientific evidence supporting how
hominids are classified into different species
continued . . .
1
HOME
Human Origins
in Africa
Section
1
Assessment
3. Which of the following skills—toolmaking, the use of
fire, or the development of language—do you think gave
hominids the most control over their environment?
Why? THINK ABOUT
• the kinds of tools early humans developed
• the various uses of fire
• the benefits of language
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• Toolmaking, because it enabled hominids to hunt
game and build shelters.
• Fire, because it allowed hominids to survive in
cold climates.
• Language, because it helped hominids coordinate
hunts and other tasks.
End of Section 1
2
HOME
Humans Try to
Control Nature
GRAPH
Key Idea
People gradually give up hunting and gathering and
learn to cultivate crops, domesticate animals, and live
in settled villages. Some villages grow and prosper,
developing complex social and economic systems that
set the stage for the development of civilization.
Overview
Assessment
2
HOME
Humans Try to
Control Nature
GRAPH
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• nomad
• hunter-gatherer
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• Neolithic Revolution
The development of
agriculture spurred an
increase in population
and the growth of a
settled way of life.
New methods for obtaining
food and the development of
technology laid the foundations
for modern civilizations.
• slash-and-burn farming
Assessment
• domestication
2
HOME
Humans Try to
Control Nature
GRAPH
Section
2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
List the effects of the development of agriculture.
Rise in population
Emergence of
farming villages
More available
food
Development of Agriculture
New farming tools
More stable
communities
More cultural
developments
continued . . .
2
HOME
Humans Try to
Control Nature
GRAPH
Section
2
Assessment
2. Why do you think the development of agriculture
occurred around the same time in several different places?
THINK ABOUT
• the migrations of early peoples
• changes in the earth’s climate
• a rise in human population
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• Global warming trends resulted in longer growing
seasons; a rich supply of grain helped support a
population boom.
• A rise in population placed pressure on huntergatherers, who had migrated throughout the world,
to find new sources of food.
End of Section 2
3
HOME
Civilization
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Ur in Sumer
MAP
Key Idea
Large cities develop well-defined social
systems and powerful institutions. Eventually
they develop the five characteristics of
civilization. One of the first cities to develop
civilization is Ur in Sumer.
Overview
Assessment
3
HOME
Civilization
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Ur in Sumer
MAP
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• civilization
• specialization
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• artisan
Prospering agricultural
villages, food surpluses,
and new technology led to
the rise of civilizations.
Contemporary civilizations
share the same characteristics typical of ancient
civilizations.
• institution
• scribe
• cuneiform
• Bronze Age
• barter
• ziggurat
Assessment
3
HOME
Civilization
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Ur in Sumer
MAP
Section
3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
List the five characteristics of civilization and give an
example from Ur.
Characteristics of Civilization
Example from Ur
1. Advanced Cities
Ur’s population of about 30,000 people
2. Specialized Workers
Traders, artisans, and scribes
3. Complex Institutions
Religion under the authority of priests
4. Record Keeping
Cuneiform tablets
5. Advanced Technology
Irrigation systems
continued . . .
3
HOME
Civilization
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Ur in Sumer
MAP
Section
3
Assessment
2. In what ways does the ziggurat of Ur reveal that
Sumerians had developed an advanced civilization?
THINK ABOUT
• the skills required to build the monument
• the various purposes of the ziggurat
• its location
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• Builders and engineers in Ur had the advanced
technology to design a complex building.
• Religion played an important role in people’s lives.
• Ur was an advanced city.
End of Section 3