Introduction to World History

1.
How do historians reconstruct the past?
2.
How does geography influence how people live?
3.
What are the characteristics of a civilization?
4.
How do people live and survive?
5.
What is the purpose of political systems?

 History
 Historian
 Archaeology
 Prehistory
 Artifact
 Economic Systems
 Traditional Economy
 Barter Economy
• Capitalism
 Scarcity
 Supply
 Demand
 Natural Resources
 Interdependence

 Political Systems
 Bureaucracy
 Civilization
 Geography
 Geographic/physical features

How do historians
 reconstruct the past?
Historians research, analyze, and interpret various types of evidence to come to conclusions about the past.
 Archaeologists analyze artifacts to draw conclusions about peoples’ beliefs, values, and daily life.

1. How do historians reconstruct the past?
 Historians and Archaeologists study artifacts to learn about prehistoric life.
 Prehistory = period of time before writing systems were developed; history was recorded using poems , songs, stories and were passed along orally by people
 Artifact = objects made by people, such as tools, weapons, clothing, etc.

2. How does geography influence how people live?
Geography is the study of the environment and how people survive where they live.

3. What is a civilization?
 Civilization – A highly organized society that has developed systems of learning
(education), job specialization, religion, government, culture, military, and an economy.

4. What are the characteristics of a civilization?
 Cities
 Economic System
 Government / Political
Systems
 Belief Systems
 Job Specialization
 Public Works
 Writing System
 Art & Architecture

Characteristics of a Civilization

Characteristics of a Civilization
Economic Systems
HOW
PEOPLE
SURVIVE

Types of Economic Systems
 Traditional Economy : people survive by farming and producing their own food
 Barter Economy : people survive by exchanging goods and services
 Capitalism : people survive by trading and owning businesses; people have jobs and buy what they need to survive;

Economic Vocabulary
 Supply : goods or products that are available for sale or consumption
 Demand : what people need or want
 Resources : products that are available based on geography or location
 Scarcity : a shortage of a product
 How does scarcity affect the price of an item if the demand is high?

Characteristics of a Civilization
Political Systems / Government
Rulers unite their people and run the government
.
Bureaucracy: people that assist the ruler in running the government; bureaucrats help make laws, collect taxes, etc.

5. What is the purpose of political systems?
 Political System = Government
 HOW PEOPLE ARE RULED
 What are the different types of government?
 Democracy = rule by the people
 Monarchy = rule by a king or queen
 Dictator = person who rules by force
 Which type of government is the best?

Characteristics of Civilization
Belief Systems/ Religions
Belief Systems of the world today:
Monotheism Polytheism
Belief in one god Belief in many gods

Characteristics of Civilization
Job Specialization

Characteristics of Civilization
Public Works

Characteristics of Civilization
Writing Systems

Characteristics of Civilization
Art & Architecture