Chapter 1 Unit History Written and other recorded

Chapter 1 (Unit

§ History: Written and other recorded events of people § Prehistory: Time before writing was invented § Archaeologist: A scientist who examines objects to learn about human past § Oral traditions: Stories passed down by word of mouth § Geography: The study of the Earth’s surfaces and the processes that shape it

§ Discovered in the Alps by two hikers in 1991 § The Iceman’s body and possessions were taken to a laboratory, where scientists learned more about him. § Clothing and tools provided clues to how the Iceman lived § Scientists determined that the Iceman lived about 5, 000 years ago. § Most important clue from the Iceman was his copper ax. § Copper was the first metal used by Europeans (beginning about 4, 000 B. C. ) § In many ways, the story of the Iceman helps us to understand the story of our past.

§ About 5, 000 years ago, people in Southwest Asia and in Africa developed systems of writing. § People keeping written records of their experiences marked the beginning of history! § Prehistory: The period of time before writing was invented. (The prefix “-pre” means before. ) § Archaeologist are scientists who examine objects to learn about past peoples and cultures. § They sift through the dirt of prehistoric areas to find bones, tools, and other objects. § EX: The size of a stone spear can show what kind of game the people hunted!

§Written records studied by historians often began as oral traditions, or stories passed down by word of mouth. § -Not all oral stories are historically accurate! § -Similar to myths and facts! Oral traditions can be mixed with personal beliefs and exaggerations.

§ Geography: The study of Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it. § Geography also refers to the features of a place, including: § -Climate § -Landscape § -Location § Knowing the connections between geography and history is often the key to understanding why events happened.

Stone Age: A period of time during which early humans made lasting tools and weapons mainly from stone; the earliest known period of human culture. Nomad: A person who has no settled home Fertile: Rich in the substances plants need to grow well; describes soil and land. Domesticate: To adapt wild plants for human use; tame wild animals and breed them for human use

§ -The first use of stone to create tools began the earliest known period of human culture: THE STONE AGE! § -Archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three periods: § 1. The Old Stone Age § 2. The Middle Stone Age § 3. The New Stone Age § -Almost all of prehistory took place during the Old Stone Age. (When early humans did not yet know how to farm!) § -Early humans discovered how to create fire. This was an important step for our human ancestors! They could now move to areas with colder climates. § -Many of our Old Stone Age ancestors were nomads, or people who have no settled home. Humans eventually spread out over much of the Earth!

§ The New Stone Age begin about 11, 000 years ago when farming was discovered in Southwest Asia. § Some places were better for farming than others. Soil in some areas was very fertile, or rich in the substances that plants needs to grow. § When people first began to plant crops, they carefully chose seeds from the biggest, best-tasting plants. In doing so, they began to domesticate plants, or adapt wild plants for human use. -During the New Stone Age, humans also learned to tame wild animals and breed them for human use. -EX: The people of Ancient India tamed wild elephants for use in battle.

§ Irrigation: Supplying land with water through a network of canals. § Surplus: More than is needed. § Artisan: A worker who is especially skilled at crafting items by hand. § Civilization: A society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes. § Social Class: A group of people with similar backgrounds, incomes, and ways of living.

§ Farming techniques like irrigation were important in creating early communities. § Farming also meant people no longer had to travel from place to place! People often even had a food surplus, or more than what is needed. § Surplus food allowed families to have more children. Larger families brought rapid population growth! § Because of food surpluses, some people were able to switch from farming to other kinds of work. § EX: Artisans (A worker who is especially skilled in crafting items by hand. )

§Some of the earliest cities grew up along large rivers! §Nile in Egypt §Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq §Huang in China §Indus in Pakistan.

§ Over time, some New Stone Age societies grew into civilizations. § By around 3, 500 B. C. , some civilizations had developed a simple but amazing invention: the wheel and axle. § More trade goods could be loaded into carts and transported! § Growing trade links brought new prosperity to the cities. This led to development of social classes.

§ In large cities, the king was the most powerful person. § Next in importance were two classes of people: Priests and nobles (government officials and military officers) § Artisans, common workers, and farmers were the lowest ranked members of society. § Slaves, human beings owned as property by other people, formed a separate social class. Their status was beneath free people.