Civilizations What are these things Neanderthal Society Neanderthals

Civilizations! What are these things?

Neanderthal Society • Neanderthals is humanity’s closest extinct human relative. • Some defining features of their skulls include the large middle part of the face, angled cheek bones, and a huge nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air. • Their bodies were shorter and stockier than ours, another adaptation to living in cold environments. But their brains were just as large as ours and often larger - proportional to their brawnier bodies. • Neanderthals made and used a diverse set of sophisticated tools, controlled fire, lived in shelters, made and wore clothing, were skilled hunters of large animals and also ate plant foods. • There is evidence that Neanderthals deliberately buried their dead and occasionally even marked their graves with offerings, such as flowers.

Moving Toward Complex Societies • Around 35, 000 years ago humankind experienced a burst of innovation and creativity that would set them apart from other animals • We see the creation of crafted materials, tools and weapons • Watercraft may also have made an appearance in this period as people learned to travel more efficiently

The Paleolithic Age • Also called the Old Stone Age, is characterized by the use of rudimentary chipped stone tools • This period is generally accepted as the first period of tool construction about 2. 5 million years ago • In 2015 however, researchers excavating a dry riverbed near Kenya’s Lake Turkana discovered primitive stone tools embedded in rocks dating to 3. 3 million years ago so the exact date is not known

The Neolithic Revolution • Also called the Agricultural Revolution, the Neolithic Revolution was the wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of agriculture and settlement • This allowed for the ability to support an increasingly large population. • We see various plants and animals domesticated in this period • This sets the stage for the growth of societies

Characteristics of Societies

Centralized Government • A cornerstone of any civilization is a central body that passes laws and regulates society • In pre-civilized societies often individuals, families or clans would exact punishment for perceived wrongs - small wars would often break out • Over time power because regulated in a small group of powerful people who were given the right to insist that others obey laws and they decided on punishment if they were broken • In times of crisis, power was often put in the hands of a dictator • Over time leadership styles like monarchies, Kingship, democracies and theocracies came in to being

Agricultural Intensification • The building of irrigation systems, dykes and the reclamation of land allowed early civilizations to intensify farming • The development of a calendar system helped to plan harvests and planting • These new approaches allowed for a more reliable food supply for civilizations

Specialization in Occupations • The dramatic increase in food production meant that there was a food surplus which was different from hunter-gatherer societies where they lived their lives in search of food • This allowed for society to specialize in different areas this leads to a division of labour • Increased food production also allowed people more leisure time

Class Structure • As centralized governments developed and specialized trades emerged equality among the people disappeared as we put higher priorities in different professions • Equal access to land among individuals was lost • More and more people accumulated land hired people to work it - this leads to the formation of classes

Merchants and Trade • Trade itself was not new to civilizations but the nature of trade changed • Trade shifted from raw materials to manufactured goods including luxury items that only the wealthy could afford • A merchant class is born that helped facilitate the exchange of goods between two parties • Long distance trade develops as people travel farther between places

Development of Science and Writing • A written language is crucial as a concrete form of communication this often was used in the accounting of personal ownership • The need to track things such as food surpluses and shortages also required a written language • People also become interested in the natural world and start to explore it leading to new discoveries such as metallurgy and the invention of the wheel

State Religion • Early on in the development of societies there is a strong link between organized religion and the central government • Religion legitimized the authority of the government and in turn the government promoted and protected the religion

Rivers and Civilizations • The Earliest Civilizations were Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China • These civilizations developed along river valleys where they drew their life blood from • These river valleys provided a fresh water supply for the people, animals and crops • These river valleys allowed farmers to farm with a consistent supply of water for their crops and for their animals

The First Civilizations

Group Challenge • In your educated opinion, why did the first civilizations settle where they did? • Consider different geographic factors in your discussion