PreHistory and Characteristics of Civilization AP World History

Pre-History and Characteristics of Civilization AP World History EVHS

Quiz!! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The human species has existed for approximately how long? Why do hunting and gathering groups tend to be small? Why did people first develop rituals? Name one discovery that facilitated the spread of groups throughout the world. Name one benefit of metalworking.

5 Stages of Hominids – Pre-History l l l Australopithecus – “southern ape” • “Lucy” (Johansen) Great Rift Valley – Ethiopia • diggers; lacked language, short, furry, omnivores Homo Habilis – “handy man” • Louis and Mary Leakey – Kenya • Used stone tools; lacked complex language Homo Erectus – “upright man” - bipedal • Not only in Africa but Asia and Europe • used complex tools and fire; first spoken language Homo Sapiens – “wise man” – Neanderthal Man – Lived all over the world, religious rituals, advanced spoken language, cave painting, sculpting, identified by clans Homo Sapiens – “wise, wise man” – US!

The Journey of Mankind – The Peopling of the World

Eight Components of Civilization: 1. Cities l Agriculture allowed for a surplus (which was difficult to move) l River valleys: agriculture required a stable source of water

Eight Components of Civilization: 2. Governmentl Issues laws, collects taxes, organizes defense, monitors/rations food supply l Bureaucracy – managing government through departments of officials l Protecting the surplus was of the utmost importance

Eight Components of Civilization: 3. Religion People believed in higher beings l Polytheistic – many gods l People wanted to gain favor with the gods l

Eight Components of Civilization: 4. Writing Crucial skill for early civilizations l Pictograms – simple drawings to show words l Scribes – as writing became complex these trained experts learned to read and write l

Eight Components of Civilization: 5. Social Classes People were ranked according to their jobs/occupations l Priests and nobles were at the top level of society l Next, came merchants, artisans, peasant farmers, and finally…. . slaves. l

Eight Components of Civilization: 6. Public Works Monumental architecture – temples, palaces l Irrigation systems, roads and bridges l Defensive walls l

Eight Components of Civilization: 7. Job Specialization l Specialization brought expertise l Artisans – skilled craft workers who made pottery or woven goods

Eight Components of Civilization: 8. Art and Architecture l Expressed the beliefs and values of people who created them l Temples and palaces reassured people of the strength and power of their government and religion

Developing a Thesis l Compare and contrast the social and economic characteristics of agriculturally based societies with hunter-gatherer societies.