THE STONE AGES Paleolithic Era Neolithic Era PALEOLITHIC

THE STONE AGES Paleolithic Era Neolithic Era

PALEOLITHIC ERA • OLD STONE AGE • 4. 5 million years ago • Hominids emerged • Nomadic; Hunter/Gatherers

• NEW STONE AGE • 10, 000 years ago NEOLITHIC ERA • Neolithic Revolution = Agricultural Revolution • Shift from food gathering to food producing

NEOLITHI C ERA INCLUDED DOMESTICATION: TAMING WILD ANIMALS TO ENSURE A CONSTANT FOOD SOURCE

NEOLITHIC ERA So, what’s the big deal?

THE BIRTH OF CIVILIZATION

BIRTH OF CIVILIZATION • Farming develops in many places: Americas, Africa, China, • Various crops

BIRTH OF CIVILIZATION • Prosperous farming villages, food surpluses, & new technology lead to the rise of civilizations • Civilizations form all over the world; most are farming settlements in river valleys

BIRTH OF CIVILIZATIO N FOUR OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS ARE KNOWN AS THE CRADLES OF CIVILIZATION

CRADLES OF CIVILIZATION • Tigris/Euphrates Rivers: Middle East (mostly Iraq) • Nile River: Africa (Egypt)

CRADLES OF CIVILIZATION • Indus River: South Asia (Pakistan/India) • Huang He (Yellow) River: East Asia (China)

THE 5 CHARACTERISTICS OF CIVILIZATION HOW CIVILIZATION DEVELOPS

Civilization: a complex culture featuring: CHARACTERISTICS 1. Advanced Cities 2. Specialized Workers 3. Complex Institutions 4. Record Keeping 5. Improved Technology

ADVANCED CITIES WITH LARGER POPULATIONS RISE, BECOMING CENTERS OF TRADE

• Due to food surpluses, fewer people have to farm; time to refine skills & specialize SPECIALIZED WORKERS • Artisans arise; make goods that display certain skill and artistic ability • Job specialization leads to social classes

SPECIALIZED WORKERS What are some examples of specialized workers in ancient cultures? Farmers n Merchants n Priests n Potters n Scribes n Teachers n Soldiers n Metalworkers n Weavers n Gov’t officials n Traders n

COMPLEX INSTITUTIONS • Institutions: government, religion, the economy • Governments establish laws, maintain order • Temples are centers for religion, government and trade

RECORD KEEPING • Need to preserve & pass on information • Professional record keepers (scribes) record taxes and laws

RECORD KEEPING • Scribes invent cuneiform, a system of writing in about 3, 000 BC • Priest record myths: traditional stories of how earth was formed (found in every civilization)

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY New tools & techniques to solve problems & make work easier Irrigation: Less dependency on rainfall Use ditches to flood fields; dams to control water

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY • More time allows for more creativity • People replace copper & stone with bronze to make tools, weapons, etc…

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY • Search for metals leads to long distance trade • Use animals for transportation

CULTURAL DIFFUSION • The exchange of goods and ideas when cultures comes in contact • How would this improve the lives of people?