C.4 World History, Skill #1- Notes

C.4 World History, Skill #1

Identify characteristics of prehistoric cultures and early civilizations (e.g., Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Indus Valley, Chinese).

Identify Characteristics of Prehistoric Cultures and Early Civilizations

prehistory before writing non-written records, pottery shards, buildings, tool.s, etc. early humans homo sapiens (Africa/ Southwest Asia) homo erectus  (Africa) homo neanderthalensis (Europe) Multi-regional Continuity Model homo sapiens evolved from a group of homo erectus and dispersed all over the world, creating different races Out of Africa model homo erectus left Africa and mingled with other populations, but homo sapiens developed in Africa and took over without interbreeding  

Stone Age

period of time when humans made tools from Stone Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): 2.5 million years ago Europe/ Asia/ Africa first hominids, homo sapiens hunter gatherers; nomads crude tools, fire, art work divided among gender lines Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): 10,000- 8,000 BCE shortest period in Stone Age people develop smaller, more refined tools and start to develop agricultural practices Neolithic Revolution shift from food-gathering to food-producing/ farming laid foundation for rise of civilization farming= less nomadic lifestyle = larger population domestication of animals; people able to relate to one another more diseases, narrowing of diet to what could be produced, food supplies less reliable because people depended on a small range of farmed areas Neolithic Period more developments in domesticating plants/ animals agricultural villages rather than being nomadic early cities/ villages institutions such as family/ religion/ state government crafts such as pottery/ knitting/ spinning/ weaving development of Bronze-age tools at the end of this period rise in trade among groups

Bronze Age & Iron Age

developed at different times in different areas, blur together depending on location

River Valley Civilizations

civilization developed as people transitioned toward communal living, advanced farming/ herding techniques, turned toward production of pottery/ textiles characterized by existence of law/ government, economic growth, military, religion early communities emerged along rivers water needed for survival good source of food fish, attraction to other animals fertile land for farming transportation main characteristics of river valley civilizations cities/ large dense settlements separation of population into specialized occupational groups people could have jobs unrelated to food sourcing such as artisans, merchants, healers, etc. social hierarchy, including elite population exempt from substance labor elite class dominated lower class elite class didn't have to do blue collar work elite able to tax lower class monumental public buildings writing long distance trade rule of law non- kin-based society Mesopotamia (Tigris & Euphrates rivers) "land between two rivers" history and culture dependent on ebb/ flow of rivers flooding threatened towns but rivers were still beneficial in that they nourished soil, enabling people to produce surplus food evolved into independent city-states with little interest in unification Sumer cuneiform first group to develop system of writing conveyed concepts and sounds led to creation of new social class (scribes) scribal schools centers of learning/ culture math system based on 60 explains why there are 60 minutes in 1hr; 360 degrees in circle geometry applied math to construction of buildings/ irrigation calendar based on lunar phases invented wheel and plow, used bronze to make tools medical advances related to religion, basic surgery polytheistic religion gods represented almost everything ziggurat step-shaped pyramid temple in heart of cities priests controlled some government early on farmers relied on priests as a go-between with gods to oppose them priests began to lose control when cities needed military protection military leaders became full-time rulers, passing control onto children, which led to the creation of dynasties Epic Giglamesh details the organization of Sumerian society explains creation of Universe explores morality/ immorality, loyalty, friendship social hierarchy king (kingship is hereditary) nobles (held most of the land's wealth) commoners slaves (foreigners, prisoners of war, criminals/ debtors) women could pursue most occupations, even priesthood demise location (no geographical protection/ predictable flooding) overthrown by 1700 BCE Akkadians (2331 BCE) led by King Sargon I created permanent army, became world's 1st empire lasted about 140 days Babylonian Empire (1792) led by Hammurabi united all of Mesopotamia code of Hammurabi instituted different laws and punishments by class/ gender punishment should fit the crime Hittites (1595) overthrew Babylon use of iron tools in agriculture and war, ultimately leading to their success, as their enemies were still using Bronze  horse-drawn chariots defeated in 1200 BCE by Lydians Assyrians  capital in Niveveh army= war chariots, foot soldiers, cavalry masters at siege warfare allowed kings to rule through local leaders who collected taxes, enforced laws, raised troops constructed roads that linked parts of empire Chaldeans Babylon as capital Nebuchadnezzar II fought Egyptians and Jews, captured Jerusalem, rebuilt Babylon into city of splendor Hanging gardens of Babylon Phoenicians wealthy trading society Phoenician alphabet more flexible/ easier to use than pictures/ cuneiform 22 letters, all consonants adapted by Greeks who added vowels and then modified by Romans into modern alphabet Hebrews monotheism Yahweh migrated from Egypt to Palestine originally nomadic, settled when cities emerged Philistines settled in Canaan knew how to use iron (Hebrews eventually learned) defeated by David and the Jews Jerusalem King Solomon built large temple home to the Arc of the Covenant; 12 districts of Israel (unified Israel) after Solomon's death, Israel was split in 2 North destroyed (Israel) by Assyrians South becomes center of Judaism until Babylonian Control After the fall of Babylon, the Persian king allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild Solomon's temple Egypt (Nile River) Egypt split in two areas, named after the direction of the Nile Upper (southern) Egypt valley of the Nile Lower (northern) Egypt triangular Delta region characteristics social  peasants make up the majority of the population women had more freedom than in Mesopotamia Slavery is limited advancement in math/ science/ engineering largely attributed to obsession with afterlife (i.e. pyramids) religion/ government pharaohs- divine kinds ma'at- set of principles from pharaoh enforced by bureaucracy vizier- leader of bureaucracy, hereditary position Old Kingdom political unification under theocracy pyramids used hieroglyphics to keep track of land, labor, products, people, taxes men and women have equal rights social hierarchy  royal family --> priests --> admin --> regional government --> military commanders --> free workers art and literature displayed interest in maintaining social order and relationship with the gods Book of the Dead rituals and spells to protect journeying spirit Middle Kingdom capital in Thebes pride in military defense demise invaders from Hyksos/ climate change (flooding) New Kingdom Egypt's first permanent army expanded its rule South; increased trade Queen Hatshepsut queen mother focused on trade rather than war murdered by stepson Thutmose (more interested in war, destroyed paintings of her) Akhenaton (Amenhotep III) changed Egypt to monotheistic-based society, worshiping Aten Tutankhamon restored traditional gods, moved capital back to Thebes Ramses the Great (Ramses II) settled conflict with Hittites by marrying Hittite princess India (Indus River) Khyber Pass allowed trade/ contact with other lands skilled builders focused on practical aspects of city brick walls, streets, waste management, writing Aryans conquered Indus but chose to live alongside them brought agriculture and class system priests, warriors, peasants/ traders added new class of non-Aryan workers; limited contact with non-Aryans caste system ranked people by occupation color, ritual purity language --> Sanskirt Vedas sacred literature consisting of 4 collections of prayer, magical spells, and instructions for rituals most of the info on Aryans come from the Rigveda China (Yellow River) Xia 1st Chinese dynasty formation of authoritarian Central government Shang 1st historic dynasty introducing irrigation and flood control systems major cities constructed of wood, highly stratified upper class (Anyang) lived inside the city; lower class lived outside production of silk cloth, pottery (kaolin), bronze casting calendar, written language used religion to bolster ruling position in society prominent burial sites for rulers massive building projects, in particular walls  rulers depended on large bureaucracy limited contact w. outside world, trade with Mesopotamia ethnocentric patriarchal society, most power to oldest male Zhou developed concept of ruler as divine son of heaven who ruled with Mandate of Heaven gods pleased = wars won, plentiful harvests justification for overthrowing Shang dynasty water projects to control rivers and irrigation manufacture/ trade of silk caravan routes established schools of ancient philosophies decentralized government feudal system --> land given to nobles who overtime become less dependent on king warring states --> regional lords undermined aristocracy and became more powerful Kongfuzi (confucius) offered advice and wisdom Hundred schools of thought --> yin/ yang; 5 elements analects --> followers family important to the state Daoism people should withdraw from hierarchy/ formality Laozi --> created the Dao De Jing (foundational text)

Mesopotamia