Chapter 1: The World Before Modern Times

Lesson 1 Ancient Civilizations

Civilization?

1st Humans and 1st CivilizationsHow did it all begin and how do we know if there was no writing?

Hominids-Australopithecine-Homo Habilis-Homo Erectus-Homo Sapien

Who emerges as the survivors and why?

Ability to adapt to environment

The Stone Age-Paleolithic Era -Nomads

-Hunter-Gatherers-Technology?

* Technology is what separates societies and allows for the ability to further adapt to an environment

Revolution Takes PlaceRevolution?

Neolithic Revolution 10,000 BC-Shift from Hunter-Gatherer society to Agriculture and Domestication

Agriculture?

Domestication?

Benefits/Results - Stay in one place

- Reliable food source – Larger Populations-Specialization and Trade- More defined Rules- Social Classes- Increase in Culture

Results in the beginning of Civilization

What is a Civilization?- Complex Society in which individuals work together to meet the needs of the whole

Characteristics of a Civilization-Large Cities-Government- Social Structures -Formalized Religion -Writing-Art

First CivilizationsFertile Crescent: Mesopotamia

-located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers-Locate on the Map

Made up of many different City StatesCity-State?

Sumerians-Polytheistic?-1st Writing System- Cuneiform-Math based on 60-Science- invented the wheel, plow, and bronze weapons

Akkadians-1st Permanent Army

Babylonians-Hammurabi Code

-1st written code of laws Phonecians

-Merchant Society based on?- Phonecian Alphabet

-Later adopted by the Greeks

As Civilizations grow and come into contact with one another through trade and warfare, cultural diffusion takes place.

Hebrews/Israelites-Culture becomes backbone of western society-Monothesitic?

-Judaism-Helps create Christianity and Islam

-Strong Code of Laws and Moral Behavior-10 Commandments-Mosaic Laws

Persia-Conquered much of the territory in Middle East-Result- encouraged cultural diffusion among the civilizations

Early Asian Civilizations

India-Indus River Valley-Development of two major world religions

-Buddhism-Hinduism

China-Similar development to rest in Government, Writing, Art, Architecture, etc.

-Mandate of Heaven

-Kings have the divine right to Rule-Also used to justify change in dynasties as divine will

-Dynastic Cycle

Key Philosophies-Confucianism- belief in love and respect, especially for authority and elders. Focus on

improving society.

-Daoism- focus on natural laws, find your place in nature to achieve balance and harmony.

African CivilizationsEgypt

-Located along what river?-Theocracy

-Rule by a religious leader-Pharoah

-Polytheistic-Writing System: Hieroglyphics -Pyramids

Others such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai-Flourished due to the Salt and Gold Trade

Greek Civilizations

-Made up of Polis- Greek City States-2 Most Known

-Sparta -Militaristic/Agrarian Society -Oligarchy- rule by a few-Athens - Merchant Society -Democracy- rule by the many (people)

What happened between these two powers?

Macedonia-The war between Athens and Sparta allowed for Alexander the Great to conquer

Greece.-Alexander continued his conquest in Egypt, Persia, and to India spreading Greek culture

and creating Hellenistic (Greek Like) Societies along the way.

Greek CultureFundamental to the development of Western Society-Philosophy: “Love of Wisdom”

-pursuit of better understanding the world around-Socrates- learn and teach by questions-Plato- The Academy- school of philosophy-Aristotle- Logic and Reason

Socrates PlatoAristotle

-Polytheistic-Language and Alphabet

-Alpha, Beta, Etc.

-Literature/History-Homer’s Epic Poems

-Illiad-Odyssey

-Herodotus-First History-Liked to Exaggerate in his stories

-Architecture-Parthenon-Columns

Much of Greek Culture was adopted and preserved by those who conquered it next: The Romans

Roman Civilization

-Polytheistic-Adopted the gods of those conquered: Greece, Persia, Egypt etc.

-Created a Republic to govern Rome-3 branches

-Senate- proposed laws-Magistrates- ran operations, judges-Tribunes- elected magistrates and voted on laws

Republic to Empire-Augustus create the title of Emperor

-Furthered the expansion of Rome and cultural diffusion of civilizations mentioned before throughout Europe.

-Key Achievements-Stressed Hygiene-Large cities, roads, aqueducts, sewers-Concrete-Impartial Legal System and Trial by Jury-Preserved Greek Intellect

ANCIENT CIVILIZATION DECODER WORKSHEET

Section 2 New patterns of CivilizationIslamic World

-Monotheistic Religion-Created by Muhammad-Holy Book- Quran-Caliphs- succeeded Muhammad

-Expanded all throughout Middle East, Asia, and Africa-Achievements

-Many advancements in math and science-Standing written language and code of law to region

Europe in the Middle Ages-With Fall of Rome, it allows for new Civilizations to grow

-Like when a large tree falls in forest-Germanic States begin to form-Holy Roman Empire Forms

-Charlemagne-New European Society Based on:

-Germanic Tribes-Roman Legacy-Christian Church*Creates a European Identity*

High Middle Ages- Europe is dominated by new system called FeudalismFeudalism- political and social system based on Lords, Knights, and Peasants

-Lords- owned the land-Knights- fought and protected the land-Peasants- worked the land

1000-1300 Experiences Major Growth-Increase in Trade-Increase in Agriculture

-increase in population-increase in urban life

-Most Dominant Institution: Catholic Church-Spiritual Revival in Europe- Pope very influential- Crusades: Series of Military Expeditions in which

European Christians try to regain Holy Lands from Muslims.

Disaster in 14th Century-Constant Warfare- Political and Religious Instability- Decline in Economic Prosperity-Black Plague

-wiped out 1/3 of Europe

This Collapse of Medieval Europe will cause a Rebirth of Culture known as the Renaissance.