Unit 1History’s Beginnings

Chapter 1Earliest Human Societies

Early Human Migration to 10,000 years agohttp://www.classzone.com/cz/books/ms_wh_su

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Studying History and Early HumansWhy do people study history and try to learn

more about the past?To find out about ancestors and more about

themselveshttp://www.classzone.com/cz/books/ms_wh_su

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Why Study HistoryWhat has happened to a person, a family, or

society in the past may affect what will occur in the futureMore than recounting and studying past eventsInvolves: studying society’s culture, religion,

politics, and economicsHistorians try to find patterns and see past

through eyes of people who lived it

Primary and Secondary SourcesEvidence used to answer Historians

questionsPrimary Source: something written or

created by a person who witnessed a historical eventMilitary records, marriage certificates, diaries,

and private lettersArtifacts: buildings, works of art, toolsOral History: made up of verbal or unwritten

accounts of events includes stories, customs, and songs

Secondary Source: a work produces about a historical event by someone who was not actually thereNewspapers, books, and paintingsOral History

Why History ChangesHistorians might use different evidenceSteps:

Evidence is examined and trustworthy evidence is sorted.

Evidence is interpreted: articles, books, and museum displays Interpretations can be conflicting

Discovery of new evidence may lead to new conclusions

Early Humans Were Hunter-GatherersHunted animals and gathered plants for foodMoved to new locations when food ran out

Adapting to the EnvironmentDepended on Environment for shelter

Lived in caves, rock shelters, made shelters out of tree branches, plant fibers or skins of animals

Lived together in bandsMade up of several families (30 people)Men: hunted and fishedWomen: gathered foods and cared for children

Early Humans on the MoveHunter-gatherers were nomads: people who

move from place to placeMovement limited; returned to same places with

changing seasonsSome moved to new lands

Migration: the act of moving from one place to settle in another

MigrationPeople followed animals to hunt13,000 B.C. had migrated to much of world

Traveled across a land bridge connecting Siberia and Alaska

Developing Tools and CultureTechnology: ways in which people apply knowledge,

tools, and inventions to meet their needs.The Development of Technology

2 million years ago Stone tools for cuttingCarrying bags, stone hand axes, awls, drills, bows,

flint spearheads, metal toolsTools used for: building shelter, hunting and

butchering animalsThe Use of Fire

500,000 years ago: learned to make fire Provided heat and light (could cook food) Used to temper tools made of metal

Early Human CultureArt, language, and religion are unique to

humansLanguage: develop out of need to

communicateReligion: the worship of God, gods, or spirits

Early Humans: everything in nature had a spirit

Early Art: created in caves or on rocks

The Beginnings of Agriculture8,000 B.C.

Learned to grow plants and raise animalsClimate Changes

Rising temps caused glaciers to meltHumans could move into new areasGrowing seasons became longer

Domesticated : (humans learned to grown and breed the grasses ) wild grasses

The Domestication of AnimalsLearned to capture and tame animals

Captured animals provided constant source of food

9,000 B.C. 1st animals domesticatedReliable food source, clothing, and other

products Made tools from bones Horses, llamas, and camels used for transportation Dogs domesticated to help in hunts

The Agricultural RevolutionDevelopment of farming

Agriculture: planting of seeds to raise cropsAg. Revolution

Shift from food gathering to food raisingBegan around 8,000 B.C.Brought changes in tools and technology

People made hoes, plows and sickles More food available allowed for increases in

population and better opportunities to settle in one place

Section 2The First Communities

Settlements BeginBecame better farmers as tools improved

Groups remained in same areas instead of moving

Developed larger, more permanent settlements

Farming Villages Develop WorldwideAgriculture developed where water was

availableIrrigation: the watering of dry land using

systems of ditches, pipes, and streamsFertile soil: produced bigger & better crops

Attracted farmers to larger villages; villages grew in size

Village LifeAdvantages:

Food was plentifulCould withstand attacks by nomadic bands

Disadvantages:Risk of fire, disease, and flood

Surpluses Boost DevelopmentAs agriculture techniques improved, farmers

produced surplusesMore than what is needed to survive

Surpluses not limited to foodMaterials for making cloth or other products

(wool)Surpluses in good seasons helped during bad

seasonsAble to support more people during surpluses

Population grew, villages economies varied as people developed special skills

People Develop Different SkillsNot everyone had to raise food with

surplusesPeople began to specializing

Skill in one kind of workPotters, weavers, and holy person or shamans

(interpreted natural events)Non-farmers traded their goods and services

for food

Simple Villages Grow More ComplexSurpluses and specialization led to growth of

villagesLife became more complexSocial relationships became more

complicated

A Changing Way of LifeMore people living together in villagesIncreased trade between villagesSkilled people spent years learning trade

Artisans: people trained in skills or craftOccupational classes or social classes developed

Social class: a group of people with similar customs, backgrounds, training, and income.

Need for laws and leadership to keep order and settle disputesGovernment createdCommunities safer and more stable

Life in Complex VillagesLarger population & live closer togetherLarger supply of skills, ideas, and needsLife more complicated

Catal HuyukComplex village in Turkey8,000 people32 acresAgricultural village

Wheat, barley, and peasRaised sheepBuried dead under floors of their homesVivid murals on walls of housesDeveloped special skills

Making tools and luxury items Produced cloth, wooden vessels, and simple pottery