What is Civilization? How do we define it? Architecture Culture Urban Centers Technology Beginnings of Mankind • Fossils of early bipedal hominids in Africa date to nearly 6 million years ago • As hunters and gatherers, early humans survived by following food and water sources • The necessity of following food sources led to the migration of early humans across regions of Africa • Early humans developed family and clan, or band, units for defense and survival Africa • Covers six percent of the world’s land mass • Second largest continent • Second most populace continent today • Oldest inhabited land • Origin of the human species Early Humans • An Australopithecus skeleton named Lucy has been dated to 3.2 million years ago • Lucy was discovered in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia on November 24, 1974 • Lucy had a small brain and was bipedal The Cradle of Mankind • Thought to be the oldest occupied land on earth • Origin of early humans around 1.5 – 1.8 million years ago • Modern humans, or homo-sapiens, evolved around 100,000 years ago Early Africa • Sahara region occupied by nomadic tribes • Sahara region started becoming more arid around 6000 B.C.E. • Around 5000 B.C.E. peoples began migrating from the Sahara region • By 1000 B.C.E. the Sahara region was a desert dividing Africa Early Humans • During the Paleolithic Era, or Old Stone Age, 2.6 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago, early humans survived by hunting and gathering • Early humans lived in small family units known as bands or clans • Early humans developed stone tools for specific uses Paleolithic Era • Human population was low and widespread • Human population was nomadic • New technologies led to bone, stone and wood tools for everyday use • Tools included spears, knives, axes and digging tools • Around 2 million years ago humanoids began migrating from Africa into Eurasia and China Development of Mankind • During the Neolithic Era, or New Stone Age, 12,000 – 4,000 B.C.E., humans developed social structures, communities and new technologies • Humans became more stationary • New specialized stone tools were developed to assist in everyday life Neolithic Era • Between 12,000 to 10,000 B.C.E. in areas of the Near East known as the “Fertile Crescent,” people began utilizing wild grains • Advancements in technologies led to settled agriculture, or farming • By 8,000 B.C.E. small farming communities were spread across the Fertile Crescent • Pottery was developed for storing food stuffs Beginnings of Civilization • The development of systematic agriculture, or farming • The domestication of plants and animals • Establishment of societies and urban centers • Development of political, economic, social, military, cultural, intellectual, religious and scientific structures and institutions • Creation of writing • Creation of the wheel Cradle of Civilization • Between 4000 – 3000 B.C.E. early civilizations were established along the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys (modern – day Iraq) • About 3000 B.C.E. the Sumerians created cuneiform, a form of writing • These ideas spread to the river valleys of Egypt, India and China The Sumerians 3000 – 2370 B.C.E. • By 4000 B.C.E. Sumerian communities began to spread throughout Mesopotamia • Uruk, the first city of its kind, was established around 3500 B.C.E. • Dynastic ruling families began to gain control by 2100 B.C.E. The Akkadians 2334– 2154 B.C.E. • In 2334 B.C.E. Sargon unified all Sumerian speaking peoples under one ruler • His successors gained control over much of Mesopotamia • The empire’s collapse led to a decline of the region The Amorites/Babylonians 1894 – 1595 B.C.E. • In 1894 B.C.E. the citystate of Babylon emerged as a regional power • Hammurabi (1792 – 1750 B.C.E.) expanded the empire • Declined following the death of Hammurabi The Hittites 1600 – 1178 B.C.E. • Hittite kingdom was established around 1600 B.C.E. • Internal quarrels limited their expansion • Conquered Babylon in 1531 B.C.E. • Hittite Empire reached its peak around 1350 B.C.E. The Assyrians 1000 – 612 B.C.E. • Consolidation of Assyrian power around 1000 B.C.E. • Peak of Assyrian Empire by 665 B.C.E. • Destruction of the capital at Nineveh in 612 B.C.E. marked the end of the empire Early Egypt • By 5500 B.C.E. farming communities were established along the Nile River • Divided in to Upper and Lower regions • United in 3100 B.C.E. • Old Kingdom – 2700 – 2200 B.C.E. • Middle Kingdom –2052 – 1786 B.C.E. • New Kingdom – 1575 – 1087 B.C.E. Old Kingdom 2700 – 2150 B.C.E. • Established its capital at Memphis • Creation of hieroglyphics, or writing about 3200 B.C.E. • Great Pyramids of Giza built circa 2560 B.C.E. • Mummification of kings and elites practiced Middle Kingdom 2052 – 1786 B.C.E. • Rulers of Thebes reunite Egypt • Osiris became a central religious god • Expanded control into Nubia and the Sinai • Declined after a series of weak kings and drought New Kingdom 1575 – 1087 B.C.E. • Known as the “empire period” of Egypt • Most prosperous period of Egypt • Peak of Egyptian power • The title “pharaoh” came into use • Declined due to continued warfare Near East circa 1290 B.C.E. • Hittite Kingdom established around 1500 B.C.E. in central Anatolia • Hittite Empire peaked 1400 – 1200 B.C.E. • Egyptians and Hittites clash in the struggle for dominance in the region in 1274 B.C.E. at the Battle of Kadesh • The battle halted the expansion of both empires Indus River Valley Civilization • By 2600 B.C.E. communities were widespread in the valley • By 2300 B.C.E. Harappa became a leading urban center • Harappan Culture became widespread by 2100 B.C.E. • Drought led to the decline of the culture by 1900 B.C.E. Vedic Aryan Civilization 1500 – 500 B.C.E. • Drought forced nomadic tribes to seek new herding lands • By 1800 B.C.E. the Aryans began to occupy areas of the Indus River Valley • Known as the Vedic Period • Named for the Vedas, the earliest scriptures of Hinduism The Rigvedic Age 1700 – 1000 B.C.E. • Around 1700 B.C.E. migrating Aryan nomadic tribes settled in the Indus River Valley • Period filled with internal and external conflicts • New scriptures were added to the Vedas Later Vedic or Brahmanic Age 1000 – 500 B.C.E. • By 1000 B.C.E. many Vedic tribes were turning to farming • Expanded into the Ganges River Valley • New scriptures led to the Varna, or caste, social system • Brahman priest and nobility were the 1st Estate Yellow River Valley • By 2600 B.C.E. communities were widespread in the valley • Referred to as the mother river of China and the cradle of Chinese civilization • Earliest Chinese kingdoms and empires originated in the valley • United under the Xia Dynasty around 2100 B.C.E. Xia Dynasty 2100 – 1600 B.C.E. • The Xia consolidated their power in north central China • Considered to be the 1st traditional dynasty in modern Chinese history • Declined due to internal and external threats and natural disasters Shang Dynasty 1600 – 1050 B.C.E. • The Shang kingdom rose to power with the decline of the Xia • Brought stability to the region • New technologies included metallurgy, the calendar and writing • Set the standard for future dynasties Mesoamerica Civilizations • Settled agriculture became widespread by 8000 B.C.E. • Establishment of cultural centers around 4000 B.C.E. • By 3500 B.C.E. cultivation of maize was widespread • By 2500 B.C.E. pottery was used for storage of food stuffs Formative Period 2000 B.C.E. – 150 C.E. • By 2000 B.C.E. tribal communities were established • By 1800 B.C.E. Mayan civilization began to emerge on the Yucatan Peninsula • The Olmec emerged as a leading culture along the Gulf of Mexico around 1400 B.C.E. Classic Period 150 – 900 C.E. • Large complex cities created city-states • Cities laid out in a grid pattern • Mayan city-states gained control of the Yucatan Peninsula • Use of the Long Count Calendar Post – Classic Period 900 – 1521 C.E. • By 900 C.E. drought and civil wars led to the decline of Mayan cities • Around 1200 C.E. the Aztecs were established in central Mexico • Established the capital at Tenochtitlan • The Aztec Empire was at its peak in 1519 C.E. Arrival of the Spanish 1519 C.E. • Hernan Cortes and 500 troops land near Vera Cruz in July 1519 • Welcomed by the Aztec chief, Montezuma – one year later he is killed • Spanish take control of Tenochtitlan in August 1521 ending the Aztec Empire What is Civilization? How do we define it? Architecture Culture Urban Centers Technology Beginnings of Mankind • Fossils of early bipedal hominids in Africa date to nearly 6 million years ago • As hunters and gatherers, early humans survived by following food and water sources • The necessity of following food sources led to the migration of early humans across regions of Africa • Early humans developed family and clan, or band, units for defense and survival Africa • Covers six percent of the world’s land mass • Second largest continent • Second most populace continent today • Oldest inhabited land • Origin of the human species Early Humans • An Australopithecus skeleton named Lucy has been dated to 3.2 million years ago • Lucy was discovered in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia on November 24, 1974 • Lucy had a small brain and was bipedal The Cradle of Mankind • Thought to be the oldest occupied land on earth • Origin of early humans around 1.5 – 1.8 million years ago • Modern humans, or homo-sapiens, evolved around 100,000 years ago Early Africa • Sahara region occupied by nomadic tribes • Sahara region started becoming more arid around 6000 B.C.E. • Around 5000 B.C.E. peoples began migrating from the Sahara region • By 1000 B.C.E. the Sahara region was a desert dividing Africa Early Humans • During the Paleolithic Era, or Old Stone Age, 2.6 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago, early humans survived by hunting and gathering • Early humans lived in small family units known as bands or clans • Early humans developed stone tools for specific uses Paleolithic Era • Human population was low and widespread • Human population was nomadic • New technologies led to bone, stone and wood tools for everyday use • Tools included spears, knives, axes and digging tools • Around 2 million years ago humanoids began migrating from Africa into Eurasia and China Development of Mankind • During the Neolithic Era, or New Stone Age, 12,000 – 4,000 B.C.E., humans developed social structures, communities and new technologies • Humans became more stationary • New specialized stone tools were developed to assist in everyday life Neolithic Era • Between 12,000 to 10,000 B.C.E. in areas of the Near East known as the “Fertile Crescent,” people began utilizing wild grains • Advancements in technologies led to settled agriculture, or farming • By 8,000 B.C.E. small farming communities were spread across the Fertile Crescent • Pottery was developed for storing food stuffs Beginnings of Civilization • The development of systematic agriculture, or farming • The domestication of plants and animals • Establishment of societies and urban centers • Development of political, economic, social, military, cultural, intellectual, religious and scientific structures and institutions • Creation of writing • Creation of the wheel Cradle of Civilization • Between 4000 – 3000 B.C.E. early civilizations were established along the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys (modern – day Iraq) • About 3000 B.C.E. the Sumerians created cuneiform, a form of writing • These ideas spread to the river valleys of Egypt, India and China The Sumerians 3000 – 2370 B.C.E. • By 4000 B.C.E. Sumerian communities began to spread throughout Mesopotamia • Uruk, the first city of its kind, was established around 3500 B.C.E. • Dynastic ruling families began to gain control by 2100 B.C.E. The Akkadians 2334– 2154 B.C.E. • In 2334 B.C.E. Sargon unified all Sumerian speaking peoples under one ruler • His successors gained control over much of Mesopotamia • The empire’s collapse led to a decline of the region The Amorites/Babylonians 1894 – 1595 B.C.E. • In 1894 B.C.E. the citystate of Babylon emerged as a regional power • Hammurabi (1792 – 1750 B.C.E.) expanded the empire • Declined following the death of Hammurabi The Hittites 1600 – 1178 B.C.E. • Hittite kingdom was established around 1600 B.C.E. • Internal quarrels limited their expansion • Conquered Babylon in 1531 B.C.E. • Hittite Empire reached its peak around 1350 B.C.E. The Assyrians 1000 – 612 B.C.E. • Consolidation of Assyrian power around 1000 B.C.E. • Peak of Assyrian Empire by 665 B.C.E. • Destruction of the capital at Nineveh in 612 B.C.E. marked the end of the empire 1. Discuss the development and progression of early humans to the establishment of civilization. 2. Discuss the development of (1) of the river valley cultures. 3. Discuss the Mycenaean civilization and its impact on the Mediterranean world.
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