Daniel Mitchell

p.5 Mr. Downes

AP World History
09/08/2014

From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations
Intro
Humans are tool users and tool makers, differentiates them from other animals.
Making of toolsH&E (Tools allowed humans to manipulate their environment)
The building of cities was as a result of the development of agriculture H&E (Settlement Patterns)
Conclusion
Main point: development of agriculture, civilization, and other technologies happened separately in one civilization from
another
The many possible forms of communication promoted cultural diffusion (CUL interactions of different cultures through
cultural diffusion) but didnt affect societies enough to justify that as the cause for so many similarities between separate
civilizations
There were three ways of communication in early human history: Trade, Migration/invasion, and Diplomacy/Military, but
all were quite sporadic
Human Life in the Era of Hunters and Gatherers
o Up until 9000 BCE, hunter gatherer civilization dominated human life.
o Because of hunter gatherer civilizations, people migrated all over the earth. Without it, population of humans wouldnt
have spread around the world nearly as quickly.
o Humans developed and accomplished much in 1/4000 of the worlds existence (about 2.5 million years)
o Humans have wars (POL- conflict between people groups), babies are dependent, back problems, and knowledge of death
(knowledge of death may have sparked thoughts of religion? CUL) all things that may be drawbacks to the human.
o Humans also have opposable thumbs, which allow for manipulation of environment (H&E) and a high sex drive which
promotes successful reproduction, are omnivores (so arent too dependent on either meat or vegetables to survive, and
allows for humans to settle in so many different climates H&E settlement patterns)
o Most of our human history was spent in the PALEOLITHIC (old stone) AGE (which ended in 12,000 BCE with the founding of
agriculture H&E: settlement)
o Used only simple tools fashioned from rocks we found
o Hunter gatherer society was the only way, because no agriculture
o Tamed fire 750,000 years ago
o Brains increased in size as time passed

Late Paleolithic Developments
o Survival of the fittest meant that all other types of human (homo erectus, etc.) died off because they werent best
equipped to live
o HOMO SAPIENS (most modern type of human) developed around 240,000 years ago
o It has been so successful (evolutionally) that no other types of humans have advanced from the homo sapiens
o People who hunted game and gathered from plants didnt have enough food to support large amounts of people.
Each human needed at least 1 sq. mile of space to survive, and population grew very slowly. (H&E environment
affects human population/DEMOGRAPHY), or specialize jobs (ECO-job specialization/occupations)
o Women worked jobs that were different from the men, but were still considered equals (SOC)
o By later Paleolithic period, better tools and communication were developed
o They also developed religion and started making art/murals to ease the thought of inevitable death (aha! Just as I
said above. But CUL)
o At the same time, but in different places, people developed religion, beliefs, and languages
o Greatest achievement of paleolithics: spread of population across the planet! (H&E settlement patterns/migration)
o Other notable achievements: fire, clothing which helped fuel the above stated achievement when migrating in
colder environments (H&Efire and fur to keep warm, able to survive cold environment, and also settled there)
o When the last ice age ended, the MESOTHELIC (middle stone) AGE began (from 12,00 to 8,000 BCE)
o People started to make tools out of natures resources and sharpen them, developing better weapons, tools,
needles. (H&Etechnology, tools to combat environment/CUL devel. of technology) They also made log rafts for
Daniel Mitchell
p.5 Mr. Downes
AP World History
09/08/2014

transportation (ECO), started fishing and made pots to store food instead of just searching for it every day (H&E,
ECO). Started to domesticate animals (ECO- a move towards sedentary agriculturalist society)
o Because of better tools, there was more food, so a population growth (H&E demography).
o This rise in population led to the formation of larger clans, and more wars. Skeletons from this time show bone
breaks and hacks in skulls, which is evidence of inter-clan wars. (POL-state building of clans, plus conflict between
clans)
o In total development, the Mesothelic age came to a close, and gave way to the NEOLITHIC (new stone) AGE which
was important because it was the agricultural revolution!!!!
Neolithic Revolution
o Neolithic lasted from 8000 BCE to 5000 BCE and was important because of the development of sedentary agriculture, the
domestication of plants and animals, and the building of villages, (H&E: farming, interacting with environment to start
agriculture, settlement) (ECO: new economy, from hunter-gatherer to farming) which would later grow into vast civilizations
(POL: beginning of permanent location state building).
o This was a change of ideas and philosophy as a whole (CUL)
o Because of agriculture, people were able to settle and focus on building specialized jobs within the economy (ECO), making a
government/political system (POL), and develop more intricate beliefs/religion to be part of their culture (CUL).
o The Neolithic rev. may have occurred because of easier conditions to grow cereal grains following the end of the ice age, as well
as the scarcity of large game, which required alternate food sources like grain. (H&Eenvironment affecting human patterns)
o Population during the Neolithic revolution skyrocketed because groups could now use farming to create surplus food, allowing
for the support of more people (H&E demography)
o By 9000 BCE cows and pigs were being raised and breeded. Farmers also had discovered dairying.

Geography of Early Agriculture
o Farming was originally developed in the fertile crescent, but also developed independently in india, Africa, Europe,
and china.
o Although the Neolithic revolution was revolutionary, it didnt happen in one large uprising, it gradually happened
over time.

Patterns of Change
o Settled agriculture led to easier spread of disease (H&E-disease)
o People turned into either farming or herding societies depending on their environment
o Some herding ones were found in central asia, where the climate is nearly to hash to cultivate farming. (H&E)

Further Technological Change
o Around 6,000 BCE, the first potters wheel was invented. This marked be beginning of high quality pot production
for food storage. (CUL- technology)
o In about 4000 BCE, people started using copper as part of their tools, and by 3,000 BCE the BRONZE AGE was in full
swing. People started to metalwork and use metal tools in replacement of stone ones. (Bronze Age was from 4000
BCE to 1500 BCE when bronze was replaced by iron.
Civilization
o Neolithic tribes would often use a technique called SLASH AND BURN FARMING, which consisted of burning down trees and
foliage to make a soft, loamy soil (H&E- manipulating environment for their use)
o They would use the soil until the nutrients were depleted, then start farming a different plot. By the time they had gotten
back around to the original plot, it had been a two or three decades, and the soil was fertile again.
o Herding tribes would often travel in groups called bands, with strong ties to family and kinship (group/state buildingPOL)
(Family based societies, labor divided by gender, SOC)

Settled Societies
Daniel Mitchell
p.5 Mr. Downes
AP World History
09/08/2014

o Major agricultural regions settled permanently and developed long-term housing, wells and irrigation, and other
multigenerational advances that werent done before because of the possibility of moving so quickly. (CUL-
philosophy changed from temporary everything to permanent villages) (H&E- permanent settlement, usually along
rivers/lakes?) (ECO- permanent change from hunter gathering to sedentary agriculture)
o CATAL HUYUK was founded about 7000 BCE. Was a large city, about 32 acres. Houses were mudbrick and wood
(CUL- architecture/technology). Houses were decorated with religious mural art (CUL- art and religion). Seems like
men were depicted as strong hunters and farmers, while women were maintaining order and fertility (SOC-
differentiation between male and female roles). Some people in the village had special privileges for religious
ceremonies (SOC social stratification).
o Catal Huyuk had established trade with outside villages, but seemed to be mostly self-sufficient, producing all their
own goods. (ECO-trade/self-sufficient economy). The trade seemed to be more of a peacekeeping diplomacy with
the surrounding villages (POL- diplomatic action taken by civilization).
o By 5500 BCE, Catal Huyuk had established such a strong economy that they were able to extremely differentiate
their occupations. They had farmers and a military, they also had skilled merchants like toolmakers and jewelers.
(ECO- trade/jobs/strong economy leading to specialization) Some families rose up and filled the role of a
government in the city. They helped the city rule over the surrounding villages, which it had jurisdiction over. (POL-
development of governance)

Defining Civilization
o CIVILIZATIONS are cities or states that are economically stable enough to form divisions of labor like farming,
merchants, and manufacturing (ECO-divisions of labor between occupations), and socioeconomic hierarchy (SOC-
having social stratification between classes), or have developed a government that is not based on solely family
ties (POL- governance establishment). In all civilizations, however, they can rule a fairly large section of land
successfully.
o Most civilizations developed a system of writing. The first writing was CUNEIFORM, which is written using wedge-
shaped imprints on clay tablets. It weas developed in the Middle East (maybe Sumeria??) around 3500 BCE.
o Writing is important in a civilization because it allows for the political structures to keep records and send
messages (POL- advancement in politics). It also allows for tax systems and labor contracts to be made. (ECO- taxes
and labor). Also, writing could be used to store knowledge of science or religious beliefs (CUL- writing, records of
religion).
o Many nomadic societies were not able to create a civilization. They were referred to as barbarians by the civilized
peoples (SOC- social distinction between classes. Although derogatory, this is an example of class distinction).
NOMADS are societies who move around, typically herd animals, and traveled along the fringes of civilization.
o In civilization, many divisions arose among the population. There was less dispersal of wealth, so there were higher
and lower economic classes. There was also the establishment of slavery or caste systemswhich were rigid social
classes that sorted people from servant to king. In hunter gatherer societies, men and women were nearly peers.
However, in civilization, men were far superior to women. (SOC- all socio economic classes among civilized people)
o Nomadic societies seemed to treat people with more respect than the civilizations. They also had many
technological and cultural contributions to society. So nomads, although uncivilized were not all bad. (the Mongols
were amazingly powerful, and they were nomads!!!!!)
o By the time 3500 BCE rolled around, there were four initial centers of civilization: the Middle East, Egypt, India, and
China. These areas were densely populated around river valleys (H&E settlement patterns; need for water for
agriculture, transportation, and drinking)

Tigris Euphrates Civilization
o Writing, laws, city planning, architecture, trade, and currency are all things that we use today that were derived
from the first civilizations. MESOPOTAMIA (meaning between the rivers) was the area between the Tigris and
Euphrates. The first civilization arose from here. They used bronze and copper and also used the wheel. They
Daniel Mitchell
p.5 Mr. Downes
AP World History
09/08/2014

established intricate irrigation to support their agriculture. They had complex political structures comprising of
multiple communities.
o The SUMERIANS (people in Mesopotamia, made city-states, designed writing, showed up around 4000 BCE)
invented writing by about 3500 BCE. They had cunei form (previously mentioned)
o Their alphabet used to be as much as 2000 symbols, but over time it was reduced to around 300 symbols. Scribes
were trained to write (special job, ECO), and recorded government, tax, religious, and scientific information on the
clay tablets they wrote on. (like in BEER from 6 glasses)
o They had statues, temples, and frescoes for religious purpose. They also had towering ziggurats that were
architectural shows to the gods. (CUL- art, sculpture, architecture, religion. Their religion was also a gateway for
other religions, Judaism, Christianity, etc.)
o The sumerians made CITY STATES, or small civilizations governed by a king for each city. (POL- state building,
government)
o The sumerians fell to the BABYLONIANS, who united all of the city states under one rule. (POL- conflict and then
political unity). One of the main kings of Babylonian rule was HAMMURABI. He is said to have introduced the most
famous set of laws. It is argued to be one of the first codes of law. (POL- lawmaking) (SOC-king expresses power
over subjects)
Egyptian Civilization
o Egypt was another center for civilization. They were built along the Nile River, and had a PHARAOH, or a god-king.
The government exhibited extreme control over the people and the economy, being able to construct complex
irrigation systems, and huge PYRAMIDS (burial sites for kings, religious purposes, monumental architechture-CUL)
that seem impossible to build without modern tools.
o The Egyptian people traded and interacted a lot with the kingdom of KUSH (ECO-trade, CUL- cultural diffusion)
(located in Nubia by the southern nile) The Kush invaded Egypt on multiple occasions as well. (POL- conflict
o The Egyptians wrote with artistic writing called hieroglyphics, and had influential architecture. (CUL- writing, art,
architecture.)

Indian and Chinese River Valley Civilizations
o INDUS RIVER VALLEY was the area surrounding the Indus river, which finds its roots in the Himalayas. Harrappan
civilization was located here.
o By 2500 BCE, there were many planned cities along the Indus, including MOHENJO-DARO, and HARAPPA. They
both had extensive architecture, and grid planning.
o It is hard to learn about this society, however, because their writing cant be deciphered.

The Great Cities of the Indus Valley
o The planned cities were in a square grid format, and were surrounded by wall for defense (POL- evidence of
conflict)
o They had a citadel in the centers. These citadels were fortresses in time of unrest and community centers during
peaceful periods. The government was housed there, as well as assembly halls, bathrooms and tubs, and even
food storage.
o The cities had an advanced agricultural system that collected wheat, rye, peas, rice, and cotton. These goods were
saved and traded on ox carts to surrounding peoples.
o There is clay art to depict daily life in these cities. (CUL- art)
o They had distinct classes, and were dominated by a priestly high class. (SOC- class dsticntion) They also worshipped
many gods and goddesses. (CUL- religion)
o The decline of these great cities came because of natural disaster as well as invasion from outsiders. (POL-conflict!)
o
Early Civilization in China
o Chinese civilization was centeres around the YELLOW RIVER or the Huang-He, a river in china.
o China developed in near complete isolation but still developed nonetheless.
Daniel Mitchell
p.5 Mr. Downes
AP World History
09/08/2014

o They had IDEOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS which were characters for writing that were combined symbols. They
represented a whole phrase or idea, and were advanced writing systems. The only drawback is that it had so many
symbols, that it was hard to write. (CUL-writing)
o The SHANG was the first Chinese dynasty, and ruled with a bureaucracy in the urban areas, but many of the
agricultural areas were ruled with more of a feudalism. (POL- governance)
o Their nobility was highly involved in religion (just like in Egypt!!!!) And they had rituals and sacrifices to their many
gods. There were some people called ORACLES who were ordained to prophesy from the gods. There were also
SHAMANS who carries out everyday religious responsibilities. (SOC- high class in religion) (CUL-religion!!!)


The Heritage of the River Valley Civilizations
o Many river valley civilizations decline around 1200 BCE because of inability to rule, economic collapse, invasions, or natural
disaster.
o Early civilization provides a basis for an unthinkable amount of things in our lives today.

Heritage of Early Civilizations
o Math, philosophy, government, and currency have all been derived from Early Civilizations. They still have an
impact on us today, thousands of years later.

New Societies in the Middle East
o A people called the PHOENICIANS were a seafaring people who arose around 1300 BCE, and were prominent
around the Mediterranean. They created the first phonetic alphabet. It is the basis for Greek and latin alphabets.
(CUL- Writing systems, cultural borrowing) They also improved upon Egyptian numerical system and spread their
influence around Europe, Africa and Asia because of their extensive sea trade (ECO-sea trade) (CUL- cultural
diffusion) (H&E- using water and wind to travel and trade)

Judaism
o A small middle eastern group developed their own religion called JUDAISM. The jews are arguable the most
influential of small middle eastern groups. They developed the first MONOTHEISTIC religion, meaning a religion
with one god. Their religion was a basis for many other religions, including Islam and Christianity. (CULTURE-
RELIGION)

Assessing the Early Civilization Period
o Overall, the river valley civs created basic building blocks for society that are still used today. Examples are writing,
mathematics, politics. Although they declines their impact lived on and influence succeeding people as well as us
today. From the start with migratory neolithics all the way to the cities expressing governance at a regional level,
the humans developed cities, trade, and writing, which contribute to their creation of civilization.