Social Themes -

Changes - Hunter-Gatherers migrated across the world establishing settlements instead of the
hunter-gatherer lifestyle; Development of urbanized societies
Continuities - In sedentary societies men there would be a patriarchy where men had superiority
to women

● As societies became more sedentary the rights of women would reduce

● When a central leader would die usually the eldest son would succeed their father
● A merchant class was common in developed societies
● Large use of slaves at the lowest in social hierarchies

Political Themes -

Changes - As governments became larger they would become more centralized with complex
hierarchies to sustain large trade structures with other civilizations, support fine arts, and feed a
growing population
Continuities - Societies would continue to battle and trade for resources (Nomads would fight for
livestock, empires would fight for land and resources)

● First organizational structure of humans was in nomad groups

● Governments based on a centralized power (pharoah, emperor, etc)
● Political structure based on top to bottom (Leader → peasants → slaves)
● Empires would stretch far connecting regions together
● Governments based on sophisticated trade routes between empires
● Empires would conquer to gain more land to support their growing population which
caused a cycle of conquest
● Empires would battle each other over resources like water, cattle, and land

Environmental Themes -

Changes - Societies domesticated crops and animals

Continuities - Civilizations would continue to build cities and towns around a body of water like
rivers and oceans

● River Valley Civilizations

● Development of tools and fire as Humans adapted to different environments
● Migration across the globe branching from Africa
● Domestication of animals (dogs, cattle, goats, sheep, etc.)
● Domestication of plants (maize, beans, etc)
Cultural Themes -

Changes - Religions would become more sophisticated to the point where civilizations would
revolve around their gods and goddesses (Egypt with rituals for the flooding of the Nile, The
Aztecs with the sacrifice of humans and animals to please their gods, Greeks with goddess of
the hunt)
Continuities - Every mayor civilization rather adopted or created their own religion; Empires
would grow to the point where they could develop unique arts and crafts

● Development of polytheistic religions (Greco-roman gods, Aztec gods, etc.)

● Development of few monotheistic religions (Judaism)
● Chinese philosophies
● Development of writing from cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and alphabets
● Huge developments in arts: Music, architecture (greek, babylonian, chinese), pottery,
and sculpting

Economic Themes -

Changes - Development of agriculture and sedentary societies;

Continuities - Trade and interactions continued to be between groups who were geographically
close to each other; trade between the Americas and Afro-Eurasia did not exist

● Expansive trade routes

● Huge dependence on agriculture (developed complex irrigation systems to feed growing
population)
● Nomad societies would depend on pastoral production
● Trade consisted of bartering and trade of gold and silver
● Empires would conquer more land to acquire more slaves to work agriculture fields