Ch. 1 - Prehistory

ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY NOTES

Chapter One : The Beginnings of Civilization (Prehistory - 1200 B.C.)

Prehistoric People

1. Anthropology-

-study of cultural and biological differences of prehistoric beings

-most anthropologists study human social life, their cultures, and the ways of life of prehistoric humans

-Paleoanthropologists (physical anthropology) reconstruct the evolutionary history

2. Archaeology-

-studies the material remains of early humans in order to better understand their culture

-much can be learned from studying these remains

3. Artifacts-

-objects left behind from cultures

-archaeologists can tell a lot about people and their lives by studying artifacts

4. Oral Traditions

-historic stories passed down from one generation to the next

-usually a mixture of fact, fiction, and myth

-story telling is an extremely important aspect of culture

5. Secondary Sources-

-conclusions which must be drawn or made by studying an artifact

-may or may not be accurate ... secondary conclusions can change with additional information

-examples: tools, art work, pottery, homes, garbage, etc.

6. Primary Sources-

-first hand accounts of history

-examples: interviews of people who were there, photographs, written records

7. Hominids-

-prehistoric human like creatures

-considered a possible evolutionary ancestor of modern humans

-various groups of hominids share many characteristics of modern humans

8. “Lucy”-

-ancient australopitic (southern apes) female hominoid discovered by Donald Johanson in Ethiopia

-she lived approximately 3 million years ago

9. Ice Age-

-any time period when great sheets of ice covered much of the Earth's surface

-changes caused middle latitude climate to became colder (5-10 degrees) causing extended freezing around the globe

-evidence exists of at least five ice ages

-each ice age lasted more than a million years; most of the earlier ones lasted more than 10 million years

10. Paleolithic Age-

-also called the Old Stone Age

-began about 2.5 million years ago

-characterized by early stone tool making and hunting and gathering existence

11. Homo Sapiens-

-most widely known of the hominids

-appeared on earth somewhere between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago

-classified in the same species as humans

-homo sapiens sapiens refers to modern man

12. Hunting and Gathering-

-earliest form of human survival

-relied on “hunting” animals and “gathering” food which grew wild

13. Migration-

-mass movement of people

-a variety of push-pull factors caused the worlds great migrations

-examples: following the migrating animals, climatic changes, competition for food, over crowdedness, etc.

-all regions of the world became inhabited because of human migrations

14. Nomads-

-people who have no permanent homes

-follow the migrating herds of animals and growth of food to survive

15. Neanderthal-

-prehistoric member of the homo sapien family inhabiting Europe and Mideast region from 130,000 to 35,000 years ago

-about 5’6” in height, massive heavy skeleton suggesting more strength than modern man

-intelligence level near or equal to ancient modern man, but not a direct descendant of modern man

-mystery surrounds the extinction of the Neanderthals

16. Cro-Magnon-

-prehistoric humans inhabiting Europe and the Mideast beginning 35,000-10,000 years age

-possess similar features to modern humans

-used tools made of stone, bone and wood

-graves were found to contain objects of ivory and shell

-remarkable cave paintings and engravings have been found in Europe

17. Mesolithic Age-

-refers to a “middle age” when people began to change

-most notably was the knowledge allowing early humans to adapt to climatic conditions

-increased use of tools, technology and culture begins to form

18. Petroglyphs-

-ancient picture writings left on stone

-indicate an early belief in a spirit world

19. Neolithic Age-

-also called the New Stone Age

-began about 12,000 years ago

-occurred when people began living in a single location and began to farm

-quite probably created by the females within the tribe

20. Neolithic Revolution-

-also called the Agricultural Revolution

-change from hunting and gathering to farming

-set the stage for the beginning of civilization

21. Agriculture-

-growing a predictable source of vegetation

-planning is required to successfully grow crops ie, seeds for next year, seasonal planting

-replaces gathering

22. Domestication-

-taming, confining and raising animals for later use

-replaces hunting

Aspects of Culture

23. Culture-

-the accepted way of life of a group of people

-human culture will vary by region where animals act the same where ever they are

24. Society-

-group of people that are bound together by a common culture

-way in which people live together on a day to day basis

-”social structure” refers to how society is put together

25. Customs-

-social living habits of a society

26. Economy-

-the obtaining and distributing wealth and resources man aquires from nature

27. Technology-

-methods and knowledge used to aquire physical resources

-tends to make ones life better or easier

28. Politics-

-manner in which members of a society govern themselves

-system of rules and regulations which allow people to successfully coexist in groups

29. Religion-

-way society deals with non-materialistic (spiritial)l aspects

-includes the acceptable moral actions of a society

30. Values-

-ideals which are considered necessary and important to the society

31. History-

-passing critical information from one generation to the next

32. Communication-

-common way of passing on traditions and knowledge within a culture

-includes all types of communication

-steps in the development of writing: 1. pictures 2. symbols 3. sounds

Spread of Culture

33. Cultural Diffusion-

-a process whereby ideas, innovations, and attitudes spread throughout a culture

34. Acculturation-

-the process of accepting, borrowing and exchanging ideas from other cultures

35. Civilization-

-condition of human society characterized by a high level of cultural and technological achievement

-complex social and political development begins

-eight characteristics of civilization: cities, government, religion, division of labor, social classes, art and architecture, public works, and writing

36. Division of Labor-

-each member of society completing a specific task necessary for the survival of the society

-through specialization came increased technology

-all members of society become dependent upon each other

37. Artisans-

-peoples who’s specific social task required an increased or higher level of thought and planning

-artists, planners, and leaders of society

38. Bronze Age-

-stage of prehistoric cultural development when bronze was first used to manufacture tools, weapons, and other object

-bronze is an alloy of copper and tin

-marks the end of the Neolithic period although it did not occurred at the same time everywhere in the world

38. Iron Age-

-marks the last stage of the archaeological sequence known as the three-age system (Stone, Bronze, and Iron)

-creation of iron was more complex that bronze

-iron requires smelting, heating, and pounded into shape