Honors World History

 

Chapter 1

The Peopling of the World, Prehistory–2500 B.C.

Humans migrate throughout much of the world and begin to

develop tools, art, agriculture, and cities.

 

I : Human Origins in Africa

Fossil evidence shows that the earliest humans originate in Africa and spread across the globe.

Human Origins in Africa: Scientists Search for Human Origins

Defining Prehistory

Time before the invention of writing, about 5,000 years ago

Scientific Clues

Archaeologists study bones and artifacts—human-made objects

Anthropologists study culture—a group’s way of life

Paleontologists study fossils—plant or animal remains preserved in rock

Early Footprints Found

Mary Leakey team discovers prehistoric footprints in Tanzania in 1978

Laetoli footprints belong to hominids—creatures that walk upright

The Discovery of “Lucy”

Donald Johanson team finds female hominid in Ethiopia in 1974

Nicknames 3.5 million-year-old skeleton “Lucy”

Hominids Walk Upright

Walking upright helps hominids travel distances easily

They also develop the opposable thumb

Early hominids, like Lucy, are a species of australopithecines

 

The Old Stone Age Begins

Three Phases of the Stone Age

Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) lasted from about 2.5 million to 8000 B.C.

Mesolithic Age

Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) lasted from 8000 to 3000 B.C.

Paleolithic Age had cold temperatures and large glaciers (Ice Age)

Use of tools, fire, and language develops during the Stone Age

Homo habilis May Have Used Tools

Louis and Mary Leakey discover 2.5 million-year-old hominid fossil

Found in Tanzania, is named Homo habilis, “man of skill”

Homo erectus Develops Technology

Appeared about 1.6 million years ago in East Africa

Homo erectus, upright man, used intelligence to develop technology

Technology—ways of applying knowledge, tools, and inventions

Developed tools to dig, scrape, cut; became skillful hunters

First hominid to use fire; might have developed language

First hominid to migrate from Africa; moved to Asia and Europe

 

The Dawn of Modern Humans

Appearance of Homo sapiens

Species name for modern humans; had larger brain than Homo erectus

Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons appear; not ancestors of Homo sapiens

Neanderthals’ Way of Life

Powerful muscles and thick bones

Lived 200,000 to 30,000 years ago in Europe and Southwest Asia

Developed religious beliefs and performed rituals

Lived in caves, shelters made of wood and skin

Cro-Magnons Emerge

About 40,000 years ago Cro-Magnons appear

Physically identical to modern humans

Hunted in groups; better hunters than Neanderthals

Advanced skill in spoken language

Migrated from North Africa to Europe and Asia

Population grew quickly, replaced Neanderthals

New Findings Add to Knowledge Fossils, Tools, and Cave Paintings

New fossil discovery places hominids in Africa 6 or 7 million years ago

Stone tools suggest tool making began earlier than previously thought

Stone flute suggests Neanderthals might have made music

Cave drawings of people, animals give clues to ways of life

 

II. Humans Try to Control Nature

The development of agriculture causes an increase in population and the growth of a settled way of life.

 

Early Advances in Technology and Art

Tools Needed to Survive

Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) humans were nomads—moved in search of food

Hunted animals, collected plant foods—were hunter-gatherers

Cro-Magnons had more than 100 specialized tools; bone needles to sew

 

Artistic Expressions in the Paleolithic Age

Early modern humans created art:

- cave paintings, animal scuptures, rock engravings and paintings

- jewelry of sea shells, lion teeth, bear claws

- polished beads from mammoth tusks

 

The Beginnings of Agriculture

The Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Revolution—agricultural revolution, began about 10,000 years ago

Nomadic women scattered seeds, then discovered crops growing

Shift from food-gathering to food-production great breakthrough

Causes of the Agricultural Revolution

Rising temperatures probably a key reason

Longer growing seasons, drier land for wild grasses

Constant supply of food led to population growth

 

Early Farming Methods

Slash-and-burn farming—clear land by cutting and burning trees

Farmers moved to new area after year or two

Domestication of Animals

Domestication—taming wild animals to ensure a constant source of food

Hunters and farmers tamed horses, dogs, goats, and pigs

Agriculture in Jarmo

Site in northeastern Iraq where people farmed 9,000 years ago

Wild grasses, goats, pigs, sheep, horse thrived near Zagros Mountains

Villages Grow and Prosper; Farming Develops in Many Places

Farming in Africa, China, Mexico and Central America, Peru

Different crops developed in different areas

Catal Huyuk

Farming thrived here 8,000 years ago; located in modern Turkey

Population of 5,000 to 6,000 grew crops, raised sheep and cattle

Made pottery, wove baskets, traded valuable obsidian

In 1958, remains of village found; wall paintings, religious shrines

 

III : Civilization

Case Study: Ur in Sumer

Prosperous farming villages, food surpluses, and new technology lead to the rise of civilizations.

 

Villages Grow into Cities

Agriculture Causes Change

Farming success leads to larger communities

Economic Changes

Ancient people build irrigation systems to increase food production

Food surpluses free some people to develop new skills

Craftspeople make cloth, objects; traders profit from exchange of goods

Invention of wheel and sail enable traders to travel longer distances

Social Changes

Social classes develop; religion becomes more organized

 

How Civilization Develops

Sumer

Located in Mesopotamia, now part of modern Iraq

One of the first civilizations—a complex culture:

- advanced cities

- specialized workers

- complex institutions

- record keeping

- advanced technology

Advanced Cities

Cities with larger populations rise, become centers of trade

Specialized Workers

Labor becomes specialized—specific skills of workers developed

Artisans make goods that show skill and artistic ability

Complex Institutions

Institutions (governments, religion, the economy) are established

Governments establish laws, maintain order

Temples are centers for religion, government, and trade

Record Keeping

Professional record keepers, scribes, record taxes and laws

Scribes invent cuneiform, a system of writing about 3000 B.C.

People begin to write about city events

Improved Technology

New tools and techniques make work easier

The Bronze Age starts in Sumer around 3000 B.C.

People replace copper and stone with bronze to make tools, weapons

 

Civilization Emerges in Ur

 

The City of Ur

Flourished about 3000 B.C. in what is now southern Iraq

Population about 30,000; live in well-defined social classes

Rulers, priests and priestesses, wealthy merchants, artisans, soldiers

An Agricultural Economy

Food surpluses keep the economy thriving

Life in the City

Families live in small houses tightly packed near one another

Artisans make trade goods and weapons for Ur’s army

Ur’s Thriving Trade

Goods and services bartered, or traded without using money

Scribes make records of transactions

The Temple: Center of City Life

Ziggurat, a temple, is tallest, most important building

Priests carry out religious rituals there