Haley DeFilippis Mr. Green AP World History September 13, 2010 From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations Ch. 1 Summary The human species have existed for around 2 or 2.5 million years, which is a minuscule 1/4000 of the time the earth has existed. The human species accomplished many achievements in a relatively short period of time however. The Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age describes the 2 (around 2.5) million years that the human species existed. Humans used basic tools made out of rocks and sticks to hunt. Archeologists have also discovered increases in standard size of the human species. Over time, present day humans became less apelike. Paleolithic people’s supreme accomplishment was spreading their species all over the earth- in locations such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, China, Southeast Asia, Britain, Australia, Philippines, and the Americas. Eventually better use of tools, a more intricate social organization, and population increases led the Paleolithic people to the Neolithic (New Stone) Age. Agriculture was the hub of the Neolithic revolution. Human beings were able to settle in one area and focus on particular economic, political, and religious goals and activities there. Population increased due to the end of the ice age, as well as a retreat of certain large game animals. People had to settle in rich fertile areas, where they also had the chance to domesticate new animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle. Farmers got meat, skins, and dairy out of these animals. Agriculture was rigorous. It required hard work and hunting for about 2.5 hours a day. However, it was worth it because of the newfound ability to have a larger population, money to build houses, and most importantly, better food to consume. Around 4000 B.C.E., soon after agriculture was adopted across the earth, metal tools were discovered, setting the stage for the next basic age of human existence called the Bronze Age. Metal tools allowed farmers to work efficiently, and metal weapons were more advanced than stone and wood weapons. Agriculture encouraged and helped establish civilizations and villages. One Neolithic village named Catal Huyuk in Turkey was particularly large with mud brick houses and windows. Religious images of powerful figures were common inside. Some villages became cities and were ruled by kings. Economies, politics, and a settled-down way of life were established. Scribes wrote in cuneiform to communicate with different places. In the houses, the father was superior to the mother, who took care of the children. Over time the first real civilization came into play called Mesopotamia in the Middle East, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Sumerians invaded the region. They set up ziggurats, massive towers where religious rituals were conducted and practiced, as well as city-states, where a tightly organized social structure existed and was controlled by a mighty king. The great King Hammurabi introduced a set of laws for Babylonians, a group of people who took-over Mesopotamia, to live by called Hammurabi’s Law Code. The code brought righteousness and justice for the citizens to obey.
Mr. Green
AP World History
September 13, 2010
From Human Prehistory to the Early Civilizations Ch. 1 Summary
The human species have existed for around 2 or 2.5 million years, which is a minuscule 1/4000 of the time the earth has existed. The human species accomplished many achievements in a relatively short period of time however. The Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age describes the 2 (around 2.5) million years that the human species existed. Humans used basic tools made out of rocks and sticks to hunt. Archeologists have also discovered increases in standard size of the human species. Over time, present day humans became less apelike. Paleolithic people’s supreme accomplishment was spreading their species all over the earth- in locations such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, China, Southeast Asia, Britain, Australia, Philippines, and the Americas. Eventually better use of tools, a more intricate social organization, and population increases led the Paleolithic people to the Neolithic (New Stone) Age.
Agriculture was the hub of the Neolithic revolution. Human beings were able to settle in one area and focus on particular economic, political, and religious goals and activities there. Population increased due to the end of the ice age, as well as a retreat of certain large game animals. People had to settle in rich fertile areas, where they also had the chance to domesticate new animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle. Farmers got meat, skins, and dairy out of these animals. Agriculture was rigorous. It required hard work and hunting for about 2.5 hours a day. However, it was worth it because of the newfound ability to have a larger population, money to build houses, and most importantly, better food to consume.
Around 4000 B.C.E., soon after agriculture was adopted across the earth, metal tools were discovered, setting the stage for the next basic age of human existence called the Bronze Age. Metal tools allowed farmers to work efficiently, and metal weapons were more advanced than stone and wood weapons.
Agriculture encouraged and helped establish civilizations and villages. One Neolithic village named Catal Huyuk in Turkey was particularly large with mud brick houses and windows. Religious images of powerful figures were common inside. Some villages became cities and were ruled by kings. Economies, politics, and a settled-down way of life were established. Scribes wrote in cuneiform to communicate with different places. In the houses, the father was superior to the mother, who took care of the children.
Over time the first real civilization came into play called Mesopotamia in the Middle East, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Sumerians invaded the region. They set up ziggurats, massive towers where religious rituals were conducted and practiced, as well as city-states, where a tightly organized social structure existed and was controlled by a mighty king. The great King Hammurabi introduced a set of laws for Babylonians, a group of people who took-over Mesopotamia, to live by called Hammurabi’s Law Code. The code brought righteousness and justice for the citizens to obey.