Chapter 1 Learning Objectives - The Birth of Civilization:

(1). Examine early human history and the origins of civilization.

(2). Describe the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages.

(3). Examine the Neolithic "revolution," and analyze the conditions necessary for civilization’s emergence.

(4). Discuss the geographic determinants which shape and influence early development of world civilizations.

(5). Compare and contrast ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations.

(6). Discuss the role of the early Empire builders of the Near East during the Bronze Age.

(7). Examine early Indian civilization on the Indus river and later in Northern India .

(8). Trace the Neolithic origins and ancient dynasties of early Chinese civilizations.

(9). Outline the rise of early American civilization.

(10). Summarize the major accomplishments of the first civilizations.

 

v   Early Humans & their Culture:

Ø    Early human history:

§       Prehistory?

·       Archeologists vs. Anthropologists

·       Analysis, reason & speculation

§       Earth’s estimated age

·       Estimates of life by scientists

Ø    Paleolithic Age:

§       Early man & Homo sapiens

§       Ice Age

§       Hunter gatherers

·       Crude stone tools & weapons

·       Fire & spoken language

·       Cave Art

§       Last Ice Age  (10K years ago)

Ø    Mesolithic  transition

Ø    Neolithic Age (10K-5K years ago):

§       Beginnings of settlements

·       Catal Huyuk & Jericho complex

Ø    Bronze Age => Birth of Civilization:

§       Neolithic Revolution

§       Emergence of civilization

·       Environmental control => changes =>

·       New patterns of life

·        Society becomes more complex

§       Civilization defined?

·       Required conditions for emergence?

v   Geographic determinants:

Ø    Impact on early development of World Civilizations:

§       Role of rivers & surrounding valleys (Map)

§       Nile versus Tigris & Euphrates (Map)

v   Early Civilization to 1000 BC:

Ø    Mesopotamian Civilization:

§       Sumerian achievements & impact

·       Cuneiform ?

§       Influence of religion & role of Myths

§       Epic of Gilgamesh & the Code of Hammurabi   

§       Ziggurats

Ø    Egyptian Civilization:

§        Brief historical overview:

·       Old Kingdom & 1st Intermediate period

·       Middle Kingdom & 2nd Intermediate period

·       New Kingdom

§       Writing & Literature (3000BC)

·       “Sacred carvings” & role of the scribe?

§       Contrasting perspectives

·       Influence of the past?

§       Role of religion & its impact on Egyptian society

·       Great Pyramids & the afterlife

·       City & Book of the Dead

·       Nature & its religious role?

·       The Pharaoh’s role  

¨     God-king versus Priest-king

Ø    Mesopotamia versus Egypt - Comparison & contrast?

§       Geographic influences

§       Near Eastern religious orientation

§       Influence of Myth?

§       World view of ancient society  

v   Ancient Near Eastern Empires:

Ø    Hittites:

§       Iron weapons

§       Chariots & mobile warfare

§       Sack of Babylon

§       Treaty with Egypt (Ramses II)

§       Sea peoples & their role?

Ø    Small Nation States emerged during 12th century BC:

§       Phoenicians (sea traders)

§       Aramaens (caravan traders over desserts)

§       Hebrews (Palestine) => major impact later

Ø    Kassites:

§       Babylonian dynasty

·       Kings & their support of military aristocracy

¨     Horses & chariots (state of the art for era)

§       Babylonian cultural works & writings

§       Competition for control & power

·       Conspiracies & border disputes

·       Inconclusive wars fought throughout period

Ø    Mitannians:

§       Created large state from Euphrates to Iranian foothills

§       Part of Hurrian people

§       Key role played in Mesopotamian culture

·       Important mediators to Syria & Anatolia (Map)

§       Chariot warfare & experts in training horses

§       Empire destroyed by Hittites

·       Remainder incorporated into Assyrian Empire

Ø    Assyrians & 2nd Assyrian Empire (Map):

§       Gain independence from Mitannians in 1360 BC

§       Ruled all of Mesopotamia & much of:

·       Southern Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, & Egypt

·       Organized empire by provinces e/governors

¨     Well administered & effective tax system & tribute

§       Fierce warrior kings – valued military prowess

·       Well disciplined armies

·       Terror as instrument of policy (rebelling conquests)

·       Forced relocation of captured peoples (Israel)

§        Built lavish palaces, parks, gardens, & art work

·       Assimilated & adapted Mesopotamian culture

·       Viewed themselves as guardians of Sumerian culture

§       Medes & Chaldeans (Babylonians) destroy in 612 BC

Ø    Neo-Babylonians:

§       Chaldeans rebuild old Babylonian empire in 1795 BC

§       Role of Nebuchadnezzar ?

·       Babylonian captivity ? (Psalm 137)

§       Cultural achievements?

·       Hanging gardens

·       Sumerian library (Nabonidus)

§       Who destroyed Babylonian empire in 539 BC? (Chapter 4)

v   Early Indian Civilization:

Ø    Indus Civilization (Map):

§       Indian sub-continent – Indus river

§       Earliest Neolithic settlements

§       Harappan  literate urban civilization:

·       Pictographic script (stamp seals)

·       Type of society? (evidence for conclusion?)

§       Key cities?

·       Economic base?

§       Material culture?

§       Religion?

§       Decline & fall in 1750 BC – why?

Ø    Vedic Aryan Civilization:

§       Oral tradition:

·       Vedas & the Rig Veda

§       Role of nomadic warriors & horseman?

§       Rig-vedic age

§        Later Vedic Age => Brahmanic age?

§       Epic Age:

·       Two classical epics defining this age?

¨     Significance of these works?

§       Vedic Society:

·       The four Varnas ?

¨     Description & significance?

§       Religion: Vedic-Brahmanic religion

·       Public cult & formal rituals

·       Role of Brahmans?

·       Status of Indra ?

§       Resurgence of Upanishads in reaction to Brahmans

·       (More on Indian religion in Chapter 2):

¨     Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism

v   Early Chinese Civilization:

Ø    Yellow Rive Valley (Map):

§       Neolithic Origins:

Ø    Early Bronze Age:

§       The Shang Dynasty:

·       An Yang capital

·       Power of Shang Kings

·       Military aristocracy

·       Three key features of Shang Dynasty?

·       Religion & belief system:

¨     Purpose of oracle bones?

Ø    Late Bronze Age:

§       The Western Chou (Zhou):

·       Conquest of & contrast with Shang?

·       Chou pattern of rule?

·       “Mandate of Heaven”

¨     Description, cycle, & significance?

·       The boy of cried wolf

Ø    Iron Age:

§       The Eastern Chou:

·       Instability & growth of independent city states (Map)

·       Warring states phase & contributing factors => change

v   Rise of Civilization in early America:

Ø    Geographic overview (Map)

Ø    Ice age migration from Asia – Bering strait

§       Motivating factors for migration?

§       Primary means of survival:

·       Hunting, fishing, gathering

§       Neolithic Revolution in America

·       Primary agricultural crop?

Ø    Early American civilizations (Map):

§       Mesoamerica:

§       Andres

Ø    (More details in Chapter 15)

v   Major accomplishments of first civilizations:

Ø    Political & social systems & organization

Ø    Technological developments

Ø    Abstract ideas & ways to communicate them

Ø    Commerce

Ø    Monuments

Ø     Unique achievements of specific regions   

v   Review Questions:

Ø    Sources for test material

Ø    (Recommend your attention & review)