Beginnings of Human Society - PowerPoint Presentation

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Beginnings of Human Society Slide2

Agenda 2-5-16Warm-up: Finish/Collect Current Events/ChartsStone Age VideoIntro to Stone Age (Notes)

e and work from geography unitSlide3

Section One PrehistorySlide4

Stone AgePaleolithic Age: “Old Stone Age” 2,500,000 B.C.E - 15,000 B.C.E

Mesolithic Age: “Middle Stone Age”15,000 B.C.E. – 10,000 B.C.E.

Neolithic Age: “New Stone Age”

10,000 B.C.E. - 3,000 B.C.E.Slide5

PaleolithicHumans were hunters and gatherersThey were nomadic- traveling in groups of 20-30

They made tools, lived in caves, created art, and developed fireSlide6

MesolithicHumans started to sharpen their stone tools for huntingThey started settling in one area for longer periods of time, but were still hunters and gatherers.Slide7

NeolithicHumans transitioned from hunting and gathering to a settled, stationary life

They learned about agriculture and planted seeds to grow cropsThey made plows out of antlers, wood, and stone

They also domesticated wild animals and used them to cultivate the landSlide8

Stone Age Tools & ArtSlide9

Agricultural RevolutionThis transition from hunting and gathering to the advancements of agriculture, led to the Agricultural Revolution.Because of the new farming methods and more food, large, settled populations emerged around the world.Slide10

Section Review1) Describe the life of Paleolithic people2) How did life change in terms of movement and food collection moving through each of the three Ages?3) What do you think is going to happen to society as we moved to the next stage of development?Slide11

Cities to CivilizationsSection 2: CivilizationsThe next step in the development of human settlement is civilization.Civilizations were advanced cities that had: (why they were created)Government: safety/security, prevent chaos

Cities: to have a main central gathering place (govt, religion, markets)Religion: Connected to government, priests run the government, rulers say their power comes from: the godsSlide12

Civilizations Cont.Social structure: shows how people are grouped according to power/wealth. In early civilizations, people are grouped by what they do.Art: the earliest art is created to show daily life activities (cave paintings), could be a form of expressionWriting: Record keeping. Births/Deaths, LawsSlide13

Assignment:Prove we live in a civilization. Slide14

Section 3History and Geography ofMesopotamiaSlide15

River Valley CivilizationsMesopotamia3500 B.C.E Egypt3000 B.C.EIndus Valley

2500 B.C.EChina3950 B.C.E.Slide16

“The land between the rivers.”Slide17
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GeographyMesopotamia was located in the Middle East, which is mostly a dry desert, except for the land near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia).

Because of this region’s flat land, shape, and the richness of soil, it was known as the “Fertile Crescent.”Slide19
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HistoryAttracted by the rich soil, people settled in Mesopotamia.

Many city-states formed along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia. They each had their own form of government, and the people worshipped different gods and goddesses.

Eventually, they each had their own kings.

The first people to settle this area were the Sumerians, named after Sumer, the region where the two rivers met. Slide21
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HistoryWith the fertile soil, farming was very successful and the people cultivated plenty of food.

This meant the people could spend their time doing other things, like building cities. Many also became artisans or craftsmen.

The people of Mesopotamia developed a civilization sophisticated in building, writing, and in the arts.Slide23

Review QuestionsDescribe the geography of the area around Mesopotamia.Were the city-states of Mesopotamia united as a group? Explain.Where did most of the people in Mesopotamia settle? Why?Where did the fewest amount of people in Mesopotamia settle? Why?Slide24

Section 4Government and SocietySlide25

GovernmentTo solve their problems, Mesopotamians required an organized government.

Each city-state had its own rulers, warriors, farmland etc.In the beginning, powerful priests held the political power.

Military commanders eventually became the rulers, and passed rule to their heirs .

This created a new structure of government called a dynasty- a series of rulers descending from a family line.Slide26

ObstaclesAs city-states began to develop, the people were worried about invasions, so they built brick (sun-dried mud) walls around their cities to protect themselves from enemies.

Unexpected floods occurred at least once a year, and during the dry summer months, crops needed proper irrigation systems.The people of Mesopotamia had limited natural resources like stone, wood, and metal. They traded with other groups around them for the products they lacked. Slide27

Mesopotamian SocietyThere were three main classes in Mesopotamian society.Upper Class: Nobility, Warriors, Priests

Middle Class: Merchants, Traders, Craftsmen, Artisans, Farmers,Lower Class: Serfs and Slaves Slide28

Mesopotamian SocietyThe Mesopotamians had a very strict justice system. “There was no room for mercy.”They had an" eye for an eye” mentality, especially for the upper class. They felt they should act like the elite, and be punished for not doing so, while the lower classes may pay fines instead.Slide29

Law-Making ActivityCreate a made up civilization where there are approximately 10,000 people. Give it a name.Describe the physical characteristics of the area.Create 10 laws for your civilization. For each, describe the law, the punishment if the law is broken, and the reason for the law.Slide30

Section Five:CultureSlide31

Invention of WritingWriting first began in Sumer over 4,000 years ago, where boys began school at age 8. Those who graduated (at age 20) became professional writers called scribes.

Scribes were the only people who could keep records for the kings and priests.The records were kept very carefully.Slide32

Invention of WritingCuneiform was the system of writing the Mesopotamians used. The cuneiform script began as pictographs.

Scribes used a sharp point called a stylus to etch words into clay tablets. Slide33

Other Important DiscoveriesThe wooden plow pulled by a tame oxThe use of the wheel for irrigation and wagons

The use of sails and wind as sources of power for boats along the riversThe use of copper and bronze to make cooking utensils and weapons of war

Divided the sky into 12 regions (zodiac)

Modern units of time (60 seconds, 60 minutes)

360 degrees in a circleSlide34

ReligionMesopotamians worshipped many gods, not just one. This belief in many gods is called polytheism. “Poly” means many and “Theism” means gods.Slide35

ReligionThere were over 3,000 gods people throughout Mesopotamia worshiped.Enlil

- god of air/windAnu- sky god

Enke

- earth god

Inanna

- goddess of love

Utu

- god of justice

Nanna

- moon god

Adad

- storm godSlide36

ReligionMesopotamians worshiped their gods in temples called ziggurats. People believed rulers had divine power.

Ziggurats were built in the center of the city. They had steps and ramps, and it was believed that the gods descended to the Earth using the ziggurat as a ladder.Slide37
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Review QuestionsWhy was being a scribe in Mesopotamia an important position?How was cuneiform preserved for so long?Why did people in Mesopotamia believe rulers had so much power? Describe the religion of the people in Mesopotamia.Slide39

Section 6The Persians and AssyriansSlide40

The AssyriansThe Assyrians were people who lived in Mesopotamia, parts of the Iranian Plateau, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, and EgyptThe empire was established around 700 B.C.They were most known for making tools and weapons out of iron.They only lasted 100 years before fighting tore them apart.Slide41

GovernmentRuled by a king who had absolute powerHad a group of local leaders that ran territoriesHad a strong communication system run by people riding horses where the longest wait time for an answer from the king was one week.The empire was held together by a strong militarySlide42

Fall of the AssyriansThe different groups in the Assyrian Empire could not work together.They were conquered by the Chaldeans and MedesThe Chaldeans over-powered the Medes and established a government at Babylon.Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.Slide43

Persian EmpireCyrus was one of the most famous Persian leaders.He conquered the entire Middle Eastern empire including Egypt and Libya making his empire the largest in the world at the time.Unlike previous leaders of Assyria and Babylon, he had a reputation for mercy.The Persians had a monotheistic religion.Slide44

Persian CollapsePersia, like other places had a dynastic governmentCyrus’ son Darius began plans to expand throughout Europe.Darius lead an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Greece beginning in 490 B.C.Darius was replaced by Xerxes and continued to fight what has become known as the Persian WarsSlide45

End of the Persian WarsIronically, the Athenians and Spartans who were brutal enemies in Greece, worked together to defeat the Persians.As depicted in the movie “300”, a small group of 300 Spartan soldiers fought a brave battle waiting for Athenian reinforcements which eventually defeated the Persian army in 479 B.C.Slide46

Review QuestionsExplain 2 ways the Assyrians and Persians were similar.Explain 2 ways the Assyrians and Persians were different.What was the impact of the Persian Wars on the history of the world?How did greed factor in what we have studied in this section? Explain.