AP World History

Review I
Period 1: Technological &
Environmental Transformations,
to c. 600 CE

Paleolithic Era, before 8000 BCE

* human diffusion from Africa; large-scale migrations
* hunter-gatherers in clans/kinship groups
* expanded use of fire: in hunting, for protection, for
adaptation to cold
* expanded tool kit that allowed adaptation to a variety
of environments
*subsistence living, not much environmental impact
* exchange of people, ideas, and goods present: clans not
entirely self-sufficient

Neolithic Era, c. 8000 BCE

* advent of agriculture, sedentary living
why?: climate change? recognition of efficiency?
* many continued hunter-gatherer lifestyle
* development of pastoralism in Africa, Eurasia
(grasslands, steppes)
* sedentary living = cooperative living
development of laws, regulations, local trade systems
* sedentary living = major impact on environments
reduced environmental diversity
depletion of grasslands (overgrazing) or overuse of
land
(farming), which allowed for erosion

Earliest Civilizations, c. 5000 BCE

* produced agricultural surpluses that allowed for the
development of cities, complex institutions
bureaucracies, armies, religious hierarchies

* leaders/ rulers were often believed divine or semi-divine;

political organization tended to be monarchical or theocratic

* organized long-distance trade

regional and trans-regional

* led to competition between states & civilizations, usually

over resources; territorial expansion became common
* earliest civilizations are:
Mesopotamia (Middle East), Nile Valley (Egypt), Mohenjo Daro &
Harappa (Indus Valley), Shang Dynasty (China), Olmec (Mesoamerica),
Chavin (Andean South America)

Early Civilizations, cont.

* pastoralists often developed or disseminated new
weapons or modes of transportation:
compound bow; use of iron in weaponry

* development of monumental architecture & urban

planning:
ziggurats/pyramids/temples, defensive walls, streets & roads,
sewage & water use systems

* development of written language & record-keeping:

cuneiform (Mesopotamia), hieroglyphics (Egypt), pictographs
(Indus Valley, Shang), alphabets (Mediterranean after c. 2000
BCE), Quipu (Andes)

Early Civilizations, cont.

* new religious beliefs emerge
Vedic tradition (India), Hebrew monotheism (Near East),
Zoroastrianism (Persia)

* social & gender hierarchies expand

development of social classes (aristocrats, plebians, slaves), patriarchy

* promotion of arts & artisanship

sculpture, painting, wall decoration, elaborate weaving

* development of literary traditions

Epic of Gilgamesh (Mesopotamia), Rig Veda (India), Book of the Dead
(Egypt)

Major Changes During this Period

* development of agriculture
more reliable food sources = population growth
* growth of cities
* labor specialization which led to social stratification
* technological innovations (improvement in agriculture,
trade, transportation):
pottery, plows, woven textiles, metallurgy, wheels,
wheeled vehicles