Chapter 1: The First Civilizations

Section 1: The First Humans

Hominids: first humans
Homo hobilis: larger brain, walk upright, simple tools
Homo erectus: larger tools, left Africa for Europe and Asia
Homo sapiens
o Neanderthals: stone tools and burials,
o Homo sapiens sapiens: first anatomically modern
Paleolithic Age
2,500,000 BCE 10,000 BCE
Hunter-gatherer, nomadic
Small groups of 20-30 people
Men: hunt, women: care for children, stay close to home, gather
500,000 yrs ago: fire, used to keep warm and cook food
Cave painting show some religion and or decoration
Neolithic Revolution (10,000-4,000 BCE)
Biggest change was the switch to agriculture
Planted vegetables and grains
Domesticated animals which provided steady meat source and fibers for clothing
Systematic agriculture developed independently throughout the world
Gave rise to permanent settlements
o Oldest towns found in Middle East
Brought about the act of trading and specialized labor
Men: work in fields and herd animals, Women: care for children, weave clothing,
household labor
Focus Question: How did the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages differ, and how did the Neolithic
Revolution affect the lives of men and women?
During the Paleolithic Age, humans were mostly hunter-gatherers and travelled to find
food. They had mobile homes made of sticks and animal hide, which could easily be
transported. Humans also lived in very small clans. There was work for both men and
women. Men would go out and hunt animals while the women stayed closer to home to
take care of children and gather berries, nuts and grains. When the Neolithic Revolution
came about, society was focused more on settling in one place, developing the
domestication of animals and agriculture. Because humans were staying put and
maintaining permanent residences, men were the primary food collectors, working in the
field and herding the animals, while the women stayed in and maintained the home, took
care of the children, and made clothing. Here we can see the beginnings of the power
separation between men and women.
Section 2: The Emergence of Civilization
Civilization: complex culture in which large numbers of people share a variety of
common elements
o Urban focus

o Organized government and armies

o Social structure based on economic power
o Surpluses allowed people to work in other industries besides agriculture, also
allowed for organized trade
o Religious structure
o Development of writing
o Artistic activity, such as sculptures
Civilizations developed independently in many places
o Mainly around river valleys (Indus, Yellow, Tigris and Euphrates, Nile)
o Provided fertile soil and irrigation.

Section 3: Civilization in Mesopotamia

land between the two rivers
o Very fertile soil
o Complex irrigation and drainage
City-states established by Sumerians by 3000BCE
o Surrounded by walls
o Dwellings made of sun-dried mud bricks
o Ziggurat: stepped tower temple dedicated to god or goddess of the city-state
o Kings derived power from the gods
Economy
o Agriculture, woolen textiles, pottery, metalwork
Social Structure
o Elites: royals and priestly officials
o Dependent Commoners: elites clients who worked for the palace and temple
o Free commoners: farmers, merchants, fishers, scribes
o Slaves
Empires
o City-states fought over use of land and water
o Akkadians from North over took Sumer in 2340BCE, which then fell in
2100BCE to other hill people
o City-state conflicts continued until 1792BCE when Hammurabi took over
Hammurabi
o Controlled disciplined army with weapons
o Took control of Sumer and Akkad, Babylon was the capital
o Empire soon fell after his death because of weak kings
o Code of Hammurabi: 282 laws
Culture
Gods were living realties that affected everyday life
o Convinced the gods played a part in the weather
Polytheistic: 3,000 gods and goddesses
Cuneiform: wedge-shaped writing system
o Enabled society to keep records and maintain knowledge and communicate

 Devised a number system and geometry

Focus Question: How are the chief characteristics of civilization evident in ancient
Mesopotamia?
Mesopotamia was centered around the city-state with an organized social order, based on
economic power, with kings and priests at the top, those who worked for the elites below,
tradesmen 3rd, and slaves at the bottom. It was ruled by a king and was known (at least
under Hammurabi) for having a disciplined army with developed weapons. Mesopotamia
was very religious and believed in 3000 gods that controlled everyday life. Finally,
Mesopotamia also had their own system of writing, cuneiform.
Section 4: Egyptian Civilization
Based on the Nile, which flooded every year and made several-mile wide fertile banks
o Gave surpluses of food and was used to travel
Lower Egypt: 100 miles of Nile before Mediterranean, triangle-shaped delta
Upper Egypt: land before delta
Well protected by deserts, rapids, and the Mediterranean
Polytheistic, Sun was the source of life
The Old Kingdom (3100-2180BCE)
Begins with King Menes uniting villages in lower and upper Egypt
3rd thru 6th dynasties of kings (pharaohs)
Was divided into 42 nomes, each governed by nomarch who reported to pharaoh
Prosperous time, when greatest pyramids were built
o Buildings for the dead
o Mummification of body meant the spiritual body (ka) could remain on Earth
The Middle Kingdom (2055-1650BCE)
Started with short period of disorder after fall of Old Kingdom
Golden Age
Period of expansion south and trading with other civilizations
Pharaoh viewed less as a god and more as a shepherd of people, was expected to provide
for the people
The New Kingdom (1550-1070BCE)
Preceded by invasion of people from western Asia
o From these people, the Egyptians learned to use bronze and horse-drawn chariots,
which they used to throw off these people
Amenhotep IV tried to change religion and make Aten, the sun disk god, the only god
Tuthankhamen restored the old gods
Towards end of kingdom, power fluctuated
After New Kingdom, Egypt controlled by many others until First Century BCE
Society
King surrounded by upper class of nobles and priests
2nd: Merchants and artisans
3rd: Largest number of people, land workers, serfs, common people bound to land
Marry young

o Husband master of home but wife respected, could have property in her name
Most art was spiritual
o Artists had to follow strict rules of proportions and form
Writing emerged during first 2 dynasties: hieroglyphics

Nubia (modern Sudan) had relationship with Egypt by early 3000 BCE
Became independent state of Kush
Supplied goods from Central and East Asia to Roman Empire
Section 5: New Centers of Civilization
Civilization spread to Balkan peninsula by 6500BCE, Neolithic people began to settle by
4000BCE
o Built large stone structures
Popped up in British Isles and France b/w 3200-1600BCE, were
observatory sites
Indo-Europeans from north of the Black Sea to SW Asia began to move into Europe,
India, and W Asia by 2000BCE
o Hittite empire formed in 1750BCE in Asia Minor
First Indo-Europeans to use iron for weapons
Destroyed in 1200BCE by other nomadic IE groups
Once Hittites were taken out and Egypt weakened, many small kingdoms and city-states
flourished
Phoenicians
Lived in Palestine
Great international sea traders
o Sailed all the way to Britain and west coast of Africa
Established many colonies in Mediterranean
Israelites (emerged b/w 1200-1000BCE)
In Palestine, south of Phoenicians
Monotheistic, influenced other religions like Christianity and Islam
o One god: Yahweh
o Prophets were sent by God to be his voice
King Solomon: controlled all of Canaan, expanded government and army, many building
projects
Israel split in to Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah after Solomons death
Assyrians overran Kingdom of Israel in 722BCE
Chaldeans conquered Judah in 586BCE
o Persians destroyed Chaldeans and allowed displaced Judah to return and rebuild
their city
Focus Question: What was the significance of the Indo-Europeans? How did Judaism differ from
the religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt?
The Indo-Europeans were nomadic groups from the north of the Black Sea and SW Asia
who moved into Europe and western Asia and settled to form civilizations. Judaism was

different from the religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt in that it was monotheistic. God
send prophets to Earth to teach and convey his words. He also set commandments, or
laws, that people must follow or they will be punished. This new monotheistic religion
created a rift between the Jewish and other polytheistic groups in the region.

Section 6: Rise of New Empires

Assyrian Empire
Upper Tigris River
Known for use of iron weapons
700BCE, expanded to include Mesopotamia, Iran, Asia Minor, all the way down to Egypt
Kings had absolute power, empire had efficient communication system
Only lasted 100 years before internal strife weakened the empire and the Chaldeans and
Medes took over
Persian Empire
Nebuchadnezzar II and the Chaldeans made Babylonia leading empire, which fell to
Persians in 539 BCE
o Achaemenid and Cyrus organized Persian nomadic tribes and invaded Babylonia
Became largest empire yet to be seen in the world
Divided into 20 satrapies, or provinces, each ruled by a governor
Well maintained roads
o Royal Road: from Sardis to Susa
Kings hoarded wealth and overtaxed, which led to the Empires downfall
Zoroastrianism: Persians religion, based on prophet Zoroaster, Ahuramazda was the only
god, souls were judged and sent to either paradise or torment
Focus Question: What methods and institutions did the Assyrians and Persians use to amass
and maintain their respective empires?
Both the Assyrians and the Persians were that they had good weapons that were more
advanced than other groups at the time. The Persians were known for their strong and
large military that was well maintained. Also, both empires used efficient
communication systems so that the different areas could keep in contact and stay
unified.