Paleolithic Era
Old stone age, ended 8000 BCE, made stone tools and discovered fire, worshipped gods and had rituals/respectful funerals, nomadic
Ice Age
A time when most of the world was covered in snow and ice
Nomadic
Constantly relocating instead of staying stationary to find food; wanderers
Neolithic Era
New stone age, began 8000 BCE, caused by rising temperatures and population growth
Slash-Burn Farming
cut grasses or trees and burned them to clear field, ashes fertilized soil (CO2), plants and animals started to become domesticated
Development in Africa
Near the Nile River Valley, grew wheat, barley, and other crops
Development in China
Along Yellow River, grew rice, millet, wheat and other crops
Development in Latin America
Along various rivers, grew beans, corn, squash, and tomatoes
Civilizations in Neolithic Era
Advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology, trade, artisans, government/religion, taxes, laws, and development of Bronze tools
Mesopotamian Geography
In the Fertile Crescent (arable land between Tigris and Euphrates rivers), unpredictably flooded, had no natural barriers, limited natural resources
Mesopotamian Government
City States, each with its own government, Priests made major decisions in times of conflict but then military leaders took over (dynastic rule)
Mesopotamian Culture
Ziggurats (place of worship/community), Polytheistic (all gods powerful, must be kept happy), Epic of Gilgamesh, which was about life in Mesopotamia, afterlife has no return
Mesopotamian Social Structures
Kings and Priests (highes) → Slaves (lowest), POWs were sold into slavery after capture. Also, women were eligible to learn how to read and write and become priests
Mesopotamian Achievements
Wheel & Plow, Developed a number system based on 60, Arches & ramps, Cuneiform writing system
Mesopotamian Empires
Sargon of Akkad founded one first, frequently invaded by Assyrians and Persians
Hammurabi’s Code
200+ laws for Mesopotamian citizens to solve conflicts, keep law, order, and justice, and to make them exemplary. Often too harsh for simple misdemeanors and immoral acts
Ancient Egypt Geography
Developed on Nile River (Flooded regularly), Deserts serve as natural barriers, Divided into Upper/Lower Egypt
Egyptian Government
King Menes united Lower/Upper Egypt and began dynastic rule, theocracy (Gods and kings are both seen as gods, ruled in afterlife), Pyramids to honor them
Egyptian Culture
Polytheistic, afterlife existed (judgement and hearts were weighed ), wealthier were mummified; Book of the Dead consisted of hymns, prayers and magic spells
Egyptian Social Structure
Pharaohs →Government officials and priests →Everyone else (including Traders, Artisans, and Scribes) → Slaves. Literacy reflected on their social class. Wealthy women could own property and divorce
Egyptian Advancements
Hieroglyphics and pictographs, papyrus, pyramids and sphinx due to engineering feats, surgeries
Division of Egypt and Invasions
Pharaohs lose power →End of Old Kingdom →Middle Kingdom → Hyksos invaded →New Kingdom, King Tut and Ramses
Ancient Chinese Geography
Mountains and Deserts dominated most of land, Yellow River allowed for fertile soil, 10% suitable for farming
Chinese Government
Shang dynasty led by Kings and supported by warriors, Zhou dynasty used Mandate of Heaven (Gods approved of rule)
Chinese Mandate of Heaven
Dynasty exists→Becomes harsh on people →loses control of this concept →Problems (include corruption, revolutions, invasions, natural disasters) →A brand new dynasty claims this concept (by the consent of gods) →Cycle repeats
Chinese Culture
Respect of elders, ancestors, and family, Polytheism, Oracle bones (writings inscribed on bones to communicate with ancestors).
Chinese Social Structures
Old patriarchs , arrange marriages, strict divisions between nobles and peasants, feudalism (land given to nobles for loyalty), peasants were illiterate
Chinese Advancements
Use of thousands of characters in language, canals, coined money, use of iron to make weapons and tools
Decline of Ancient China
Nomads sacked capital, noble families compete for power
Qin Dynasty
221 BCE, Qin began leading attacks against states to unify China, nobles lived in capitalism and legalism, hated Confucians and their concepts, roads, writing, money, weights. Peasant labor to make wall, they rebelled and ended Qin.
Han Dynasty
Centralized Gov, securing borders, Mandate of Heaven, peasants payed taxes and labored, Civil jobs given based on passing assessments, return of Confucianism
Han Advancements
Paper, Harness, monopolize silk, Ban Zhou (Lessons for Women)
Han Dynasty’s Decline
Natural disasters, economic concerns, peasants rebelled
Chinese Dynasties
Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic of China, Mao Zedong, Xi Jinping
Ancient Indian (Harrapa and Mohenjo Daro) Geography
Indus and Ganges Rivers provide fertile soil, Himalayan Mountains and Deserts serve as barriers, Monsoons bring flooding or dry winds leading to drought
Harrapan Culture
Hundreds of symbols but indecipherable, neat grid-patterned cities, less conflict, theocracy, Early Hindu culture, Trade evidenced by seal on transactions, declined due to national disasters
Harrapan Feats
Developed accurate system of measurement, maritime trade from Central Asia →Middle East, Indus script was indecipherable, sculpture, pottery, jewlery from terra cotta, metal, and stone, Mettallurgy, handicraft using Gemstone and Carnelian
Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya reunified most of India (North, East/West to middle), Seizing land from Persia, advisors to rule w/ networks emphasizing spies. Asoka expanded and converted to Buddhism (stone pillars, stupas, Buddhist teachings), Longer roads, powerful vacuum after his death
Gupta Empire (Golden Age)
Created 7-day week, concept of 0, solar year calendar close to modern, pi, proved Earth was round. Their fall divided India into smaller Kingdoms again.
Trade in Indian Ocean
Buddhism →Mahayana (Buddha = God), Exchange of spices across Indian Ocean, Baking grew in India, SE Asian architecture was influenced by South Asian architecture
Hinduism
Origins in India (biggest), Polytheism, Karma is the sum of all your actions and their consquences, reincarnation, goal is to reach brahman, caste system (decided by what you did in your previous life), Dharma is your duty given at birth, Vedas and Upanishads
Buddhism
Origins in India, spread to China by the efforts of Ashoka, Non-Theistic, goal is to reach Nirvana, Mahayana (treat Buddha as god) or Theravana, 4 Noble Truths, Eightfold path
Judaism
Abraham, Yahweh who is the one god and savior who wants everyone to live a good life, Torah, Were prisoners in Egypt but freed by Abraham, captive by Babylonians, believe that each follower has a personal relationship with god
Daoism
Find harmony in nature in order to live a peaceful life and to stay out of conflict
Confucianism
Not a religion, focus on personal ethics and morality
Legalism
Laws and rules created to punish or reward people based on their ethics or morals, in a time where order was needed in China because humans were impulsive and made poor decisions based of subjectiveness, so they required strict laws to end such acts