SOL Narrative Review with questions
Day 1 Early Humans Homo sapiens (humans) emerged in east Africa between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago. They then migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas Early Humans were hunters and gatherers whose survival depended on the availability of wild plants and animals. Physical geography influenced the lives of early people (what they ate, how they lived, etc.). 1. Where did humans first appear? 2. How did early humans survive? 3. How did geography influence early man?
Day 1 Hunter Gatherer Societies (Old Stone Age/Paleolithic Era) People in the Paleolithic era were nomadic (had to follow the food). During this period humans invented the first tools and weapons, and created cave art. People learned to make and use fire. Because they depended on the environment to survive and had no abundant food sources, their populations were small and they lived in small traveling clans. Humans first developed spoken (oral language) during this time, which helped them become better hunters and gatherers. 4. What is the era when humans were hunter gathers? 5. What did humans first do/invent during this era?
Day 2 Societies During the Neolithic Era (New Stone Age) During the Neolithic era, humans developed domesticated plants (agriculture) and domesticated animals (tamed). Now people had a steady food source so they could finally SETTLE in one place leading to the development of civilizations. People were also developing more advanced tools, making pottery, and weaving textiles. 6. What big change occurred in the Neolithic era? 7. Describe three characteristics of Neolithic peoples.
Day 2 Archaeologists Study past cultures by locating and analyzing human remains, fossils and artifacts Radio carbon dating tells us the age of things Stonehenge is an example of an archaeological site in England Aleppo and Jericho are early cities in the Fertile Crescent (in Israel and Syria today) Catalhöyük is a Neolithic site under excavation NOW in Anatolia (modern day Turkey) 8. What do archaeologists do? 9. What Neolithic sites are in the Fertile crescent? 10. What site is currently under excavation in Anatolia?
Day 3 River Valley Civilizations 3500-500 BC River valleys offered rich soils and irrigation waters for agriculture; and they tended to be in locations easily protected from invasion so these are the birth places of civilization. People were starting to SETTLE. Mesopotamia Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Southwest Asia) Egypt Nile River Valley (Africa) India Indus River Valley (South Asia) China Huang He River Valley (East Asia) 11. Why did civilizations first develop in river valleys? 12. What civilization was located in Africa? 13. What civilization was located in Southwest Asia? 14. What civilization was located in South Asia? 15. What civilization was located in East Asia?
Day 4 Early Civilizations- Began to develop: Social Patterns Hereditary Rulers (Dynasties like China and Egypt) Rigid Class system (everyone has their place, not a lot of social mobility all have slave classes) Most early Civilizations were polytheistic, except the Hebrews 16. What is a term for families that pass down power?
Day 4 Early Civilizations- Began to develop: Political Patterns Worlds first states (city States, Kingdoms, empires Centralized government Written Law Codes (Ten Commandments, Hammurabi s code) 17. What is the written law code that says, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?
Day 4 Early Civilizations- Began to develop: Economic Patterns Metal Tools (Bronze, Iron) Increasing agriculture surplus Trade along rivers and sea Development of the world s first cities Specialization of labor 18. What types of metals did early civilizations use to build tools?
Day 4 Mesopotamia Mesopotamia developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and was divided into separate city-states (had their own rulers, armies, etc.). The region where Mesopotamia developed is known as the Fertile Crescent because of the fertile soil. They were polytheistic and built temples to honor and worship their gods; the priests were the most important members of society other than rulers. 19. Around what two rivers did Mesopotamia develop? 20. What is the nickname for the region where Mesopotamia developed?
Day 4 Mesopotamia The Mesopotamians used cuneiform writing and kept records. There is evidence that Mesopotamians did long distance trade with other groups (Egyptians, Indians, Chinese). Eventually this region was controlled by others (Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims). 21. What type of writing did Sumerians (Mesopotamians) use?
Day 5 Egypt Egypt is one of the greatest early civilizations and started as early as 3500 BCE. Egypt developed along the Nile River, which provided fertile soil and irrigation water. Egyptians developed writing called hieroglyphics. 22. Around what river did Egypt develop? 23. What type of writing did Egyptians develop?
Day 5 Egypt They were ruled by pharaohs, who were considered gods on earth. Families of these pharaohs were called dynasties (power was passed down). They were polytheistic (believed in many gods) and worried about the afterlife. They built pyramids as tombs so that people could live comfortably in the afterlife. 24. What is the ruler of Egypt called? 25. What tombs did Egyptians build?
Day 6 China River Dynasties China developed along the Huang He river (and spread to the Yangtze river valley). It was ruled by dynasties, the first of which was the Shang. These dynasties believed they had the Mandate of Heaven (the gods/spirits had given them the right to rule) China s society was divided into several social classes, including the ruling class (king, nobles), then warriors, then peasants Chinese writing is elaborate with thousands of characters Shang Dynasty Writer records, palaces, elaborate tombs 26. Around what river did China develop? 27. What is the belief that Chinese rulers were given the right to rule by gods?
Day 6 The Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Shang but were later taken over by the Qin Because China was often invaded by nomadic invaders in the north, Qin leader Shi Huangdi built the Great Wall The Silk Roads, trade routes from China across to the Mediterranean, spread Chinese goods (like silk and porcelain) Contributions of China: Civil service system (encouraged by Confucius), paper, porcelain, and silk 28. Which leader (and from which dynasty) built the Great Wall? 29. Why was the Great Wall built? 30. What trade route linked China with Rome? 31. Who encouraged the use of a civil service system in China? 32. List three other goods originating in China.
Day 7 Other early civilizations Hebrews (Jews) Settled Between Mediterranean sea and Jordan River Valley Phoenicians Settles along the Mediterranean Coast Great traders along the Mediterranean Sea Developed city-states on coast of Anatolia and Africa) Created the first alphabet Nubia: Located on the Upper Nile River (South of Egypt) Very highly influenced by the Egyptians 33. What type of settlements did the Phoenicians develop? 34. What was the Phoenician economy based on? 35. What did Phoenicians first develop? 36. Where was Nubia located?
Day 7 Origins of Judaism Abraham Creator Moses Led Hebrews out of Egypt, Ten Commandments Jerusalem Holy City Beliefs: One God Torah is the Holy Book (contains written records and beliefs of the Jews) Ten Commandments Diaspora Being kicked out of Roman Empire Exiled in many different time periods and areas of the world 37. Who founded Judaism? 38. What is the Jewish holy book? 39. What law system must Jews follow? 40. How did Judaism spread?
Day 8 Persia Successful because: Tolerance of Conquered People Development of Imperial Bureaucracy Advanced Road System Zoroastrianism was the main Persian religion (two opposing forces in the world--good and evil) 41. For what three reasons were the Persians such successful empire builders? 42. What was the religion of Persia?
Day 8 India Physical Barriers (Himalayas and the Indian ocean) made it difficult for invasion and trade, Hindu Kush did allow invasion Indus and Ganges rivers for fertile soil Two great cities show us early planning: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro 43. Around what two rivers did India develop? 44. What two cities date back to the earliest Indian settlement?
Day 9 Aryans Migrated into and asserted dominance over the area Created caste system which influenced all social interactions and choices of occupations. Mauryan Empire Continued the political unification of India Spread Buddhism (through ruler Asoka) Created free hospitals and veterinary clinics Built good roads Gupta Empire Golden age of classical Indian Culture Contributions Math (zero),medical advances (setting bones), astronomy (round earth), and textile and literature 45. What group migrated into India? 46. What did Asoka do (and what empire is he from)? 47. What contributions were made during the Gupta Empire?
Day 9 Buddhism (India to China) Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Four Noble Truths: Four statements that are always true about life on this earth Eight Fold Path to Enlightenment: Staircase like pathway to find enlightenment and ultimately reach nirvana, or the perfect state of mind (sort of like heaven) Asoka (Mauryan ruler) and his missionaries spread Buddhism to China. Chinese forms of Buddhism spread throughout Asia. 52. Who founded Buddhism? 53. Where was Buddhism founded? 54. What ruler helped spread Buddhism? 55. Where did Buddhism spread to?
Day 10 Confucianism (China) Belief that humans are good, not bad Respect for elders Code of politeness still used in Chinese society today Emphasis on Education Ancestor Worship Taoism (China) Humility Simple life and inner peace Harmony with nature Yin/Yang represented opposites for Confucianism and Taoism 56. What philosophy from China encouraged respect for elders and the state? 57. Which Chinese philosophy encouraged harmony with nature?
Day 10 To wrap up Using sentences, describe what you have learned about the development of humans on the planet thus far