Chapter 1.1 Early Civilization

Paleolithic Era

Paleolithic Era

Human history's initial phase characterized by societies relying on gathering, hunting, and fishing without agriculture, leading to small, nomadic, and egalitarian communities.

Agricultural Revolution

Transition marked by crop cultivation and animal domestication, enabling settled societies and laying the foundation for future developments in human history.

Pastoral societies

Nomadic herders utilizing animals for productivity, emerging in regions where agriculture was challenging, often leading to conflicts with agrarian societies.

Chiefdoms

Organizational structures where chiefs held authority based on lineage, ritual status, or charisma, managing economic activities, conflicts, and tribute redistribution.

Civilizations

Advanced societies resulting from the Agricultural Revolution, characterized by urban centers, organized states, occupational specialization, and hierarchies.

Role of cities

Central to early civilizations, serving as political, cultural, economic hubs, facilitating governance, trade, and technological advancements.

Occupational Specialization

Introduction of specialized roles like scholars, merchants, priests, and soldiers in civilizations, supported by peasant farmers, leading to societal complexities.

Inequalities

Egalitarianism giving way to hierarchies based on wealth, status, and power, with the rise of patriarchy and specialized workforce in civilizations.

Innovations

Technological and scientific progress in civilizations, such as bureaucracy, silk production, mathematics, and medicine, contributing to societal advancements.

Social Structure and Stratification

Contrasting social systems in civilizations like China and India, emphasizing bureaucracy and social mobility versus caste system and inherited status.