Early Human History: Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Civilizations

Paleolithic Era

A period in human history characterized by the use of stone tools and a nomadic lifestyle.

Neolithic Revolution

A significant turning point in human history marked by the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture.

Turning Point

An event that leads to lasting change.

Hunting & Gathering

The act of getting one's food by hunting for it and collecting wild fruit, vegetables, and nuts.

Agriculture

Farming.

Neolithic Era

A period in human history that came after the start of agriculture and before the development of the first civilizations.

Bronze Age

The period during which people started creating and using metal tools, following the Neolithic Era.

Ocean

A large body of saltwater that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the Earth.

Pacific Ocean

One of the five world oceans.

Atlantic Ocean

One of the five world oceans.

Indian Ocean

One of the five world oceans.

Arctic Ocean

One of the five world oceans.

Antarctic Ocean

Also known as The Southern Ocean, one of the five world oceans.

Historical Circumstances

Refers to the historical events that led to a specific event, idea, or historical development.

Geographic Context

Where a historical event took place and why it took place there, considering location and geographic features.

Bias

A strong opinion that is based more on emotion than on evidence.

Point of View

An opinion or claim.

Audience

The person or group of people that a message is for.

Purpose

The reason a record, document, or source was produced.

Cause

refers to something that contributes to the occurrence of an event, the rise of an idea, or the bringing about of a development

Effect

refers to what happens as a consequence (result, impact, outcome) of an event, an idea, or a development

Similarity

tells how something is alike or the same as something else

Difference

tells how something is not alike or not the same as something else

Civilization

a complex society that has cities, a well organized government, and workers with specialized job skills

Eight Features of Civilizations

civilizations all have EIGHT things in common

Cities

Early cities emerge near farming centers. As populations grew due to a food surplus from farming, small villages grew into cities

Governments

a group of people who make the laws for a certain area

Religion

often linked to government, because many rulers claimed that their right to rule came from the gods

Job Specialization

Due to a surplus of food, not everyone needed to work the farm; people would specialize in other fields

Social Classes

groups of people who occupy different ranks or levels in society

Public Works

Governments would organize workers to build large scale projects such as roads, water systems, and city walls for protections

Art & Architecture

Early people built and decorated temples, tombs, and palaces, with music and literature becoming important parts of civilization.

System of Writing

Each civilization had their own form of writing used to preserve information such as laws and prayers to the gods.

Cuneiform

A system of writing created in Mesopotamia around 3,000 BCE.

Mohenjo-daro

A city in the Indus Valley Civilization built around 2600 B.C.E., located in present-day Pakistan, known for its advanced urban planning.

Indus Valley Civilization

An ancient civilization located in present-day Pakistan, known for its sophisticated cities like Mohenjo-daro.

Population of Mohenjo-daro

At its height, the city probably had around 35,000 residents.

Urban sanitation systems

The world's first urban sanitation systems were included in the city of Mohenjo-daro, with wastewater diverted to covered drains.

Egyptian Book of the Dead

A collection of hymns, spells, and instructions to guide the dead through the afterlife challenges, printed on papyrus.

Code of Hammurabi

A set of laws written around 1780 BCE, containing 282 laws inscribed on stone monuments for public visibility.

Hammurabi

The ruler of Babylon who created the Code of Hammurabi, a significant legal document in ancient history.

Shaduf

A device used by Egyptians to transfer water from the Nile to their fields.

Paleolithic

The era characterized by the use of stone tools and a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Settlements

Permanent communities established by people, often associated with agriculture.

Fertile Crescent

A region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and early agricultural development.

Irrigation

The artificial application of water to land to assist in the growing of crops.

Civilizations

Complex societies characterized by urban development, social stratification, and cultural achievements.

Nomads

People who move from place to place rather than settling permanently in one location.

Fertile

Soil that is capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.

Crops

Plants cultivated for food, fiber, or other products.

Domesticate

To tame animals or cultivate plants for human use.

River Valleys

Geographical areas near rivers that were crucial for the development of early civilizations.