8000 BCE to 600 BCE

  • Time Period Overview

    • AP World History Period 1: 8,000 BCE to 600 BCE
    • Represents 5% of the exam content.
    • Characterized by transition from hunting-gathering to farming (Neolithic Revolution).
    • Development of early River Valley civilizations discussed.

  • Big Geography and Early Human History

    • Big Bang Theory: Occurred approximately 13.75 billion years ago, leading to the formation of the Earth around 4.6 billion years ago.
    • Dinosaurs existed around 65 million years ago (fossil of "Sue" in Chicago).
    • Lucy: Earliest known human-like fossil, dated around 3.2 million years ago, found in Ethiopia.
    • Peopling of the Earth:
    • Out of Africa thesis suggests early humans migrated from Africa to populate the world, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas (via the Bering Strait).

  • Neolithic Revolution

    • Marked the transition to agriculture (domestication of plants and animals).
    • Farming defined as a pivotal event in human history, starting AP World History.
    • Agricultural practices began with wheat and barley in the Middle East.
    • Other domesticated crops include:
    • Rice in Southeast Asia and China
    • Yams in West Africa
    • Maize in the Americas
    • Taro roots in New Guinea.
    • Surplus of food facilitated the rise of civilizations.

  • Domestication of Animals

    • Important domesticated animals included horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and goats primarily from the Middle East.
    • The Americas had only llamas as domesticated beasts of burden — horse absence before Columbus was significant.

  • Transition to Civilizations

    • Settlements like Jericho (Israel) and Çatalhöyük (about 7,000 BCE): important but not classified as civilizations yet.
    • Farming leads to settled populations and job specialization.
    • Characteristics of civilizations include:
    • Religion, writing, artisanship, architectural advancements, warfare, and trade.
    • Notable inventions from this period:
    • The wheel and plow (Sumerians)
    • Pottery and metallurgy (copper and later bronze).

  • Metallurgy Timeline

    • Bronze: Mixture of copper and tin, dated around 3,000 BCE.
    • Iron: A significant development around 1,300 BCE, considered the Iron Age.

  • Key Themes in Civilization Development

    • Environmental changes due to farming (irrigation).
    • Cultural interactions, especially in flourishing trade between river valleys (Indus and Mesopotamia).
    • Decline of women's status:
    • From egalitarian societies in hunter-gatherer groups to reduced rights in agricultural societies.