Aug 29-
BC and AD
Before Christ and anno Domini (in the year of our Lord)
How old is the Earth?
4.6 billion years
Where were the oldest human fossils found?
East Africa- Tanzania and Ethiopia
Who found the oldest human fossils?
Louis and Mary Leakey, Donald Johanson, Recent Scientists
What are some of the biggest achievements in world history?
Wheel, controlled fire, irrigation, tools, language, boats, art
Hominid- The group consisting of all modern and extinct Great Apes (modern humans, chimps, gorillas, and orangutans plus all their ancestors)
Found Human like fossils in 1959 in Tanzania
Donald Johanson
Discovered a 3.2 million year old fossil of a female skeleton in Ethiopia named “Lucy”
Homo-Sapiens
Neanderthal vs Cro-Magnon
Neanderthal died out because CM was smarter
Agricultural Revolution
Prior to more organized agriculture, people were nomadic and hunted animals and gathered plants
Lived in small groups of about 25-70 people
About 10,000 years ago, people started more organized farming
Along with planting crops, people also Domesticated animals such as horses, dogs, goats, and pigs
People started setting up villages which turned into towns and then some into cities
More complex ways of thinking and living emerged leading to civilization
Social classes emerged
Civilization- an advanced society
5 traits of a civilization
Cities
Writing and record keeping
Specialized workers
Complex institutions (religion, government, economy)
- Advanced technology
Aug 30-
What are natural borders?
Based on rivers, mountains, deserts
Why are defensible borders important for a civilization to thrive?
You don’t have to worry about being attacked from all angles during a war
Early civilizations
Arose in 4 separate river valleys around 3500 BC
Fertile soil, mild climate, waterway for transportation, water for crops and drinking
Provided for abundant crops and food surpluses
Vocabulary
Fertile Crescent- region in the middle east between the mediterranean sea and the Persian Gulf
Mesopotamia- The first organized civilization responsible for the wheel, math, etc.
City-state- Country that’s also a city (Rome, Greece)
Dynasty- a series of rulers from a single family
Cultural diffusion- process in which ideas spread from one culture to another
Polytheism- belief in multiple gods
Monotheism- belief that there is only one God
Empire- group of territories under a single ruler
Delta- where a river splits into multiple channels and runs into a bigger body of water
King Narmer- King of Egypt that brought upper and lower Egypt together
Pharaoh- the god-kings of Egypt, seen as almost as powerful as the gods
Theocracy- government headed by religious leaders
Pyramid- Huge structure where the egyptian pharaohs are placed after they die
Mummification- process in which skin and flesh of a corpse is preserved
Hieroglyphics- formal writing system of the Egyptians, pictures
Papyrus- what egyptians wrote on, came from papyrus reeds found in marshy areas
Indian Subcontinent- landmass that includes Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh
Monsoon- seasonal winds that can bring dry air or heavy rain- huge impact on India
Dynastic cycle- the rise, fall and replacement of dynasties
Mandate from Heaven- a just ruler that has approval from the gods, an unjust ruler can lose their mandate to rule
Feudalism- A political system in which the king gives land to nobles/lords and in returns, they vow loyalty and military service to the king
Aug 31- Work Day
Sep 1- Work Day
Sep 2- Presentations
Ancient Egypt
Political
Pharaohs appointed officials
Agriculture is the foundation of Egyptian
Economy
Traded wheat and barley (main crops)
Metal coins
Major exports- gold, wheat, barley, papyrus
Major imports- Metals, gems, horses and cattle
Made their living: Farming, scribes, craftsmen, merchants
Social classes- Pharoah, nobility, priest/physician, craftsmen, farmers, slaves
Geography
Could only farm on the black land because of the Nile runoff
Red land was desert-like
Religion
Gods and goddesses
Universe was set in a way of truths and beliefs
Pyramids are giant tombs
They believe they will live on the other side
Education
Boys from wealthy families
In royal families girls and boys received equal education
Had the opportunity to attend Prince’s school
Gender Roles
Women raised children and tended to husbands
Men taught sons the family trade and seen as leaders of society
Advances
Ships
Geometry
Hieroglyphics
Papyrus
Ink
Solar calendar
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