1. EARLY MAN to
First Civilizations
Paleolithic Period and Neolithic Period

2. The Paleolithic Period
2.5 Million BCE to 12000 BCE ish
(Before the Common Era)
• Humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia,
Australia, & the Americas
• Used fire in new ways
• Used wider range of tools
• Humans were hunter – gatherers
– (1 square mile needed to support two people
• Economic structures focused on kinship
groups (family and clan)

3. Archeologists interpret
remains to describe
early man.

4. The
“Ice Man”

5. The Ice Man?

6. Due Tomorrow: Read the “Iceman” article by
Leon Jaroff –from my website-- & write
responses to the following questions in your
notebook.
1. Who wrote the source? When? Who is the
intended audience?
2. What are the beliefs about early man that the
Iceman changed?
3. What is the main idea or thesis of this article?
4. Jaroff gives some explanations for the tattoos
on the prehistoric man. What are several other
possible explanations for the tattoos purpose
or location?
5. Give characteristics or elements of this article
that make the article seem reliable as a source.

8. Eastern North America
China
Fertile Crescent
Nile valley
West
Mesoamerica Africa
New Guinea
Ethiopia
Andes Amazonia
In response to warming climates, from about
10,000 years ago, SETTLED AGRICULTURE
appeared in a number of places..

9. Settled Agriculture led to what is called
the Neolithic Revolution
• Neolithic Revolution is the period known
for changes in human societies caused by
agriculture and pastoralism (herding of
animals)

10. How did people learn to farm
and domesticate animals?

11. The Neolithic Revolution
transformed societies
Changes to the environment
Increased population
More complex economies and social
systems
• Patriarchy & forced labor systems
• Specialization of labor (including artisans &
warriors)
• More hierarchical social structures (elites and
commoners)

12. - Improvements in agricultural production,
trade, & transportation
Plows
Pottery
Wheeled vehicles
Metallurgy Woven textiles

13. Domestication of Plants and Animals
Farming
Population
Surplus Food Specialization
Intensification
Complex Society,
also known as
CIVILIZATION

15. Elements of civilization include:
1) Cities
Mohenjo Daro
It’s the
law
2) Central governments
And Law codes
Hammurabi’s
Law Code 15
Pharaohs

16. Elements of Civilization include:
1) Cities
2) Central governments
and law codes 3) Writing and
record keeping
Can you identify
the society
represented
by each of these two
writing samples?
4) Highly organized religions
16

17. Elements of Civilization include:
1) Cities
2) Central Governments
and law codes
3) Writing and 5) Specialized Jobs
record keeping
4) Highly organized
religion
Full-time monk
6) Social Classes
Assyrian slaves
In Egypt
17

18. Elements of Civilization include:
1) Cities
2) Central governments
and law codes
7) Complex
4) Highly organized
3) Writing and
record keeping Technologies
r
e
l
i
g
i Chariot
5) Specialized jobs o
n
6) Social classes
Bronze Sword
18

19. Early River Valley Civilizations

20. Is civilization more “civilized”?
Agricultural settlements led to
achievements, but also. . .
• Population increases
• Stronger Patriarchy & Slavery
• Rigid social classes
• War
• Increased dependence on agriculture

21. So . . .
• If a society is not a “civilization,” with
cities, complex institutions and record
keeping, what is that society?
– Barbarian?
– Uncivilized?
– Outsiders?
– Backward or Unimportant?
• How that society is described depends
on the INTERPRETATION of the
archeologist and/or historian!