Historical Review

Day 1: Prehistory and the Earliest Civilizations

I. Prehistory

During the Old Stone Age, or Paleolithic Era, (2 million BC to 10,000 BC), pre-humans and humans lived as nomads, in small hunting and food gathering groups.

These “cave men” had developed a spoken language and basic clothing to protect them from the elements.

They had also developed simple tools made out of wood, bone, and stone.

Life was “poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

II. The Agricultural Revolution (AKA The Neolithic Revolution)

Then, for reasons still unclear, humans in different locations across the globe began to farm and domesticate animals sometime between 10,000 and 7,000 BC.

Producing their own food meant that people could settle in permanent villages rather than be nomadic in a constant search for food.

Additionally, a reliable food source meant that people spend less time producing food, giving them time to develop other things like advanced tools, math, art, music, etc.

The Agricultural Revolution marks the beginning of what is traditionally referred to as “civilization” and is arguably the most important accomplishment of humanity.

III. The Rise of Cities

Over time, these early farming villages swelled to become cities as populations increased.

These cities were city-states, or cities that functioned as independent political units.

These city-states had their own governments which were mostly concerned with ensuring steady food production.

As city-states conquered or combined with other city-states, empires developed.

IV. Examples of Early Civilizations: Sumer and Egypt

For a reliable supply of fresh water and fertile soil, most early civilizations settled near rivers and depended upon irrigation to water their crops.

For example, the civilization of Sumer developed some of the world’s first cities between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in an area called the Fertile Crescent about 3,200 BC.

The Sumerians created the first known system of writing (cuneiform), wheeled vehicles, the first known codified law system (the Code of Hammurabi), extensive trade networks, and a calendar.

Egypt is a similar example.

They too settled in a river valley – the Nile River.

Their system of irrigation made their agriculture so reliable that they often had enormous food surpluses, helping their empire to last 3,000 years.

Egyptians also developed writing (hieroglyphics), a 12 month calendar, monumental architecture, law, and extensive trade networks.