Human Origins and Early Civilizations…

1. Human OriginsandEarly Civilizations… World History--Early civ. and Egypt

2. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Before we talk about early civilizations…We must first ask ourselves: • What are the requirements of a civilization? • Can any group of people that gather together be called a “civilization”? OR Is that word saved for particular people who have achieved particular things? World History--Early civ. and Egypt

3. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • SMALL GROUPS: What are 5 requirements of a civilization. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

4. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • 1. Cities • 2. Specialized workers • 3. Writing • 4. Advanced technology • 5. Complex institutions • Like: Organized religious institution, legal system, government, etc. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

5. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Long before any civilizations as we know them flourished, ancient humans (human-like beings) walked the earth. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

6. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • 4.4 million years ago: • AUSTRALOPITHECUS • 3-5’ tall, bipedal, small brain, flat nose, large teeth World History--Early civ. and Egypt

7. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • 1.5 million years ago: • HOMO HABILIS (person of ability) • Used rudimentary tools…slightly bigger physically than predecessors. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

8. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • 100-200,000 years ago: • HOMO SAPIENS: • “Person who thinks” • First Homo Sapiens: NEANDERTHAL • 5.5’ TALL, Brains slightly larger than modern humans, stocky bodies, muscular, thick necks, nomadic hunter-gatherers, used fire, sophisticated tools that were skillfully crafted (stone knives, spear points and bone tools). World History--Early civ. and Egypt

9. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • There is evidence that Neanderthal man buried their dead. He had the beginnings of what we call CULTURE: • The way of life—language, tools, skills, beliefs, and traditions—that a people develop, follow, and leave to their children. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

10. Young Neanderthal World History--Early civ. and Egypt

11. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • The Neolithic Revolution: World History--Early civ. and Egypt

12. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt Paleolithic culture Neolithic culture Housing Means of Living: Technology Social Org. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

13. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Paleolithic • culture: • HOUSING: Caves, campsites, huts, tents… • Means of Living: Hunting and gathering. • Technology: Simple tools of chipped stone, flint, wood or bone. Basketry • Social organization: Nomadic groups of 25-40 people; society of equals, sharing of resources World History--Early civ. and Egypt

14. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Neolithic Revolution: • Housing: Houses or mud and stone • Means of Living: Farming and herding • Technology: Farming tools made of ground stone; spinning and weaving; pottery making; metal working • Social organization: Villages and early cities; specialization; private property. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

15. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • The Neolithic Revolution, in the end, was: • The most important technological development ever to occur in human history was the domestication of plants (agriculture) and animals. Together these developments are called the Neolithic Revolution and they allowed the development of urban centers (towns and, later, cities), trade and most of the other things we consider to be components of "civilization." World History--Early civ. and Egypt

16. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • And….Civilizations began to flourish World History--Early civ. and Egypt

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19. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Egypt is often called: The “gift of the Nile”. • Why might that be? World History--Early civ. and Egypt

20. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • 95% of Egypt is desert. • The Nile is 4100 miles long making it the longest river in the world—a thin ribbon in a parched desert. • Very plainly, life would not be possible without the river. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

21. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • No rain or smaller rivers add to the Nile. Its waters originate in the distant mountains, plateaus, and lakes of Central Africa. So remote were these places that they were called the mountains of the moon. • Main source of the Nile is Lake Victoria. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

22. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Other gifts: Transportation, fertile soil. • Every year, in June, the Nile floods. • This predictability makes it a tremendous asset to farmers. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

23. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Importance of the deserts: • To the West, the vast sands of the Libyan desert and to the East, along the Red Sea, lies the Arabian Desert. • These deserts forced the Egyptians to stay close to the fertile soils along the river but also protected them from invaders. Thanks to this, Egypt was spared the constant warfare of the fertile crescent. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

24. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Howard Carter World History--Early civ. and Egypt

25. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • King Tutankhamen World History--Early civ. and Egypt

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29. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Nefertiti World History--Early civ. and Egypt

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32. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Egyptians lived in farming villages as far back as 6000b.c. • They domesticated cattle, goats, sheep, and donkeys. • They worshipped the wild creatures of the Nile. • The used stone tools to clear and cultivate the land. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

33. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • So, small villages were scattered along the river. • What to do? Villages attacked other villages….. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

34. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Villages united into NOMES. • Each with its own chieftain, rituals, and gods. • Of course, the raiding continued… • By 3200b.c., the Egyptians were coming into contact with the Mesopotamians…caravans loaded for trade were traveling between the two regions. • Whole groups of people were moving back and forth in search of a better life, better farming, etc. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

35. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • At the same time, important changes were occurring in Egypt. • The first Kings arose…..uniting the territories of many Nomes. • Development of their own system of writing. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

36. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • By 3200b.c., the Nomes of Egypt had united into two kingdoms. • One king ruled Lower Egypt and word a red crown. • One king ruled Upper Egypt and wore a white crown. • PROBLEM WITH HAVING TWO KINGDOMS AND TWO KINGS IN ONE LAND? World History--Early civ. and Egypt

37. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • By 3100b.c., the strong-willed king of Upper Egypt—MENES—united both kingdoms into one. • As a symbol of his united kingdom, he wore a crown of white and red. • He would create the new capitol city of Memphis. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

38. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Pharaohs—like Menes—ruled Egypt as Gods….handing power down through the male line. A Dynasty. • Eventually the history of Egypt would comprise 31 dynasties spanning more than 2800 years. • The fortunes of the pharaohs would rise and fall. Strength followed weakness and prosperity followed ruin. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

39. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Egyptian history is divided into three major periods: • The Old Kingdom: 2660-2180 • The Middle Kingdom: 2080-1640 • The New Kingdom: 1570-1075 World History--Early civ. and Egypt

40. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • The Old Kingdom was the great age of the pyramid. • Tombs, for the Pharaoh, were even more important than the palace in which they lived. • The Pharaoh was expected to live forever…and so they spent much of their wealth on their tomb—from which, they would be reborn. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

41. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • This God-King (Pharaoh) stood at the center of Egypt’s religion as well as its government and army. Considered responsible for whatever circumstances befell the country. Responsible for justice. • Pharaoh was believed to have an eternal spirit or KA. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

42. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Toward the end of the Old Kingdom, the power of the Pharaohs declined. In large part because of poor harvests, famine. More and more power fell into the hands of nobles and officials. • If Pharaoh is like a God, why is he doing this to us? People began to doubt his authority. • Eventually, civil war would tear the country apart. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

43. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Egyptians called the period of time following the Old Kingdom, the First Illness. • 2180-2080 • Poor harvests and lawlessness plagued the region. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

44. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • It would be two young princes: Intef and Mentuhotep who would reunite the broken lands into rule by one King again. • They would usher in the Middle Kingdom • But, the Pharaoh would never really regain their power. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

45. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • The Middle Kingdom • Law and order returns to Egypt. • Farming, trade, and the arts all flourish. • Pharaohs move the Capitol from Memphis to Thebes. • Projects for the common good. Indeed, it is the first time that Pharaohs seem to care about the common folks. • Religious beliefs even began to reflect the importance of the common man. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

46. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Capitol is moved World History--Early civ. and Egypt

47. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Temple to Horus built during Mid. King. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

48. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • Eventually, Egypt’s greatness would be broken in two by another civil war…ushering in the SECOND ILLNESS • What happens to a country during times of civil war? World History--Early civ. and Egypt

49. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • The country is left vulnerable during such periods to things like: • INVASION. • And…that is exactly what happens. • Invaders swept across the Isthmus of Suez in horse-drawn chariots. The conquerors were Asian nomads known as the Hyksos. • They would rule much of Egypt from 1640-1570 b.c. World History--Early civ. and Egypt

50. World History—Early Civ. And Egypt • The proud Egyptians despised their uncivilized conquerors. • But…they did learn a few things: • The making of bronze—harder than the copper that they had been using. • How to wage war using horse-drawn chariots, bows and arrows (powerful new kind of bow). • New techniques in the gentler arts—weaving and spinning. World History--Early civ. and Egypt