Foundations Period:

10,000 BCE- 600 CE

Foundations: 3 Major Themes
Man vs. Nature
Interaction? Role of geography? Attempts to measure/control?
Change from survival (physical needs) to internal peace (spiritual
needs)
Civilizations
Patterns, developments
Rise-fall of empires: why? consequences?
Sources of Change
Trade
Conquest
Invention, innovation, adaptation; iron, wheel
Geography of China
Geography of India
Geography of
Egypt
Geography of Mesopotamia
Geography of Greece
Geography of Rome
Society Types
Little surplus of goods except cattle split
as size of clans grew
Limited personal belongings
Hunters and gatherers
Few possessions
Economic
Fire is sacred, chariots were developed Daggers, spears, hammers, bow
and arrow, fire, digging sticks
Technological
Respect for family, courage
Domestication of animals subject matter
for art, hides for clothing and shelter
Limited language
Sculptures, pictograms, cave
paintings
Intellectual
Worship gods of storm, war Belief in afterlife. Buried dead with
tools and weapons
Religious
Organized into large Bands
Split into blood/clans- rivalries developed
Had military/warriors
Organized in small clans- 20-30
Led by strongest male
Organized hunts
Political
Nomadic temporary homes
Sparse Population
Men are herders/males dominated
Nomadic
Egalitarian nature
Leaders based on age, strength,
courage, intelligence
Social
Pastoral Foraging
2,500,000 BCE
2,500,000 BCE

10,000 BCE
10,000 BCE
1. Hunting and gathering: Small bands of 20-30
people. Gender equality because both contributed
to survival
2. Mostly Nomadic but some Permanent
settlements were established in areas with
abundant food resources (grains, fish).
3. Neanderthal Man: First fully modern human
beings-physically and mentally. Belief in afterlife,
buried dead
4. Cro-Magnon man: Interested in fashion and art.
Humans during this period found shelter in caves. Humans during this period found shelter in caves.
Cave paintings were left behind. Cave paintings were left behind.
Paleolithic peoples lived in
small nomadic bands with
few class distinctions, and
had an interest in art and
simple spiritual beliefs.
Neanderthals
( 200,000 BCE 30,000 BCE )
Neanderthals
Neanderthals
( 200,000 BCE ( 200,000 BCE 30,000 BCE ) 30,000 BCE )
Cro-Magnons
( 40,000 BCE 10,000 BCE )
Cro
Cro
-
-
Magnons
Magnons
( 40,000 BCE ( 40,000 BCE 10,000 BCE ) 10,000 BCE )
Homo Sapiens
Homo Sapien
Sapien
(40,000 BCE-Present )
Homo
Homo
Sapien
Sapien
Sapien
Sapien
(40,000 BCE (40,000 BCE- -Present ) Present )
8000-3000 BCE
1. Food surplus lead to population boom
2. Permanent settlements and
communities develop. Idea of private
property
3. Development on farming technology, art,
architecture, language, job specialization,
irrigation, etc.
4. Development of cities: Catal Huyuk, Jericho.
Advanced
Cities
Advanced
Cities
Specialized
Workers/
Social Classes
Specialized
Workers/
Social Classes
Complex
Institutions:
Government
Public Works
Economic Systems
Organized religion
Complex
Institutions:
Government
Public Works
Economic Systems
Organized religion
Record-
Keeping
Record-
Keeping
Advanced
Technology
Advanced
Technology
Art and
Architecture
Art and
Architecture
Mesopotamia: The Cradle of Civilization
Mesopotamia: The Cradle of Civilization
Fertile Crescent and lack of natural barriers
allowed many groups to control this valuable area.
Fertile Crescent and lack of natural barriers
allowed many groups to control this valuable area.
Sumerian City-States
Sumerian City-States
3000 B.C.E.
3000 B.C.E.
City-State: Urban areas that controlled surrounding regions and loosely
connected with other city-states: Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Lagash, Babylon, Kish
City-State: Urban areas that controlled surrounding regions and loosely
connected with other city-states: Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Lagash, Babylon, Kish
Developed organized projects: irrigation systems, palaces, ziggurats,
defensive walls, temples
Developed organized projects: irrigation systems, palaces, ziggurats,
defensive walls, temples
Successful agriculture, irrigation
systems
Writing, cuneiforms
Use of wheel
12 month calendar
Polytheistic
Polytheistic: The Gods were
Anthropomorphic.
Hammurabi, the Judge
Hammurabi, the Judge
King of the four quarters of the
world
Centralized bureaucratic government
System of taxation
First written code of laws
King of the four quarters of the
world
Centralized bureaucratic government
System of taxation
First written code of laws
The Babylonian Empires
The Babylonian Empires
Babylonian Achievements
Babylonian Achievements
12 Month
Calendar
12 Month
Calendar
Mathematics
Mathematics
Babylonian
Numbers
Babylonian
Numbers
The Hittites
The Hittites
Learned to
extract iron from
ore and were the
first to make
tools and
weapons of iron.
The Assyrians
The Assyrians
Centralized
bureaucratic
government.
Built military
roads to move
troops quickly.
Founded first
libraries.
The Phoenicians
The Phoenicians
Best known
for
manufacturing
and trade
Carriers of
Civilization
Created first
alphabet
The Hebrews
The Hebrews
Belief in Judaism, first
monotheistic faith
Ten commandments
Phoenicians
Phoenicians
Traders, Invaders, and Empire Builders?
Traders, Invaders, and Empire Builders?
Assyrians
Assyrians
Traders
Traders
Invaders
Invaders
Hebrews
Hebrews
Empire Builders
Empire Builders
The Hittites
The Hittites
The Sumerians
The Sumerians
The Babylonians
The Babylonians
Traders
Traders
Empire Builders
Empire Builders
Invaders
Invaders
Walk Like an Egyptian
Rich soil, gentle annual flooding
Led by Pharaoh leader with total
power
water management, pyramids,
astronomy, hieroglyphs,
mummification, calendar, gold
Polytheistic
Women rulers, buy, sell property,
inherit, will property, dissolve
marriages, still subservient to men
Hierarchy: pharaoh, priest, nobles,
merchants, artisans, peasants, slaves
Conquered by (1100 BCE)
China: Shang on the Huang
Shang: 1700-1100 BCE
Aristocrats and bureaucrats directed the work and life of the Shang.
Warfare a constant feature.
Most commoners worked as semi free serfs in agriculture. Others
were artisans, craftsmen.
Stable agri-surplus, trade-centered
N. China, walled cities, strong army,
chariots
The Middle Kingdom World View
Bronze, pottery, silk, decimal
system, calendar
Patriarchal, polytheistic, ancestor
veneration, oracle bones
Its Zhou Time!
Replaced Shang around 1100
BCE
Ruled 900 years, kept customs,
traditions
Mandate of Heaven
Feudal system, nobles gained,
bureaucracies, war amongst
feudal kingdoms, collapse 256
BCE
Established early forms of feudalism in which the King gave large
tracts of land to loyal leaders who became lords. These lords provided
the king with military forces in exchange for the land.
Indus Valley: 3300 1700 B.C.E.
Outside contact more
limited - moutains
Kyber Pass connection to
outside
Twin Cities of Harrappa,
Mohenjo-Daro
Master-planned, water
system, strong central
govt, polytheistic, written
language
Pottery, cotton, cloth
Cities abandoned, reason
unknown
Aryans arrive 1500 BCE
The Harappan Civilization
The Harappan Civilization
From Caucasus Mtns.
Black/Caspian Sea
Nomads who settled
Vedas, Upanashads basis
for Hinduism
Caste system
warriors, priests, peasants
later re-ordered: Brahmins
(priests), warriors,
landowners-merchants,
peasants, untouchables
(out castes)
Aryans: The Vedic Age: 1500-500 B.C.E..
Aryans: The Vedic Age: 1500-500 B.C.E..
Shudras
Shudras
Vaishyas
Vaishyas
Kshatriyas
Kshatriyas
Pariahs [Harijan]
Untouchables
Pariahs [Harijan]
Untouchables
Brahmins
Brahmins
Olmecs (Mexico), Mayans
(Mexico/Guatemala), and Chavin Cult
(Andes) developed similarly to River
Valley Civilizations: urbanization,
polytheistic, irrigation, writing,
calendar, monumental buildings, social
structure, city-states.
The point: Similar pattern of
development in different part of earth,
no contact
The difference: No major river. Had to
adapt to rainforest and mountains.
Civilization in the Americas
Civilization in the Americas
Religions and Belief Systems
Hinduism
Caste System: Rigid
social structure, born
into caste, must
perform certain job, or
Jati.
Ganges is sacred river,
performance of rituals
Spawned Buddhism
Brahman-supreme force: Gods are
manifestations of Brahman (Vishnu-preserver,
Shiva-destroyer)
Reincarnation. Dharma: rules and obligations.
Karma: fate based on how dharma was met.
Moshka: highest state of being, release of soul
Vedas and Upanishads
India
3000 B.C.E.
Spread
throughout India
Stationary
Religion
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Buddhism
No Caste system,
appealed to lower
classes.
Not attached to social
structure, spread rapidly
to other cultures.
Ashoka adopted
Buddhism.
Force of cultural diffusion
via trade, Silk Road,
missionary Religion
Founded by Siddhartha Guatama
No Supreme Being Buddha Enlightened one
Four Noble Truths Life is suffering caused by
desire, follow Eight Fold Path
Nirvana, state of perfect peace and harmony
path may take several lifetimes: Reincarnation,
Dharma, Karma
Theraveda: meditation, harmony, Buddha not a
god (Lesser Vehicle)
Mahayana: more complex, greater ritual, reliance
on priests. Buddha a diety
India, Nepal
563 B.C.E.
Spread
throughout
India, China,
Japan, S.E.
Asia
Missionary
Religion
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Confucianism
As a ethical, social,
political belief system it
was compatible with
other religions, could
practice Buddhism and
Confucianism
Embraced by Han, Tang,
Song, Ming Dynasties.
Civil Service Exam
Founded by Confucius (Kong Fu Tse)
Political-social philosophy, not religion
Moral, ethical, also practical The Analects
Five Right relationships = right society: Parent to
Child (Filial Piety), Ruler to Subject, Older to
Younger, Husband to Wife, Friend to Friend.
Education is valuable and everyone should be able
to get one. Become a gentleman.
Put aside personal ambition for good of state
China
500 B.C.E.
Spread to
Japan,
S.E. Asia
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Daoism-Taoism
Self-sufficient communities
Counter to Confucian activism
Emphasis on harmony w/ nature
leads gains: astronomy, botany,
chemistry
Co-existed w/Confucianism,
Buddhism, Legalism
Added to complexity of Chinese
culture
Founded by Lao-tzu, philosopher
Dao = The Way (of nature/cosmos)
Wu wei- non-doing, harmony with nature
Eternal principles, passive, yielding.
Like water, yet strong, shaping.
Yin-Yang symbol of balance in nature
China
500
B.C.E.
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Legalsim
Accomplished swift
reunification of China.
Completion of projects
like the Great Wall.
Caused widespread
resentment among
common people, led to
wider acceptance of
Confucianism-Daoism.
Founded by Han Feizi
The Qin Dynasty- Shi Huangdi
Peace & order through centralized, tightly controlled
state
Mistrust of human nature; reliance on tough laws
Punish those who break laws, reward those who
follow
2 most worthy jobs: farmer, soldier
China
500
B.C.E.
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Contrast: Confucianism-Daoism-Legalism
Daoism
harmony with nature, internal
peace
Simple, passive life
Little govt interference
To guide individual in meditation
Legalism
- Social belief systems, not religions
- Intended to create orderly society
- Legalism-fundamental evil
- Harsh punishments
Confucianism
- creating orderly society
- active relationships, active govt
- To guide relationships
- People are fundamentally good
Judaism
The First Monotheistic
Belief System
Led to Christianity and
Islam
Forced migration
Exodus, Diaspora,
Holocaust
Like Hinduism
Stationary faith
Founded by Abraham, Moses
Hebrews were chosen by God, special status
Personal relationship with God a covenant
Afterlife, tradition, doctrines, philosophy, personal
salvation.
To honor, serve God, promote prophets Wailing
Wall
A religion & culture - Torah
10 Commandments, waiting for messiah
Middle
East,
Caanan
Jerusalem
3000
B.C.E.
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Christianity
Emphasis on salvation,
eternal life after death
appealed to lower
classes, women
Combo of religion &
empire = huge impact
on political, social
development of Europe
Missionary Religion
Founded by Jesus of Nazareth - Bible
Splinter group of Jews, quickly spread throughout
Roman Empire despite persecution
Jesus, son of God, Messiah of Jewish prophecy
Devotion to God, love of fellow man - monotheistic
Jesus sent to redeem man from sin
Salvation by faith in divinity, death, and resurrection
of Jesus.
Crucified by Roman govt 30 CE
Middle
East,
Jerusalem
30 C.E.
Spread
north and
west
throughout
Europe,
Americas
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Islam
Led to Islamic Empires
Umayyad Caliphate,
Abbasids, Ottoman,
Mughal
Shiite-Sunni Split
Crusades Holy wars
Missionary religion
Founded by Muhammad- Prophet Koran
Five Pillars of Faith:
Allah is one true God, Prophet is Muhammad
Pray Five times a day facing Mecca
Almsgiving give to the poor
Ramadan Fasting
Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca
Can not eat pork, gamble, drink alcohol, smoke
Jihad Struggle in Gods service
Middle East,
Mecca,
Medina,
Jerusalem
622 C.E.
Spread North
Africa,
S.E.Asia, U.S.
Significance Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books
Diffusion of Belief Systems
Its Greek to me!
Impact of geography
City-states
Common identity, culture in
each
Athens
Political, commercial,
cultural center
Sparta
Agricultural, militaristic,
equality w/o individuality
Trade, not agricultural.
Est. colonies, strong military
Communications
Transportation
Governance
Rise of Classical Civilizations
Rise of Classical Civilizations
Greek Achievements
Greek Achievements
Age of
Pericles;
Direct
Democracy,
Golden age
Art, architecture, sculpture,
amphitheaters, dramas,
math, astronomy, medicine
Philosophy:
Socrates, Plato,
Aristotle.
Mythology
polytheistic
humanistic gods
Ideal
beauty,
Sports,
Olympics
Alexander the Great!
Peloponnesian War with Sparta
(431 BCE) Athens loses power
Macedonians from north
conquer And unites Greek
Peninsula
Followed by son, Alexander,
unified Greece, invaded Persia
What was Alexanders Greatest
Accomplishment?
What was Alexanders Greatest
Accomplishment?
Alexanders Empire
Which four major civilizations did Alexander briefly unite?
Hellenic
Persian
Egyptian
Indian
The Romans: 509 BCE-476 CE
Describe the Geographical advantages of the Roman Empire
Roman Achievements
Professional
army,
citizenship
for
conquered
people, Pax
Romana
Art, architecture, arch,
dome, aqueducts, roads
Coliseum,
Bread and
Circus,
Gladiators,
christianity
Centralized government:
Republic, Dictator,
Empire, Civil Service,
Senate, Patricians,
Plebeians
Equal under
Law, justice,
12 tables of
law
Qin Empire
Led by Emperor
Shi Huangdi
Unified China: Centralized
Government
Connected
Great Wall of
China, terra
cotta warriors
Unified monetary
system, weights
and measurements
Legalist government
burned Confucian
books
The Han Dynasty!

Emperor
Han Wudi
Confucian
style
government
Expanded Empire, developed a
bureaucracy, Silk Road Trade
spread of Buddhism
Civil Service
Exams Social
classes:
Nobles,
Scholar-gentry,
Farmers,
Merchants
Paper, Ship Rudders, Wheelbarrow,
Hot air balloons, sundials, metallurgy
Mauryan Empire
Rock & Pillar edicts,
Buddhism spread, Big
time traders: silk, cotton,
elephants (much more) to
the west
Strong military, Ashoka
converts to Buddhism:
non-violence, moderation
Centralized government with
bureaucracy, tax collection
321 BCE 321 BCE 185 BCE 185 BCE
Founded by Chandragupta
Maurya
Unified smaller Aryan
kingdoms
Greatest extent under Ashoka
Rise of Gupta:
220 BCE
220 BCE

320 CE
320 CE
Achievements in
mathematics pi, zero,
numerals, astronomy,
medicine, literature
Hinduism resurgent
Women lost rights; own
property, study religion,
child marriages common
Profitable trade Profitable trade
with with
the the
Mediterranean Mediterranean
world. world.
375-415 CE, revival under
Chandra Gupta
Extensive Trade:
Land Route = Silk Road Water Route = Indian Ocean
Extensive Trade:
Extensive Trade:
Land Route = Silk Road Water Route =
Land Route = Silk Road Water Route =
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
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Pearls Pearls
Interregional Networks of People
by 600 C.E.
Silk Roads
Mediterranean trade
Indian Ocean trade
Meso and Andean American trading
Silk Routes
Mediterranean Trade Routes
Indian Ocean Trade