8

As you read this section in your textbook, complete the outline below to summarize
information about the periods of early human history and the development of civilizations.
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Name Class Date
Note Taking Study Guide
TOWARD CIVILIZATION
PART
1.1
I. Old Stone Age/Paleolithic Period
A. From time of first stone toolmakers to about 10,000 B.C.
B. Nomadic way of life
1. Hunting and gathering bands of 20 to 30 people
2. Made simple tools and weapons
3.
4.
5.
II.
A.
B.
1.
2.
3.
4.
III.
A.
B.
C.
1.
2.
D.
1.
2.
E.
1.
2.
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9
Section Summary
TOWARD CIVILIZATION
PART
1.1
READING CHECK
Who are nomads?
VOCABULARY STRATEGY
What does the word status
mean in the underlined sen-
tence? Note that the word status
is repeated in the next sentence.
As men gained status as war-
riors, the status of women
declined. How does this help you
understand the meaning of the
word status?
READING SKILL
Identify Causes and Effects
Create a 4-step owchart to
show how the development of
farming led to the growth of
cities in river valleys. Begin your
owchart with Nomadic bands
learned to farm.
The period from the time of the rst stone toolmakers to about
10,000 B.C. is known as the Old Stone Age, or the Paleolithic Period.
Paleolithic people were nomads, or people who move from place to
place to hunt for animals and edible plants. They lived in bands of
20 to 30 people and made simple tools and weapons. They devel-
oped spoken language, invented clothing made from animal skins,
and learned to build res.
About 10,000 years ago, nomadic bands learned to farm. This
allowed them to remain in one place, which ushered in the
New Stone Age, or Neolithic Age. Neolithic people established
permanent villages and learned to tame animals. Village life
reshaped the roles of men and women. During times of want, war-
fare increased. Success in battle enabled some men to gain status as
warriors, which gave them power over both women and other men.
The status of women declined.
About 5,000 years ago, the advances made by early farming com-
munities led to the rise of civilizations. Historians have identied
seven basic features common to most early civilizations: well-
organized central governments, complex religions, job specializa-
tion, social classes, arts and architecture, public works, and writing.
Food surpluses in the river valleys of Africa and Asia helped
populations to expand. As populations increased, some villages
grew into cities. The challenge of farming in a river valley con-
tributed to the development of city governments. Projects to control
ooding and channel waters to elds required organization. Over
time, city governments became more complex, and government
bureaucracies grew.
Social organization also became more complex. People were
ranked according to their jobs. Priests and nobles were usually at the
top, followed by merchants and artisans, or skilled craftworkers.
Below them were the peasant farmers and slaves at the very bottom.
Priests developed writing to record information. Early writing was
made up of pictographs, or simple drawings that represented ideas.
As ancient rulers gained more and more power, they conquered
territories beyond their cities. Some conquered many cities and vil-
lages, creating empires, or groups of states, territories, and peoples
ruled by one person.
Review Questions
1. Why did city governments develop in river valleys?
2. How were people ranked socially in early civilizations?
Name Class Date
10
As you read this section in your textbook, complete the outline below to summarize
information about the rst civilizations in North Africa and the Middle East.
Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
Name Class Date
Note Taking Study Guide
FIRST CIVILIZATIONS: AFRICA AND ASIA
PART
1.2
I. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile
A. Villages in Nile River valley joined into two kingdoms.
B.
C. Old Kingdom (about 25752130 B.C.)
D.
E.
II.
A.
B.
III.
A.
B.
1.
2.
3.
C.
1.
2.
IV.
A.
B.
C.
D.
V.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
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11
Section Summary
FIRST CIVILIZATIONS: AFRICA AND ASIA
PART
1.2
READING CHECK
What was the diaspora?
VOCABULARY STRATEGY
Find the word complex in the
underlined sentence. What do
you think it means? The word
simple is an antonym of the word
complex. Use this clue to help
you gure out the meaning of
complex.
READING SKILL
Compare and Contrast Compare
and contrast the geography of
civilizations in Egypt and in
Sumer.
The rst civilizations emerged in river valleys and developed
complex ways of life. In the Nile River valley in Egypt, villages
joined together into two kingdoms. These kingdoms were later
united under King Menes.
The history of ancient Egypt after King Menes is divided into
three periods, the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. During the Old
Kingdom, the Egyptian rulers, or pharaohs, organized a strong central
government and built pyramids as tombs. During the Middle and
New Kingdoms, trade and warfare brought Egypt into contact with
other civilizations, which led to cultural diffusion.
Egyptians worshiped many gods and goddesses and built tombs
to preserve their bodies for the afterlife. Egyptian society was orga-
nized into classes. At the top was the pharaoh, who was considered
both a king and a god.
Another civilization, the city-states of Sumer, developed along
the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area was called Mesopotamia,
and was located in the Fertile Crescent. The city-states often fought
for control of land and water. War leaders eventually became rulers,
and a social hierarchy emerged. The Sumerians built dikes, irriga-
tion ditches, and ziggurats, or pyramid-temples. They also invented
the earliest form of writing, called cuneiform, which scribes learned
how to read and write.
About 2300 B.C., Sargon, the ruler of Akkad, conquered the city-
states of Sumer. He built the worlds rst empire. About 1790 B.C.,
Hammurabi, king of Babylon, conquered much of Mesopotamia. His
law code was the rst major collection of laws in history.
About 2000 B.C., the Hebrews migrated from Mesopotamia to
Canaan. They developed Judaism, a monotheistic religion based on
the belief in one God. They recorded events and laws in the Torah,
their most sacred text. Prophets preached a strong code of ethics
and urged the Hebrews to obey Gods law. The Hebrews established
the kingdom of Israel, which eventually split into two parts. Invading
armies captured the Hebrews, who later became known as Jews.
About 2,000 years ago, many Jews were forced to leave their home-
land. This scattering of the Jewish people is known as the diaspora.
Review Questions
1. Why did Egyptian rulers build pyramids?
2. Who invented the earliest form of writing, and what was it called?
Name Class Date
12
As you read this section in your textbook, complete the outline below to summarize
information about early civilizations in India and China.
Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
Name Class Date
Note Taking Study Guide
EARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN INDIA AND CHINA
PART
1.3
I. Cities of the Indus Valley
A. Indias first civilization arose in Indus River valley about 2600 B.C.
B. Two main cities were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
C.
II.
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
3.
III.
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
3.
D.
1.
2.
3.
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13
Section Summary
EARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN INDIA AND CHINA
PART
1.3
READING CHECK
What are castes?
VOCABULARY STRATEGY
What does the word barriers
mean in the underlined sen-
tence? Two examples of physi-
cal barriers are given in the
sentence. How do these exam-
ples help you understand the
meaning of barriers?
READING SKILL
Identify Main Ideas List four
main ideas about the Aryans
from the second paragraph of
the Summary.
Indias rst civilization emerged in the Indus River valley about 2500
B.C. This civilization ourished for 1,000 years and covered the largest
area of any in ancient times. Its two main cities, Mohenjo-Daro and
Harappa, were carefully planned, with plumbing systems and under-
ground sewers.
About 1500 B.C., nomadic people from the north, called Aryans,
overran the cities of the Indus region. They spread eastward to the
Ganges River basin. By 500 B.C., a new Indian civilization, with many
rival kingdoms, had emerged.
Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from the Vedas,
a collection of prayers, hymns, and religious teachings. The Aryans
divided themselves into social classes by occupation. Over time,
these divisions grew into a system of castes. These are social groups
into which people are born and cannot leave. We also know that the
Aryans were polytheistic, or believed in many gods. They eventu-
ally came to believe in a single spiritual power, called brahman,
which lived in all things. Some Aryans became mystics, who
devoted their lives to seeking spiritual truth.
The ancient Chinese believed that China was at the center of
Earth and the sole source of civilization. Physical barriers, including
mountains and deserts, separated China from the rest of the world
and contributed to this belief.
Chinese civilization began in the Huang He valley. About 1650
B.C., a Chinese people called the Shang came to power in northern
China. In 1027 B.C., the Zhou people overthrew the Shang. The Zhou
dynasty, or ruling family, lasted until 256 B.C. They promoted the
idea of the Mandate of Heaven, or the divine right to rule. This idea
was later used to explain the dynastic cycle, or the rise and fall of
dynasties.
The Chinese prayed to many gods and nature spirits. Over time,
these religious practices came to center on respect for ancestors. The
Chinese also believed that the universe reected a balance between
two forces, yin and yang. They studied the planets and eclipses and
created an accurate calendar. They also developed bronzemaking
and silkmaking and made the rst books.
Review Questions
1. When and where did Indias rst civilization emerge?
2. Name three achievements of the ancient Chinese.
Name Class Date