Concepts and Themes of World History
•Concepts: Help you understand and therefore relate to people and events
•Themes: Help you see patterns in how individuals, groups, and nations have behaved towards each other both across place and time.
Historical Concepts
•Belief System: Structures individuals Create to fulfill their religious faith and beliefs.
•Change: Basic alternation in things, events and ideas.
•Choice: The right or power to select from a range of alternatives.
•Culture: Patterns in human behavior that is passed from generation to generation.
•Diversity: Differences in Language, Gender, Socioeconomics class, Religion, Traits, etc.
•Empathy: The ability to understand the behavior of others because one can identify a similar response in themselves.
•Identity: Awareness of one’s own values, attitudes, capabilities an both an individual and a member of a different group.
Historical Themes
•Interdependence : Observing how people rely on other people in interactions and exchanges that benefit all those involved.
•Imperialism: Analyzing the domination by one country of the political and/or economic life of another country or region.
•Movement of people and goods: Knowing there has been exchange of people, ideas, products, technologies, etc. from one region or civilization to another throughout history….
•Nationalism: Identifying the feeling of devotion and pride in one’s country, or desire of people to govern themselves.
•Urbanization: Observing the movement of people from rural to urban areas.
•Concepts: Help you understand and therefore relate to people and events
•Themes: Help you see patterns in how individuals, groups, and nations have behaved towards each other both across place and time.
Historical Concepts
•Belief System: Structures individuals Create to fulfill their religious faith and beliefs.
•Change: Basic alternation in things, events and ideas.
•Choice: The right or power to select from a range of alternatives.
•Culture: Patterns in human behavior that is passed from generation to generation.
•Diversity: Differences in Language, Gender, Socioeconomics class, Religion, Traits, etc.
•Empathy: The ability to understand the behavior of others because one can identify a similar response in themselves.
•Identity: Awareness of one’s own values, attitudes, capabilities an both an individual and a member of a different group.
Historical Themes
•Interdependence : Observing how people rely on other people in interactions and exchanges that benefit all those involved.
•Imperialism: Analyzing the domination by one country of the political and/or economic life of another country or region.
•Movement of people and goods: Knowing there has been exchange of people, ideas, products, technologies, etc. from one region or civilization to another throughout history….
•Nationalism: Identifying the feeling of devotion and pride in one’s country, or desire of people to govern themselves.
•Urbanization: Observing the movement of people from rural to urban areas.
•Time and space refers to the time period of an event and space refers to the location
•Chronology is To put events in chronological order is to put them in the order in which they occurred.
•Periodization is to to categorize or divide time into periods or blocks of time ex. Harlem Renaissance, The Dark Ages, Middle Ages etc.
6 Themes of Geography
•Chronology is To put events in chronological order is to put them in the order in which they occurred.
•Periodization is to to categorize or divide time into periods or blocks of time ex. Harlem Renaissance, The Dark Ages, Middle Ages etc.
6 Themes of Geography
- The World In Spatial Terms: Mapping relations between people and places.
- Places and Regions: Studying lives and identities of people based on places/regions they live in.
- Physical Systems: Physical processes that have shaped the earth process. Studying animals and plants interacting in their physical environment.
- Human Systems: Studying the settlements and structures people have created. How they compete for control.
- Environment & Society: Studying how the Earth impacts human activities and how human activity modifies the earth
- The Uses of Geography: Knowing how relationships between people, places and settlements has changed over time.
Out of Africa Theory
Archeologists have traced the origins of human life millions of years ago to the continent of Africa. It is in what is known as modern day Ethiopia (East Africa) that archeologist uncovered our oldest ancestor, a hominid, australopithecines. A hominid is a creature (including humans) that walk upright. The importance of this discovery is that they noted that our ancestor (named Lucy after the Beatle's song "Lucy with the Stars with Diamonds" had already developed the opposable thumb (meaning the tip of the thumb can cross the palm of the hand). This allowed hominids (as well as us) perform crucial thumbs such as picking up small items and building tools.
Archeologists have traced the origins of human life millions of years ago to the continent of Africa. It is in what is known as modern day Ethiopia (East Africa) that archeologist uncovered our oldest ancestor, a hominid, australopithecines. A hominid is a creature (including humans) that walk upright. The importance of this discovery is that they noted that our ancestor (named Lucy after the Beatle's song "Lucy with the Stars with Diamonds" had already developed the opposable thumb (meaning the tip of the thumb can cross the palm of the hand). This allowed hominids (as well as us) perform crucial thumbs such as picking up small items and building tools.
Australopithecines
- 4 million to 1 million B.C.
- Found in southern and eastern Africa
- Brain size 500 cm cubed (cubic centimeters)
- First humanlike creature to walk upright
Homo Habilis
- 2.5 million to 1.5 million B.C.
- Found in East Africa
- Brain size 700 cm cubed
- First to make stone tools (Thus nicknamed the "man of skills")
- Remains found by archeologists in 1960 in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Homo Erectus
- 1.6 million to 30,000 B.C
- Found in Africa, Asia and Europe (first hominid to migrate out of Africa)
- Brain size 1,000 cm cubed
- "Upright Man" more intelligent than previous hominids, able to adapt better to environment and create technology (ways of applying knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet one's needs).
Neanderthal
- 200,000to 30,000 B.C
- Found in Europe and Southwest Asia
- Brain size 1,450 cm cubed
- First to have ritual burials
- Powerfully built
- Developed religious beliefs
Cro-Magnon/ Homo Sapiens
- Modern day humans
- 40,000 to 8000 B.C
- Found in Europe
- Brain size 1,400 cm cubed
- Created Art
The Neolithic Revolution was a major turning point in human history. People transformed from being nomadic and hunting animals and gathering vegetation (Hunter-gatherers) to settling down and staying in one place. This changed completely how people lived. They had to interact with one another (social), they traded (economical) and they had to work together to accomplish tasks and goals (organized). As a result, settlements grew over time. As settlements evolved so did the tasks that people performed. Some people began specializing in certain skills such as Artisan, Teachers, Blacksmiths, etc. As this group of specialized workers evolved and grew, so did the complexity of society. This marks the transformation from settlements, to villages, to cities, to civilizations.
Civilization is defined as a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations); "the people slowly progressed from barbarism to civilization". (http://dictionary.kids.net.au/word/civilization)
There 5 very important features of a civilization.
There 5 very important features of a civilization.
- Advanced Cities: Cities as the center of trade for larger areas.
- Specialized workers: People who had developed certain skills in a specific kind of work.
- Complex Institutions: Defined governments/rulers to help maintain order.
- Advanced Technology: New tools and techniques to make completing tasks easier or problems that emerge.
- Record Keeping: As governments, religion and economy became more complex, people recognized the need to maintain accounts of transactions, laws, tax collections, calendars and important rituals, etc.
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia was located in what today is Turkey, Syria, Iraq and the Persian Gulf (Middle East) 6 thousand years ago. It flourished along the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Early peoples settled along water because it allowed them access to the source for basic necessities (drinking water/ food i.e. fishing), it helped with their farming (irrigation systems utilize to get water for crops) and allowed them to trade with other civilizations around them.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt divided into lower and upper Egypt along the Nile River- Longest River in the World!
The Egyptian Empire was made up of what is present day known as Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda & Ethiopia
Like Mesopotamia, the Nile River left behind rich deposits of mud called silts that enriched the soil and helped farmers grow food.
Unlike the Tigris and Euphrates however, the Nile worked like Clockwork and was predictable.
Egypt was divided by elevation into 2 regions- Upper and Lower- both had their own rulers as well as ritual.
The Egyptian Empire was made up of what is present day known as Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda & Ethiopia
Like Mesopotamia, the Nile River left behind rich deposits of mud called silts that enriched the soil and helped farmers grow food.
Unlike the Tigris and Euphrates however, the Nile worked like Clockwork and was predictable.
Egypt was divided by elevation into 2 regions- Upper and Lower- both had their own rulers as well as ritual.
Egyptians and Mesopotamian had a lot in common. Both Civilizations had thrived near water. As a result both civilization had developed an amazing irrigation system that allowed Egypt to grow its food rather than gather it and therefore developed skilled workers.
Both civilizations were polytheistic, Boasting many gods that were responsible for the natural occurrences around them.
However, despite their similarities, there were important difference.
Both civilizations were polytheistic, Boasting many gods that were responsible for the natural occurrences around them.
However, despite their similarities, there were important difference.
Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River and united into a kingdom around 3100 B.C.
The Power of the pharaohs decline in 2180 B.C. Marking the end of the Old Kingdom.
During the Middle Kingdom (about 2080-1640 B.C.), trade with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley enriched Egypt.
However, strong pharaohs gained control marking in new era called the Middle Kingdom. The prosperity in this new era did not last.
During this time up the Nile River a major kingdom had developed in the region of Nubia- the Kingdom of Kush. This kingdom would play a dynamic role in Egyptian history- its way paved by a group of invaders called the Hyksos. In 1640 B.C. this group from the area of Pakistan, the Hyksos gained control of the Egyptian Empire.
The Hyksos were able to overtake the Egyptian because their military technology was more advanced. The Hyksos utilized the chariot, a weapon the Egyptians had not seen before. It is during the Hyksos control of Egypt that we see Israelites begin to settle there. The Hyksos welcome the Israelites because they were racially similar. However, once the Hyksos are driven out of Egypt, the Israelites transition from welcome guests to slaves.
The Power of the pharaohs decline in 2180 B.C. Marking the end of the Old Kingdom.
During the Middle Kingdom (about 2080-1640 B.C.), trade with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley enriched Egypt.
However, strong pharaohs gained control marking in new era called the Middle Kingdom. The prosperity in this new era did not last.
During this time up the Nile River a major kingdom had developed in the region of Nubia- the Kingdom of Kush. This kingdom would play a dynamic role in Egyptian history- its way paved by a group of invaders called the Hyksos. In 1640 B.C. this group from the area of Pakistan, the Hyksos gained control of the Egyptian Empire.
The Hyksos were able to overtake the Egyptian because their military technology was more advanced. The Hyksos utilized the chariot, a weapon the Egyptians had not seen before. It is during the Hyksos control of Egypt that we see Israelites begin to settle there. The Hyksos welcome the Israelites because they were racially similar. However, once the Hyksos are driven out of Egypt, the Israelites transition from welcome guests to slaves.
The Indus River Valley Civilization
While changes were occurring in Egypt, a civilization was taking shape in the Indus River Valley. The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was a very advanced and well planned out society. In comparison to its neighboring civilizations, the Indus people had a superior sense of city planning and sewage development. As noted from the image above, the Indus Valley was neatly planned out and all homes had a bathroom.
--While the Indus River Valley Civilization has left behind evidence of its existence, historians are unable to piece together the clues of how this civilization rose and fell because the language of the culture has not been translated.
™Historians know less about the Indus Valley civilization than other civilizations around them. Evidence to their existence and the way they live have come from archeological digs. These digs help scientists piece together the past.
The Indian Subcontinent where the Indus River Valley existed is what Geographers refer to the landmass that includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
This civilization is thought to have risen in the Indian subcontinent as early as 7,000 B.C. and is most known for for its complex and sophisticated city planning.
Harappan culture spread throughout the Indus Valley and similarly to Egyptian and the Mesopotamian, they relied heavily on agriculture.
What caused the end of this amazing civilization was unknown until recently when scientists used satellite images to conclude that natural disasters brought about from tectonic plates shifting which resulted in tremendous earthquakes, flooding and then periods of droughts that dried out active rivers of the time. This would have had a negative impact on the Indus Valley's people ability to grow their own food. As a result, if the Indus Valley people were faced with famine, it was more than likely they had to relocate. However, when studying Indian culture today, especially religion (Lord Shiva), you can see that the Indus Valley culture survived and influenced later peoples of the region.
--While the Indus River Valley Civilization has left behind evidence of its existence, historians are unable to piece together the clues of how this civilization rose and fell because the language of the culture has not been translated.
™Historians know less about the Indus Valley civilization than other civilizations around them. Evidence to their existence and the way they live have come from archeological digs. These digs help scientists piece together the past.
The Indian Subcontinent where the Indus River Valley existed is what Geographers refer to the landmass that includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
This civilization is thought to have risen in the Indian subcontinent as early as 7,000 B.C. and is most known for for its complex and sophisticated city planning.
Harappan culture spread throughout the Indus Valley and similarly to Egyptian and the Mesopotamian, they relied heavily on agriculture.
What caused the end of this amazing civilization was unknown until recently when scientists used satellite images to conclude that natural disasters brought about from tectonic plates shifting which resulted in tremendous earthquakes, flooding and then periods of droughts that dried out active rivers of the time. This would have had a negative impact on the Indus Valley's people ability to grow their own food. As a result, if the Indus Valley people were faced with famine, it was more than likely they had to relocate. However, when studying Indian culture today, especially religion (Lord Shiva), you can see that the Indus Valley culture survived and influenced later peoples of the region.
Ancient China
The first walls of Chinese civilizations were built 4, 000 years ago, at least 1,000 years after Ur, Egypt and the Indus Civilizations.
Natural barriers isolated ancient China from all other civilizations.
East: Yellow Sea, East China Sea & Pacific Sea, North: Gobi Desert and West: Himalaya
Two major rivers: Huang He Found in the North and Chang Jiang Flows East.
Huang He (Yellow River) leaves Yellow Silt
As a result of China’s isolation, Ancient Chinese people viewed themselves as a middle kingdom – (Heaven above, China in the middle, the rest of the world below)
The Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty lasted around 1700 B.C. to 1027 B.C.
It was the first family of Chinese rulers to leave written records.
Shang rulers built palaces and tombs that have been uncovered by archeologists. The artifacts found there reveal a great deal about the Shang Dynasty.
The Shang Dynasty lasted around 1700 B.C. to 1027 B.C.
It was the first family of Chinese rulers to leave written records.
Shang rulers built palaces and tombs that have been uncovered by archeologists. The artifacts found there reveal a great deal about the Shang Dynasty.