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*Early man was a hunter-gatherer from East Africa whose life was shaped by his environment, animals and wild plants between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago. Early man had to deal with the Ice Age (4 periods of extreme cold between 2 million and 10,000 years ago.) 
 

* The first hominids appear, 4,400,000 B.C.
* Early humans, homo habilis, make stone tools, 2,5000,000 B.C.
* Early humans, homo erectus reaches Asia.

* Early humans discover fire, 1,400,000 B.C.

* Early humans acquire language, 500,000 B.C.

* Homo sapiens appear, 200,000 B.C.

* Neanderthals spread from Africa into Europe and Asia, 100,000 B.C.

* Modern humans originate in Africa, 50,000 B.C.

* Cro-Magnons invent the bow and arrow, 35,000 B.C.

* Last Ice Age ends, 10,000 B.C.

* Agriculture begins, 8000 B.C.

* Cities develop along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, 3500 B.C.

* The Sumerians build the first cities, 3500 B.C.

* Corn and beans are cultivated in the Americas, 3400 B.C.

* Narmer Unites Upper and Lower Egypt, 3000 B.C.

* The Chinese write on oracle bones, 2000 B.C.

* Stonehenge is built, 1700B.C.

* The first Urban communities in East Asia appear, 1500 B.C.

* The Olmec civilization begins in Mexico, 1150 B.C.

*The Old Stone Age. The first tools and simple weapons were invented. Man learned to make and use fire. Lived in clans. Man made cave art.

THE MESOLITHIC ERA, THE MIDDLE STONE AGE, 12,000 B.C. - 8,000 B.C.

* The New Stone Age. Man developed agriculture, domesticated animals, used advanced tools, made pottery and developed weaving skills. The building of Stonehenge begins. Stonehenge is completed during the Bronze Age. Permanent settlements appeared in river valleys and around the Fertile Crescent. River valleys provide rich soil and protection from invasion. River valleys were the “Cradles of Civilization,” and made major contributions to social, political and economic progress. Much of what we know about early man is through the work of archaeologists. Archaeologists study past cultures by locating and analyzing human remains, settlements, fossils and artifacts through carbon dating testing.

* During the New Stone Age, permanent settlements appeared in river valleys and around the Fertile Crescent about 3500 B.C. to 500 B.C. The Mesopotamian Civilization, (Tigris and Euphrates River Valley), Egyptian Civilization, (Nile River Valley and Delta), Indian Civilization, (Indus River Valley and the Ganges in South Asia), and the Chinese Civilization, (Huang He or Yellow River Valley in East Asia) appear. From 2000 B.C. to 500 B.C. the Hebrews settles between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River Valley, (part of the Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia), the Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast, (part of the Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia) and Nubia was located on the upper Nile River.

* Hunter-gatherers migrate to the Nile River Valley, 5000 B.C.

* The Sumerians invent cuneiform, 3100 B.C.

* Sumerians establish city-states, 3000 B.C.

* King Narmer unifies Egypt, 3000 B.C., beginning the first Egyptian dynasty.

* The Old Kingdom of Egypt runs from 2700 - 2200 B.C.

* The Harappan civilization begins, 2500 B.C.

* Settlements develop in the Indus River valley, 2500 B.C.

* Lung-shan culture begins in China, 2500 B.C.

* Harappan people trade with Mesopotamia, 2300 B.C.

* The Middle Kingdom of Egypt runs from 2050 B.C.- 1800 B.C.

* Yu founds the Xia Dynasty in China, 2000 B.C.

* The Hyksos invade Egypt, 1700 B.C.

* Tang establishes the Shand Dynasty, the first historical dynasty in China, 1700 B.C.

* Hammurabi develops a code of laws, The Code of Hammurabi, 1700 B.C.

* The Shang dynasty begins in China, 1700 B.C.

* The New Kingdom of Egypt runs from 1600 B.C. - 945 B.C.

* Indus Valley civilization declines, 1500 B.C.

* Queen Hatshepsut comes to power in Egypt, 1480 B.C.

* The Zhou Dynasty comes to power in China, 1000 B.C.

* Foreign rule begins in Egypt, 945 B.C.

     This period of history sees hereditary rulers, (dynasties of king and pharaohs), a rigid class system where slavery was accepted, the first city-states, centralized government, written laws in the form of The Ten Commandment and the Code of Hammurabi, the use of metal tools and weapons, agricultural surpluses, increased trade along rivers and the sea, (the Phoenicians) and the development of cities.

     Pictograms, (the earliest written language) is developed. The Egypt use Hieroglyphics, the Sumerians invent Cuneiform and the Phoenicians develop the alphabet.

     Religion is developed. Most civilizations practiced polytheism (the worship of more than one god) and monotheism, (the worship of one God, the Hebrews). Abraham lays the foundation for Judaism, (the Torah, the Hebrew Holy Book). The Hebrews, (Moses), wrote the Ten Commandments. Hinduism influences Indian society with its belief in many forms of one God, reincarnation based on karma, Vedas and Upanishads, (sacred writings). Buddhism is was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in India, (Nepal), with its Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment. Asoka’s missionaries spread Buddhism to China and other parts of Asia.

     Built on earlier Central Asian and Mesopotamian civilizations, the Persian Empire becomes the largest empire in the world. It practices tolerance of conquered people, development of an imperial bureaucracy, a road system and practice the religion of Zoroastrianism, (believing in 2 opposing forces in the universe.)

     Indian civilization began in the Indus River Valley and spread to the Ganges River Valley through the Indian subcontinent. Indo-Aryan people migrated to the area creating a caste system, (a highly structured social system). The Mauryan Empire spread Buddhism, started free hospitals, veterinary clinics and developed good roads. The Gupta Empire established mathematics, (the concept of zero), medical advances, (setting bones), astronomy, (the concept the earth was round), new textiles and literature, (Gilgamish) in India’s Golden Age.

     In China, the Great Wall of China was built by Qin Shi Huangdi to protect China from northern invaders. China was governed by a succession of ruling families called Dynasties. Chinese rulers were considered divine and ruled/served under a Mandate of Heaven, as long as their rule was just. The Chinese used The Silk Road for trade and contact with other countries, including Rome. The Chinese contributed the civil service system, paper, porcelain and silk to the world. China also contributed Confucianism, (the belief that humans are good and not bad, respect for elders, a code of politeness, an emphasis on education, and ancestor worship. The Chinese also contributed Taoism, with a life based on humility, a simple life and inner peace, harmony with nature and the Yin and Yang.

1. A lone of rulers from the same family that ruled for long periods of time in China was known as a DYNASTY.

2. Neolithic societies led to the development of civilizations by CREATING SETTLED COMMUNITIES.

3. Both the Hebrews and the Phoenicians settled along the FERTILE CRESCENT.

4. Ancient civilizations developed in the river valleys BECAUSE THE RIVER VALLEYS OFFERED RICH SOIL AND WERE EASILY PROTECTED FROM INVASION BY NOMADIC PEOPLES.

5. The Hebrew people were different from other ancient people through their belief in MONOTHEISM.
 

6. Christians, Muslims and the Jewish people all believed in MONOTHEISM.

7. The Paleolithic Era, (the Old Stone Age) was marked by THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORAL LANGUAGE, LIVING IN CLANS, THE CREATION OF CAVE ART AND THE USE OF FIRE.

8. The Phoenicians developed THE ALPHABET to simplify their trading practices.

9. The Indo-Aryans brought THE CASTE SYSTEM to India.

10. REINCARNATION refers to the belief in a cycle of life, death, and rebirth into a new body after death.

11. DORIC, IONIC, AND CORINTHIAN are types of Greek columns.

12. Buddhism was founded by SIDDHARTHA GUATAMA.

13. The AQUEDUCTS represent Roman engineering achievement.

14. China gave the world PAPER, SILK, PORCELAIN AND THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

15. Early man moved out of Africa about 1000,000 YEARS AGO.

16. Humility, simple life and harmony with nature are all part of TAOISM (religion).

17. Greek religion was based on POLYTHEISM.

18. The evolution of the Greek government went from MONARCHY TO ARISTOCRACY TO TYRANNY TO DEMOCRACY.

19. The conflict between Athens and Sparta resulted in THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR.

20. The Byzantine Empire reached its height in culture and prosperity under the rule of EMPEROR JUSTINIAN.

21. In Ancient Greece, AESCHYLUS IS ASSOCIATED WITH DRAMA, HOMER - POETRY, PHIDIAS - SCULPTURE AND HERODOTUS - HISTORY.

22. Rome was built on seven hills on the banks of the TIBER RIVER.

23. Alexander the Great’s “HELLENISTIC AGE” refers to THE BLENDING OF GREEK, ASIAN AND EASTERN CULTURES.

24. JUPITER AND VENUS were names of a Roman god and goddess.

25. In the social structure of the Rome Republic, THE PLEBEIANS WERE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION, LAWS WERE CODIFIED BY THE TWELVE TABLES, AND THE PARTICIANS WERE POWERFUL NOBILITY.

26. As a result of the increase in the number of slaves in the Roman Republic, the farmers of Rome LEFT THEIR FARMS TO FIND WORK IN THE CITIES.

27. JULIUS CAESAR was declared “Dictator for Life” and was assassinated the same year.

28. CONSTANTIMOPLE became the new capital of the Roamn Empire after it was moved to Byzantium.

29. JESUS AS BOTH THE SON AND INCARATION OF GOD, MONOTHEISM AND LIFE AFTER DEATH are essential beliefs of the Christian faith.

30. THE PAX ROMANA saw two centuries of peace and prosperity under imperial rule and the expansion and solidification of the Roman Empire, particularly in the Near East.

31. TOLERANCE OF CONQUERED PEOPLE, A ROAD SYSTEM AND ZOROASTRIANISM are all part of the Persian Empire.

32. THE ROLE OF THE POPE. THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS ICONS were controversies between the Church of Rome and the Byzantine Church.

33. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY is a principle of Roman law that is used in the United States today.

34. The location of Constantinople was strategic because IT WAS LOCATED AT THE CROSSROADS OF THE ASIAN AND EUROPEAN CONTINENTS.

35. THE DOME OF THE ROCK is an example of Muslim architecture.

36. THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE had the greatest influence on Russia.

37. The spread of Islam through Muslim invaders was stopped at THE BATTLE OF TOURS.

38. The Anglo-Saxons settled in the present day country of ENGLAND/GREAT BRITAIN.

39. Two empires that became weak and were taken over by Muslim rule were the BYZANTINE AND PERSIAN EMPIRES.

40. THE MIDDLE EAST was influenced most by Islamic development.

41. PRAYING 5 TIMES A DAY, GIVING TO CHARITY/ALMS, ACCEPTING ALLAH AS GOD, GOING ON A PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA AND CELEBRATING RAMADAN completes the FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM.

42. MOSAIC ART is a type of art from the Byzantine Empire.

43. THE CHURCH was the central authority during the Middle Ages.

44. Feudal society was based upon A KING, NOBLES (LORDS), VASSALS (KNIGHTS), SERFS AND PEASANTS. Nobles got land in return for protecting the king. Knights were used for military service. Serfs were used as the major source of labor.

45. IN THE AGE OF CHARLEMAGNE, the Franks emerged as a force in Western Europe, churches, roads, and schools were built to unite the empire, the Pope crowned the Emperor and the power of the Church was established in political life.

46. THE TRANS-SAHARAN ROUTES, MARITIME ROUTES ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE SILK ROAD were major trade routes between 1000 - 1500 A.D.

47. The MAYANS were a Meso-American civilization.

48. A DECREASE IN POPULATION, SCARCITY OF LABOR AND THE DECLINE OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH were all the result of the Black Plague.

49. WRITING, ARCHITECTURE AND BUDDHISM were Chinese cultural influences on Japan.

50. Henry of Knight’s quote, “Many villages. . .have become quite empty, No one is left in the houses for the people are dead. . .And truly, many of these villages will not forever be empty,” talks about THE BLACK PLAGUE.

51. Johann Gutenberg is famous for inventing THE MOVABLE TYPE PRINTING PRESS.

52. THE INCAS lived in South America. THE MYANS lived in Central America. THE AZTECS lived in Mexico.

53. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR invaded France in 1066 A.D.

54. THE OTTOMAN TURKS conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

55. Monasteries were responsible for SPREADING CHRISTIANITY, TRANSLATING ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS AND HELPING TO TAKE CARE OF THE SICK AND THE POOR.

56. ENGLAND AND FRANCE fought in the 100 Years War.

57. In the African kingdom of GHANA, a ruler would be described this way, “When he sits before his people, he puts on a high cap decorated with gold. . .”

58. ARABIC NUMERALS made banking practices easier.

59. According to Renaissance author MACHIAVELLI, “one should do good if possible, but do evil when necessary.”

60. The early agricultural settlement of Anatolia (in Turkey) was from the NEOLITHIC ERA.

1. EARLY MAN created new hunting techniques, tools and better clothing to fit his surrounding.

2. CLIMATE has the greatest impact on the human need for shelter.

3. Scientists believe that Homo sapiens first emerged in EASTERN AFRICA.

4. THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE happened in the Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age.)

5. HUNTER-GATHERS, SMALL CLANS AND ORAL LANGUAGE are characteristics of the Paleolithic period.

6. The period of history before events were recorded is known as PREHISTORY.

7. The PYRAMIDS are associated with Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians were POLYTHEISTIC, DEVELOPED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, ADVANCED MEDICAL PRATICES TO SET BONES AND TREAT WOUNDS AND DEVELOPED A 365 DAY CALENDAR.

8. INCREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY during the Neolithic Period (The New Stone Age) lead to an increase in population.

9. THE DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS made it possible for early people to live as farmers.

10. ARCHAEOLOGISTS study past cultures by locating and analyzing human remains or artifacts.

11. The early civilizations of MESOPOTAMIA, EGYPT, THE INDUS VALLEY AND CHINA rose along rivers because they provided the much needed water for agriculture.

12. The geographic feature that had the most influence oon Ancient Egypt was the NILE River.

13. The CODE OF HAMMURABI was the first major set of written laws. An example of THE CODE OF HAMMURABI is, “IF A MAN HAS STOLEN AN OX, SHEEP, OR PIG OR A BOAT THAT BELONGED TO A TEMPLE OR PALACE, HE SHALL REPAY THIRTY TIMES ITS COST. IF IT BELONGED TO A PRIVATE CITIZEN, HE SHAL REPAY TEN TIMES. IF HE CANNOT PAY, HE SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH.”

14. A line of rulers from the same family that ruled for long periods of time in China was known as a DYNASTY.

15. A THEOCRACY is a form of government in which the ruling power rests in the hand of religious leaders.

16. Many ancient civilizations believed in POLYTHEISM (THE WORSHIP OF MORE THAN ONE GOD) while the Hebrews (Jews) believed in MONOTHEISM (THE WORSHIP OF ONE GOD).

17. The ancient Egyptians believed in LIFE AFTER DEATH.

18. The Ten Commandments ARE A SET OF MORAL LAWS FOR THE HEBREWS (JEWS).

19. The book of teachings for the Hebrew people was known as the TORAH.

20. The need to keep records led to the development of HIEROGLYPHICS in ancient Egypt.

21. The Phoenicians developed THE ALPHABET to simplify their trading practices.

22. The Persian Empire is best known for TOLERANCE OF CONQUERED PEOPLE, A ROAD SYSTEM THE PRACTICE OF ZOROASTRIANISM AND THE DEVELOPEMENT OF AN IMPERIAL BUREAUCRACY.

23. The migration of man has been influenced by changes in the environment. An example of this is PEOPLE MOVING INTO AREAS THAT HAD ONCE BEEN COVERED WITH ICE.

24. Migration, trade and warfare often resulted in the SPREAD OF KNOWLEDGE.

25. A HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETY would most likely develop in an area where animals are plentiful.

26. OLD STONE AGE people moved from place to place in search of new food resources.

27. A new discovery of a New Stone Age village would be analyzed by AN ARCHAEOLOGIST.

28. THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS influenced the development of Mesopotamia.

29. RIVERS influenced the development of civilization’s earliest cities.

30. The early Hebrew people traced the beginning of their history back to ABRAHAM.

1. PALEOLITHIC MAN were hunters-gatherers who left Africa about 1000,000 years ago and were shaped by their PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.

2. The Paleolithic Era (OLD STONE AGE) SAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE, THE USE OF ORAL LANGUAGE AND SMALL CLANS.

3. THE NEOLITHIC ERA (THE NEW STONE AGE) saw people use domesticated animals to help with every day tasks.

4. In order to be a participant in the government of Athens, one had to be A FREE MALE.

5. People who move from place to place in search of food are called NOMADS.

6. The Persians were successful because THEY HAD TOLERANCE OF TRADITIONS AND CUSTOME OF THE PEOPLE THEY CONQUERED.

7. A basic belief of Hinduism is REINCARNATION.

8. THE SILD ROAD was the major trade route that linked China to the west.

9. Conflict between Athens and Sparta resulted in the PELOPONNESIAN WAR.

10. The Greeks practiced POLYTHEISM, (THE BELIEF OF MORE THAN ONE GOD.)

11. Alexander the Great conquered the known world and began THE HELLENISTIC AGE, (A BLENDING OF GREEK AND MACEDONIAN CULTURES.)

12. THE TORAH, THE BELIEF IN ONE GOD AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS are all a part of Judaism.

13. THE MONOTHEISM OF ABRAHAM (THE BELIEF IN ONE GOD) is the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

14. PICTOGRAMS are the earliest written symbols.

15. The Persian Empire practiced ZOROASTRIANISM.

16. THE GREAT ROYAL ROAD was a achieved by Persia.

17. In most ancient civilizations, the labor force was mostly made up of SLAVES.

18. THE INDUS AND THE GANGES RIVES influenced ancient Indian civilization.

19. The Gupta Empire gave the world MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY AND MEDICAL ADVANCES.

20. The primary religion of India is HINDUISM.

21. Buddhism was founded by SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA.

22. The major religion of China is BUDDHISM.

23. Ancient Greece was located on the BALKAN PENNISULA. THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS occurred under the leadership of Pericles.

24. Classical China was centered on the Huang He (Yellow River) and was geographically isolated. Invaders entered China from the north which lead to the building of THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.

25. ANCESTOR WORSHIP, RESPECT FOR ELDERS, EMPHASIS ON EDUCATON AND A CODE OF POLITENESS are all parts of Confucianism.

26. SOCRATES, PLATO AND ARISTOTLE were all Greek philosophers.

27. THE AREA FROM THE BLACK SEA TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA provided the common link for the major trade networks of China, India and North Africa.

28. ZEUS was considered the chief Greek god.

29. AN OLGARCHY means rule by a small group.

30. Because of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, GREECE BEGAN TO DECLINE.