Early Civilizations

Paleolithic:

These were the first humans to use tools. Tools made of stone, bone, and wood. The men hunted for meat. The women and children gathered plant foods. The people lived in groups of 20-30 people, who traveled from place to place in search of food. Evidence of these nomadic people has been found on all the continents except Antarctica . These people survived and flourished before and during the Ice Age. They learned to make clothing from the skins of animals. They used fire for warmth and to cook food. They used caves as shelters. When nomadic groups encountered one another they shared religious ceremonies, mated, and shared food. When food was scarce, some groups attacked other groups to take their food. The dead were buried with some ceremony. Paleolithic man sometimes decorated his caves and tools and wore jewelry.

Neolithic:

These were the first humans to plant and harvest their own food. They also herded animals into pens for easy slaughter when needed. These people began to settle into territories and build permanent structures for living and for community life. In addition to making tools from stone, wood and bone, they also began to make pottery from clay. Duties between men and woman were developed. Neolithic man decorated his community buildings, his tools, his pottery, and wore jewelry.

River Civilizations.

Nile , Mesopotamia , Indus , and Ganges : Communities developed along major rivers. Communities became larger, and towns and cities developed. People in towns and cities had specialized jobs. Metal was discovered and put to use to make tools and weapons. Cloth was invested and used for clothing. The wheel was invented and put to use for transportation. A system of writing and recording information developed. Animals were used to save labor. People began to organize to complete community projects such as irrigation canals, walls for defense, and community buildings. From this organization, governments emerged. Rulers were chosen and social classes were developed. Warriors developed to defend a community against attackers, and to attack other communities.

Vertical Civilizations.

Norte Chico, Inca. On the American continents, the first civilizations developed among the high mountains of the Andes. These civilizations included agriculture at various heights on the moutains to take advance of the climates. They also involved extensive roads connecting high mountain cities with civilization on the coast. Civilization ties were maintained by the extensive trade from the fish taken from the sea, to the cotton raised on plains, to the grains raised on higher elevations and the wool from domesticated animals raised on the tops of the mountains. The roads were often steps leading to the higher elevations, and the agricultural fields were built in stepped terrace formations going up the side of the mountains.

Palio-History		Introduction to Civilizations course	Civilization Report

Page created July 7, 2008. Anne Pemberton. Updated: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 . AP.

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