EARLY CIVILIZATIONS

PRE-CIVILIZATION• Humanoid beings in S. Africa, 3-4

million years ago• Spread through use of fire• Homo sapiens sapiens

– “wise, wise human being”– Looked like us– Africa, 150,000 years ago

• Hunter/gather vs. Farmer…• Neolithic Revolution

– Beginning of settlements

MESOPOTAMIA (3000 B.C.)• Between Tigris & Euphrates rivers

– Modern-day Iraq

• “Fertile Crescent”

• Irrigation– Controlled flow of rivers, no floods

– Be able support many more people

• Code of Hammurabi (pg 44)– 1st written account of law

– “eye for an eye” principles

– What is law? Do we need it?

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION• 3100 BC: Upper & Lower Egypt

Unite• Society dependent on Nile River

– At 4000km, longest river in world– Transportation, Irrigation, flooding

• Protected by natural barriers– Deserts on east and west– Seas to north and east

• Civilization flourishes– Dynasty: family of rulers– Trade & war with other societies

CHINA (500 B.C.)• Dynasty: family of rulers

• Confucius– The “First Teacher”

– Filial Piety

– Duty and Humanity

• Technological Advancements– Paper, Rudder

– Significance?

CONFUCIANISM• Do not be desirous of having things

done quickly. Do not look at small advantages.  Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.  Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

• When anger rises, think of the consequences.

• To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.

• Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.

• Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom?

ANCIENT GREECE• Mycenae (1400B.C.-

1200B.C.)– 1st Greek city state– Warrior people (why

necessary?)

• Homer– Iliad and the Odessey

• First great epic poem • Hero overcomes• Courage and honor

ANCIENT GREECE• Polis: city state/surroundings

– Center serves as meeting place

• Direct Democracy– Death to aristocratic system– Mass meetings– Citizens vote on everything/all

decisions• Who’s a citizen?

GREEK PHILOSOPHY• Sophists

– Groups of traveling teachers– Thought it beyond humans to

understand the universe– Self-improvement more important

• Socrates– Goal of education: improve the student– Socratic Method: Q&A, reasoning– “The unexamined life is not worth

living”

GREEK PHILOSOPHY• Plato

– Taught by Socrates– How do we know what is real? (Forms)– The Republic: thoughts on government

• Aristotle– Taught by Plato– Favored Constitutional Government– “Empiricism”: experience, observation

ALEXANDER THE GREAT• Son of King Philip II

– Victorious invasion of Greece

• Brilliant military leader• Conquered NE Africa, SE Asia

ANCIENT ROME• Modern-Day Italy• 500BC: Rome constant war• Rome conquers all of Italy• Why so successful?:

– Good diplomats– Great military– Use of colonies– Built roads– Practicality in politics and law

ANCIENT ROME• Punic Wars – Roman Empire• Government

– Senate– 300 elite men– Violence

• Caesar as Dictator– Wins civil war with Pompey

– Expands Senate

– Assassinated

ANCIENT ROME

– Invasions from many sides

– Western Empire falls

– Theories as to fall…• Over expansion

• No workable political system

• Decline of values

CHINA– New Technology

• Printing (700-750 AD)

• Gunpowder (1100 AD)

– Trading of specialized goods• Tea, silk, porcelain, gunpowder

– Mongol Empire • Genghis Khan (1206 AD)

– Extends into Eurasia

– Death stops European conquest

MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPE– Feudalism

• Born out of protection

• Lord and Vassal

– King John of England • Signs Magna Carta (1215)

– 1st to limit power of a king

– Crusades (1096-1204)• Four Campaigns in all

• Goal=Free holy land from Muslims

MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPE• Population doubles

– Political stability

– Tech. advancements• Wind/water power, iron, crop rotation

• Manorial System– Manor run by lord

– Serfs were bound to the land• Paid rent, supply food to lord

• Were protected legally by lords (Why?)

MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPE

• Economics– Growth of trade

• Venice (south) & Flanders (north)

• Trade flows between these cities

• Birth of commercial capitalism

– Industry and Guilds

MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPE• Christianity in the Medieval World

– Popes struggle for power• More trade = less wealth for church

• Kings desire for freedom

– The Inquisition• Find and try Heretics

• Use torture for confession

• Heretics are imprisoned or executed

LATE MIDDLE AGES• Black Death (Bubonic Plague)

– Spread by fleas on black rats

– Increased trade spreads disease

– Nearly ½ of Europe dies (38mill.)

– Consequences• Anti-Semitism

• Increased Price of labor

• Falling prices of products

• Serfdom begins to end