WORLD CIVILIZATION

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CIVILIZATION

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

What had shaped human society?Origin of man?How did the changes in environment, technology affect man’s lifeEffect of changes?

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

History of Humanity involves two levels of struggle

Human & nature Humans against Human

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

Struggle explained through history of origin of man- Theories of origin of man

Creation Theory• Bible and Quran

Scientific Evolution• Theory explain that the origin of human kind traced

back in Africa• Apes and human have a common ancestor- Hominids• Influence of natural selection

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

Zinjanthropus (1.8m) – discovered in Olduvai GorgeAustralopithecus (4.4m), Afar, EthiopiaKenyapithecus (2.5)- BaringoHomo Habilis & Sapiens- (2m) Lake Turkana L. Chad- Michael Brunet- Saheln

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

Human development involves:Interaction between culture & biology

Culture evolutionRefers to continuous growth of culture from simple to complex & to homogenous to heterogeneous• Material culture• Linguistics

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

Paleolithic Age:Characterized by hunting, gatheringshelter- caves- cold seasonsSocial organization- lived in groups

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

Neolithic revolution most important aspect of human cultural development

- refers to transition from nomadic hunting and gathering communities to agriculture & settlement

Introduction: Tracing History of Humanity

Neolithic revolution most important aspect of human cultural development

- refers to transition from nomadic hunting and gathering communities to agriculture & settlementMarked by village settlement, domestication & new implements

•Adoption of farming techniques•Crop cultivation•Domestication of animals

Introduction: Impact of Neolithic revolution

Property ownershipSlavery systemIncrease in food productionIncrease in populationAdoption of farming techniquesCrop cultivation

Domestication of animals & plantsCivilization

Introduction: Impact of Neolithic revolution

Domestication of animals & plantsTame, to train or to adopt an animal or plant to live or be of use to human beingTaming- short term, no evolution of intimate relationship no human intervention with natural breeding

Introduction: Early Civilizations

Civilization:Acceptable forms of behavior- EurocentricLatin word- ‘civis’ or townman or citizenCivilization refers to a complex society or a state-level societyRefers social organization based on existence of institutions

Characteristics of Civilization

Settlement led to accumulation of property and individual land ownership

Hence laws, states & armies were developed to protect possession & inequality

Intense agricultural techniques- crop rotation, use of human labor, irrigationDivision of laborRise of permanent settlements- citiesRise of a form f social organizations

Characteristics of CivilizationInstitutionalized control of food by ruling class, government or bureaucracyEstablishment of complex social institutions- religion, educationDevelopment of forms of economic exchanges

Expansion of trade leading to money Market

Accumulation of materialsDevelopment of technologiesAdvanced development of arts especially writing Religion

Characteristics of Civilization

ArchitecturePatriachical society

Sources of Pre-history

Primary:Archaeology – study, observation, recording & experimentation

• Carbon 14- not older than 50000

AnthropologyOral sourcesGeology- development of earth crust with successive floras & faunasPaleontology- study of fossils- bones, teeth

Written- secondary

Sources of Pre-history

Dating:Based on Christian calendar- Zero year (Birth of Christ)BCE or BC- used until 4th c ADAfter 4th AD- new system of dating adopted- BP or BCE