Transcript Early Humans - Lee County Schools / Homepage

6th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Early Agricultural Civilizations

The Growth of Civilization- Agriculture allowed early
humans to settle in larger communities. As
populations grew, signs of civilization began to
appear.

Interactions Among Civilizations- Early civilizations
were located in areas that could support agricultural
communities. Civilizations that were near one another
exchanged goods and ideas.

Early humans often lived alone or in
small groups. This made it difficult to
survive. Over time, however, they
began to live in larger groups and
create settlements. They also began
working together to ensure the basic
needs of all those in the group were
met. What other advantages might
living in a large group have? (5 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)

Agriculture provided a steady food source.

Cities were supported by nearby farms. People living in cities
could specialize, or do only certain kinds of work they
enjoyed.

Specialization of labor created social classes.

Central governments developed to manage the larger
populations.

Civilizations developed cultures that over time included
written languages.

Food is one of the main needs for
life. Until this need is met, most
of a person’s thoughts and
actions are directed toward
locating food.

The development of agriculture—
producing crops and raising farm
animals—provided a steady food
supply people could rely on.

With a steady food supply,
more people could settle in
one place.

They began to build stronger
and longer-lasting homes
and live in larger
communities.

They began to develop
civilizations.
Key Term
Civilization- A
society with
cities, a central
government, job
specialization,
and social classes.

As the population grew,
other changes in people’s
lives began to occur.

People began to live
together in larger
communities.

These communities could be
fed by the neighboring
farms.

In large communities, workers do
not have to meet all their needs
themselves.

This lets people specialize in
certain jobs.

The division of labor allowed early
humans to become skilled at
certain tasks. They now had time
to do things they wanted to do.
Key Term
SpecializationThe development
of skills in a
specific kind of
work.

During this time, people
created pottery. Artists and
craft workers made jewelry,
paintings, and carvings.

Items such as jewelry and
carvings were not needed
to survive and therefore are
considered luxury items.
Key Term
Luxury ItemSomething that
gives pleasure but
is not necessarily
needed to live.

Specialization of labor
created a new feature of
civilizations—social
hierarchy.

A social hierarchy is a
system in which people are
ranked in different classes,
one above the other.
Key Term
Social HierarchyThe division of
society by rank or
class.

There were fewer members
in the top class than at the
bottom.

In early civilizations, power
was usually concentrated in
the small ruling class at the
top, made up of government
and religious leaders.

A person’s class was determined
by the role they filled. At first,
people could move to a new
class if their role changed.

Over time, the social systems in
many civilizations became more
rigid and people had little
chance of moving to a higher
class.
Video- Social Classes

Cities are usually
the center for
culture, religion,
government, and
the invention of
new tools.

As larger numbers of people
began to live together, it became
important to have good leaders.

Leaders were needed to settle
conflicts and direct large tasks.

Rulers took charge of big project
and wrote laws that told how to
solve problems among members
of the community.

Culture is the beliefs, behaviors,
and knowledge of a society.

Culture is passed on from the
older members of the society to
the younger ones.

Clothing, music, entertainment,
and even architecture are part
of culture.
Key Term
Architecture- The
discipline dealing
with the
principles of
design and
construction of
buildings.

An important mark of a
civilization is its ability to share
its culture. This is particularly
true of its knowledge.

The organization of religion
and the invention of written
languages were major cultural
advances that took place in
early civilizations.

Members of ancient
civilizations faced many
dangers.

Bad weather destroyed
crops.

Illness and injuries that
would be minor today
often led to death.

To help explain these
hardships, people often
believed they were at the
will of higher beings, or
gods.

They looked to stories and
legends to understand how
the gods affected the world
they lived in.

Members of ancient
civilizations usually followed
the same religion.

They marked the same special
events.

They honored the same gods.

They held religious
ceremonies in the same way.

Early civilizations often had a
social class of priests and
priestesses.

These people controlled the
holy customs.

They were believed to have
special connections to the
gods.

Religion united the members
of a civilization.
Key Term
Religion- An
organized collection
of beliefs, cultural
systems, and world
views that relate
humanity to the
supernatural, and to
spirituality.
Key Term
MonotheismThe belief in
one god.
Key Term
PolytheismThe belief in
many gods.

Before writing was
invented, people could
share information only
by speaking.

Often, older people told
younger people what
they knew.

Written language played several
important roles.

People used written records to
keep track of floods and the times
to plant.

They wrote down details about
the goods they bought and sold.

Writing could provide information
about laws and customs

Most well-known
civilizations have
recorded information
about themselves in
writing. As a result,
researchers can study
those civilizations today.
Video- Writing of Ancient Civilizations

Rivers were a source of water for crops, fresh water
for drinking, and fish for food.

Rivers provided a method of transportation.

Geographic features like deserts, mountains, and
oceans sometimes kept civilizations from spreading.

As a result of war and trade, civilizations exchanged
stories, tools, and ideas about science and religion.

As agriculture grew more
important, it became
necessary for early humans to
settle in places where they
could regularly find water.

For this reason, many of the
earliest civilizations arose near
natural sources of water.
Video- The Nile Where Egypt Began

Civilizations traded with each
other. They also fought wars with
each other.

As a result of such meetings,
civilizations often shared parts of
their cultures.

They heard each other’s stories.
They learned from each other
about tools, science, and religious
ideas.

In some areas, different
civilizations were located near
each other.

When two or more
civilizations often wanted the
same resources. Both trade
and war were common.

Fighting brought many
changes in leaders.

Cities provided early
humans with the main
things they needed to live.
Cities also encouraged
culture to develop.

Even today, cities continue
to be very important to
the success of civilizations.

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)