Classical Era Outline
Foundations: c. 8000 B.C.E.–600 C.E.
Major Developments
1. Locating world history in the environment and time
A. Environment
1. Geography and climate: Interaction of geography and climate with the development of human society
a. Five Themes of Geography – consider these 1. Relative location – location compared to others 2. Physical characteristics – climate, vegetation and human characteristics 3. Human/environment interaction – how do humans interact/alter environ a. Leads to change 4. Movement – peoples, goods, ideas among/between groups 5. Regions – cultural/physical characteristics in common with surrounding areas
b. E. Africa first people – 750,000 years ago started to move 1. moving in search of food
c. Role of Climate – End of Ice Age 12000 BCE – large areas of N. America, Europe, Asia became habitable – big game hunters already migrated
1. Geographical changes - 3000 BCE Green Sahara began to dry up, seeds to forests – N. America 2. Effect on humans – nomadic hunters didn’t move so much a. Settle near abundant plant life – beginning of civilization b. Sedentary life w/ dependable food supply 3. milder conditions, warmer temperatures, higher ocean levels
2. Demography: Major population changes resulting from human and environmental factors
1. 2 million people during Ice Age – allowed for growth
1. big game gone
2. more usable land available
2. 50-100 million by 1000 CE
3. Regional changes altered skin color, race type, quantity of body hair
B. Time
1. Periodization in early human history
1. Early Hominids – humans 3.5 million years ago
1. Australopithecus – Lucy – found in Africa
1. Bipedalism
2. sizable brain
3. Larynx – voice box
2. 3 million – homo habilis – handy human – crude stone tools
3. 1 million - homo erectus – upright human
a. First to migrate
b. Clothed selves – skins/furs
4. 100,000 to 250,000 – homo sapiens – wise human
a. social groups
b. permanent, semi-permanent buildings
5.
Major Developments
1. Locating world history in the environment and time
A. Environment
1. Geography and climate: Interaction of geography and climate with the development of human society
a. Five Themes of Geography – consider these 1. Relative location – location compared to others 2. Physical characteristics – climate, vegetation and human characteristics 3. Human/environment interaction – how do humans interact/alter environ a. Leads to change 4. Movement – peoples, goods, ideas among/between groups 5. Regions – cultural/physical characteristics in common with surrounding areas
b. E. Africa first people – 750,000 years ago started to move 1. moving in search of food
c. Role of Climate – End of Ice Age 12000 BCE – large areas of N. America, Europe, Asia became habitable – big game hunters already migrated
1. Geographical changes - 3000 BCE Green Sahara began to dry up, seeds to forests – N. America 2. Effect on humans – nomadic hunters didn’t move so much a. Settle near abundant plant life – beginning of civilization b. Sedentary life w/ dependable food supply 3. milder conditions, warmer temperatures, higher ocean levels
2. Demography: Major population changes resulting from human and environmental factors
1. 2 million people during Ice Age – allowed for growth
1. big game gone
2. more usable land available
2. 50-100 million by 1000 CE
3. Regional changes altered skin color, race type, quantity of body hair
B. Time
1. Periodization in early human history
1. Early Hominids – humans 3.5 million years ago
1. Australopithecus – Lucy – found in Africa
1. Bipedalism
2. sizable brain
3. Larynx – voice box
2. 3 million – homo habilis – handy human – crude stone tools
3. 1 million - homo erectus – upright human
a. First to migrate
b. Clothed selves – skins/furs
4. 100,000 to 250,000 – homo sapiens – wise human
a. social groups
b. permanent, semi-permanent buildings
5.