Overview of Human History

Introduction

• Presentation explores divisions in world history using a timeline chart.
• Timeline chart available as a poster on usefulcharts.com.

Timeline Chart Explanation

• Vertical Scale: Represents the flow of time, moving forward as you go down the page.
  • Each white line equals 100 years.
  • Equidistant scale for accurate time comparisons.
• Horizontal Scale: Divides world regions (Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, Pacific Islands).
• Lines on Chart: Represent cultures, civilizations, empires.
  • Width indicates relative importance of the culture.

Dating Terms

• AD/BC and CE/BCE:
  • AD: Anno Domini (in the year of the Lord)
  • BC: Before Christ
  • CE: Common Era
  • BCE: Before Common Era
  • Transition to CE/BCE for neutrality
• Starting Point for History: 3300 BCE (emergence of writing)
  • Everything before is considered prehistory.

Major Time Periods

1. Early Bronze Age

   • Key civilizations: Egypt, Sumer (Iraq), Indus Valley (Pakistan).
   • Developments: Writing, trade, wheel, plow, sail, pyramids in Egypt.
   • Norte Chico civilization in Peru without writing or pottery.

2. Bronze Age

   • 4.2 kilo-year event led to dry conditions, decline of old kingdoms.
   • Emergence of new cultures: Middle and New Kingdoms in Egypt, Babylonia.
   • Indo-Aryans arrive in South Asia.
   • Civilizations in China, Africa, North America (Poverty Point culture).

3. Iron Age

   • Bronze Age collapse around 1200 BCE: disappearance of major civilizations.
   • Greek Dark Ages and legendary tales.
   • First use of iron in the Middle East.

4. Classical Antiquity

   • Emergence of historical writings (Herodotus).
   • Greek and Roman foundations for Western civilization.
   • Global developments: Olmec culture, trade networks, Persian empires, Indian empires.
   • Major philosophical and moral foundations.

5. Middle Ages

   • Between ancient and modern history; often mislabeled as Dark Ages.
   • Migration and climate change affected civilizations.
   • Expansion of Islam and Christianity.
   • Notable empires in Africa (Mali, Great Zimbabwe) and the Americas (Aztecs, Incas).
   • Mongol Empire expansion.

6. Modern Age

   • Started with the Black Death and the Renaissance.
   • European colonization of the Americas.
   • Industrial and technological revolutions.
   • Similarities in transitions: climate events, migrations, pandemics.

Conclusion

• Lecture ends with reflections on current global events: climate change, pandemics, and potential historical transitions.