Lecture: Overview of Early Human History (up to 1200 CE)

Introduction

• New AP World History curriculum starts at 1200 CE.
• Goal: Provide context for what happened before 1200 CE.
• Meta question: How did humans survive and thrive up to 1200 CE?

The Neolithic Revolution (ca. 10,000 years ago)

• Also known as the Agricultural Revolution.
• Transition from hunting and gathering to farming.
• Discovery of planting seeds led to food surplus.
• Farming led to permanent settlements.
• Population explosion.
• Early farming societies grew around rivers.

Major River Valley Civilizations

• Nile River (North Africa)
• Yellow River (East Asia)
• Indus River (South Asia)
• Mesoamerica
• Andes Mountain Societies

Rise of Cities and Civilization

• Civilizations arose around 6000 years ago.
• Major cities first in Mesopotamia, then in the Nile River Valley.
• Construction of pyramids, ziggurats, and palaces.
• Hierarchical societies: Class systems and law codes (e.g., Code of Hammurabi).
• Invention of writing: Cuneiform (Mesopotamia) and Hieroglyphics (Egypt).
• Early literature and religious texts: Epic of Gilgamesh, Book of the Dead, Rigveda.

Emergence of Major Religions

• Hinduism: Polytheistic, arose from Indus River Valley.
• Zoroastrianism: Monotheistic, arose in Persia.
• Judaism: Monotheistic, arose in Israel.
• Pastoralists: Nomadic people facilitating cultural exchange.

Developments from 600 BCE

Religious and Cultural Developments

• Judaism: Spread due to Assyrian and Roman invasions and Jewish merchants.
• Hinduism: Caste system, social hierarchy in India.
• Buddhism: Emerged from Hinduism, rejected caste system, focused on ending suffering through the Eightfold Path.
• Christianity: Emerged from Judaism, salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection.
• Confucianism: Order and hierarchy in China.
• Daoism: Emphasized harmony with nature.
• Animism and Shamanism: Spiritual power in the natural world, prevalent in Africa, Americas, and East Asia.

Development of City-States and Empires

• Frequent wars led to technological exchanges.
• Persian Empires: Achaemenid Empire, Parthian Empire.
• Chinese Empires: Qin Dynasty, Han Dynasty, Mandate of Heaven.
• Mediterranean Empires: Phoenician city-states, Greek city-states, Roman Empire.
• Mesoamerican and Andean Civilizations:
  • Mayans: Monumental structures, writing, agriculture.
  • Teotihuacan: Large city, advanced infrastructure.
  • Moche: Warrior-priests, Andean region.

Summary

• Importance of cities in ancient empires.
• Similar hierarchical social structures.
• Common reasons for fall of empires: Overextension, internal disruptions, outside invaders.
• Context will be revisited in the AP World History curriculum starting in 1200 CE.

Conclusion

• Encouragement for success in AP World History.
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