Foundations Period:
10,000 BCE- 600 CE
Foundations: 3 Major Themes
 Man vs. Nature
 Interaction? Role of geography? Attempts to measure/control?
 Change from survival (physical needs) to internal peace (spiritual 
needs)
 Civilizations
 Patterns, developments
 Rise-fall of empires: why? consequences?
 Sources of Change
 Trade
 Conquest
 Invention, innovation, adaptation; iron, wheel
Geography of China
Geography of India
Geography of 
Egypt
Geography of Mesopotamia
Geography of Greece
Geography of Rome
Society Types
Little surplus of goods except cattle  split 
as size of clans grew 
Limited personal belongings
Hunters and gatherers
Few possessions
Economic
Fire is sacred, chariots were developed Daggers, spears, hammers, bow 
and arrow, fire, digging sticks
Technological
Respect for family, courage
Domestication of animals  subject matter 
for art, hides for clothing and shelter
Limited language
Sculptures, pictograms, cave 
paintings
Intellectual
Worship gods of storm, war Belief in afterlife.  Buried dead with 
tools and weapons
Religious
Organized into large Bands
Split into blood/clans- rivalries developed
Had military/warriors
Organized in small clans- 20-30
Led by strongest male
Organized hunts
Political
Nomadic  temporary homes
Sparse Population
Men are herders/males dominated
Nomadic
Egalitarian nature
Leaders based on age, strength, 
courage, intelligence
Social
Pastoral Foraging
2,500,000 BCE 
2,500,000 BCE 
10,000 BCE
10,000 BCE
1. Hunting and gathering: Small bands of 20-30 
people.  Gender equality because both contributed 
to survival
2.  Mostly Nomadic but some Permanent 
settlements were established in areas with 
abundant food resources (grains, fish).
3. Neanderthal Man: First fully modern human 
beings-physically and mentally.  Belief in afterlife, 
buried dead
4. Cro-Magnon man:  Interested in fashion and art.
Humans during this period found shelter in caves.   Humans during this period found shelter in caves.  
Cave paintings were left behind. Cave paintings were left behind.
Paleolithic peoples lived in 
small nomadic bands with 
few class distinctions, and 
had an interest in art and 
simple spiritual beliefs. 
Neanderthals
( 200,000 BCE  30,000 BCE )
Neanderthals
Neanderthals
( 200,000 BCE  ( 200,000 BCE   30,000 BCE ) 30,000 BCE )
Cro-Magnons
( 40,000 BCE  10,000 BCE )
Cro
Cro
-
-
Magnons
Magnons
( 40,000 BCE  ( 40,000 BCE   10,000 BCE ) 10,000 BCE )
Homo Sapiens
Homo Sapien
Sapien
(40,000 BCE-Present )
Homo 
Homo 
Sapien
Sapien
Sapien
Sapien
(40,000 BCE (40,000 BCE- -Present ) Present )
8000-3000 BCE
1. Food surplus lead to population boom
2.  Permanent settlements and 
communities develop.  Idea of private 
property
3. Development on farming technology, art, 
architecture, language, job specialization, 
irrigation, etc.
4. Development of cities:  Catal Huyuk, Jericho.
Advanced
Cities
Advanced
Cities
Specialized 
Workers/
Social Classes
Specialized 
Workers/
Social Classes
Complex
Institutions:
Government
Public Works
Economic Systems
Organized religion
Complex
Institutions:
Government
Public Works
Economic Systems
Organized religion
Record-
Keeping
Record-
Keeping
Advanced
Technology
Advanced
Technology
Art and 
Architecture
Art and 
Architecture
Mesopotamia:  The Cradle of Civilization
Mesopotamia:  The Cradle of Civilization
Fertile Crescent and lack of natural barriers 
allowed many groups to control this valuable area.
Fertile Crescent and lack of natural barriers 
allowed many groups to control this valuable area.
Sumerian City-States
Sumerian City-States
3000 B.C.E.  
3000 B.C.E.  
City-State:  Urban areas that controlled surrounding regions and loosely 
connected with other city-states:  Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Lagash, Babylon, Kish
City-State:  Urban areas that controlled surrounding regions and loosely 
connected with other city-states:  Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Lagash, Babylon, Kish
Developed organized projects:  irrigation systems, palaces, ziggurats, 
defensive walls, temples 
Developed organized projects:  irrigation systems, palaces, ziggurats, 
defensive walls, temples 
Successful agriculture, irrigation 
systems
Writing, cuneiforms
Use of wheel
12 month calendar
Polytheistic
Polytheistic:  The Gods were 
Anthropomorphic.
Hammurabi, the Judge
Hammurabi, the Judge
 King of the four quarters of the 
world
 Centralized bureaucratic government
 System of taxation
 First written code of laws
 King of the four quarters of the 
world
 Centralized bureaucratic government
 System of taxation
 First written code of laws
The Babylonian Empires
The Babylonian Empires
Babylonian Achievements
Babylonian Achievements
12 Month 
Calendar
12 Month 
Calendar
Mathematics
Mathematics
Babylonian 
Numbers
Babylonian 
Numbers
The Hittites
The Hittites
Learned to 
extract iron from 
ore and were the 
first to make 
tools and 
weapons of iron.
The Assyrians
The Assyrians
Centralized 
bureaucratic 
government.
Built military 
roads to move 
troops quickly.
Founded first 
libraries. 
The Phoenicians
The Phoenicians
Best known 
for 
manufacturing 
and trade
Carriers of 
Civilization
Created first 
alphabet
The Hebrews
The Hebrews
Belief in Judaism, first 
monotheistic faith
 Ten commandments
Phoenicians
Phoenicians
Traders, Invaders, and Empire Builders?
Traders, Invaders, and Empire Builders?
Assyrians
Assyrians
Traders
Traders
Invaders
Invaders
Hebrews
Hebrews
Empire Builders
Empire Builders
The Hittites
The Hittites
The Sumerians
The Sumerians
The Babylonians
The Babylonians
Traders
Traders
Empire Builders
Empire Builders
Invaders
Invaders
Walk Like an Egyptian
Rich soil, gentle annual flooding
 Led by Pharaoh  leader with total 
power
water management, pyramids, 
astronomy, hieroglyphs, 
mummification, calendar, gold
Polytheistic
Women rulers, buy, sell property, 
inherit, will property, dissolve 
marriages, still subservient to men
 Hierarchy: pharaoh, priest, nobles, 
merchants, artisans, peasants, slaves
Conquered by (1100 BCE)
China: Shang on the Huang
Shang: 1700-1100 BCE
 Aristocrats and bureaucrats directed the work and life of the Shang.  
 Warfare a constant feature.
 Most commoners worked as semi free serfs in agriculture.  Others 
were artisans, craftsmen.
 Stable agri-surplus, trade-centered
 N. China, walled cities, strong army, 
chariots
 The Middle Kingdom World View
 Bronze, pottery, silk, decimal 
system, calendar
 Patriarchal, polytheistic, ancestor 
veneration, oracle bones
Its Zhou Time!
 Replaced Shang around 1100 
BCE
 Ruled 900 years, kept customs, 
traditions
 Mandate of Heaven
 Feudal system, nobles gained, 
bureaucracies, war amongst 
feudal kingdoms, collapse 256 
BCE
Established early forms of feudalism in which the King gave large 
tracts of land to loyal leaders who became lords.  These lords provided 
the king with military forces in exchange for the land.  
Indus Valley:  3300  1700 B.C.E.
 Outside contact more 
limited - moutains
 Kyber Pass connection to 
outside
 Twin Cities of Harrappa, 
Mohenjo-Daro
 Master-planned, water 
system, strong central 
govt, polytheistic, written 
language
 Pottery, cotton, cloth
 Cities abandoned, reason 
unknown
 Aryans arrive 1500 BCE
The Harappan Civilization
The Harappan Civilization
 From Caucasus Mtns. 
Black/Caspian Sea
 Nomads who settled
 Vedas, Upanashads basis 
for Hinduism
 Caste system
 warriors, priests, peasants
 later re-ordered: Brahmins 
(priests), warriors, 
landowners-merchants, 
peasants, untouchables 
(out castes)
Aryans: The Vedic Age: 1500-500 B.C.E..
Aryans: The Vedic Age: 1500-500 B.C.E..
Shudras
Shudras
Vaishyas
Vaishyas
Kshatriyas
Kshatriyas
Pariahs [Harijan] 
Untouchables
Pariahs [Harijan] 
Untouchables
Brahmins
Brahmins
 Olmecs (Mexico), Mayans 
(Mexico/Guatemala), and Chavin Cult 
(Andes) developed similarly to River 
Valley Civilizations: urbanization, 
polytheistic, irrigation, writing, 
calendar, monumental buildings, social 
structure, city-states.
 The point: Similar pattern of 
development in different part of earth, 
no contact
 The difference: No major river.  Had to 
adapt to rainforest and mountains.
Civilization in the Americas
Civilization in the Americas
Religions and Belief Systems
Hinduism
Caste System: Rigid 
social structure, born 
into caste, must 
perform certain job, or 
Jati.
Ganges is sacred river, 
performance of rituals
Spawned Buddhism
Brahman-supreme force: Gods are 
manifestations of Brahman (Vishnu-preserver, 
Shiva-destroyer)
Reincarnation.  Dharma: rules and obligations.  
Karma: fate based on how dharma was met.
Moshka: highest state of being, release of soul
Vedas and Upanishads
India
3000 B.C.E.
Spread 
throughout India
Stationary 
Religion
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Buddhism
No Caste system, 
appealed to lower 
classes.
Not attached to social 
structure, spread rapidly 
to other cultures.
Ashoka adopted 
Buddhism.  
Force of cultural diffusion 
via trade, Silk Road, 
missionary Religion
Founded by Siddhartha Guatama
No Supreme Being Buddha Enlightened one
Four Noble Truths  Life is suffering caused by 
desire, follow Eight Fold Path
Nirvana, state of perfect peace and harmony 
path may take several lifetimes: Reincarnation, 
Dharma, Karma
Theraveda: meditation, harmony, Buddha not a 
god (Lesser Vehicle)
Mahayana: more complex, greater ritual, reliance 
on priests. Buddha a diety
India, Nepal
563 B.C.E.
Spread 
throughout 
India, China, 
Japan, S.E. 
Asia
Missionary 
Religion
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Confucianism
As a ethical, social, 
political belief system it 
was compatible with 
other religions, could 
practice Buddhism and 
Confucianism
Embraced by Han, Tang, 
Song, Ming Dynasties.  
Civil Service Exam
Founded by Confucius (Kong Fu Tse)
Political-social philosophy, not religion
Moral, ethical, also practical  The Analects
Five Right relationships = right society: Parent to 
Child (Filial Piety), Ruler to Subject, Older to 
Younger, Husband to Wife, Friend to Friend.
Education is valuable and everyone should be able 
to get one. Become a gentleman.
Put aside personal ambition for good of state
China
500 B.C.E.
Spread to 
Japan, 
S.E. Asia
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Daoism-Taoism
Self-sufficient communities
Counter to Confucian activism
Emphasis on harmony w/ nature 
leads gains: astronomy, botany, 
chemistry
Co-existed w/Confucianism, 
Buddhism, Legalism
Added to complexity of Chinese 
culture
Founded by Lao-tzu, philosopher
Dao = The Way (of nature/cosmos)
Wu wei- non-doing, harmony with nature
Eternal principles, passive, yielding.                          
Like water, yet strong, shaping.
Yin-Yang  symbol of balance in nature
China
500 
B.C.E.
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Legalsim
Accomplished swift 
reunification of China.
Completion of projects 
like the Great Wall.
Caused widespread 
resentment among 
common people, led to 
wider acceptance of 
Confucianism-Daoism.
Founded by Han Feizi
The Qin Dynasty- Shi Huangdi
Peace & order through centralized, tightly controlled 
state
Mistrust of human nature; reliance on tough laws
Punish those who break laws, reward those who 
follow
2 most worthy jobs: farmer, soldier
China
500 
B.C.E.
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Contrast: Confucianism-Daoism-Legalism
 Daoism
 harmony with nature, internal 
peace
 Simple, passive life
 Little govt interference
 To guide individual in meditation
 Legalism
- Social belief systems, not religions
- Intended to create orderly society
- Legalism-fundamental evil
- Harsh punishments
 Confucianism
- creating orderly society
- active relationships, active govt
- To guide relationships
- People are fundamentally good
Judaism
The First Monotheistic 
Belief System
Led to Christianity and 
Islam
Forced migration 
Exodus, Diaspora, 
Holocaust
Like Hinduism 
Stationary faith
Founded by Abraham, Moses
Hebrews were chosen by God, special status
Personal relationship with God  a covenant
Afterlife, tradition, doctrines, philosophy, personal 
salvation.
To honor, serve God, promote prophets  Wailing 
Wall
A religion & culture - Torah
10 Commandments, waiting for messiah
Middle 
East, 
Caanan
Jerusalem
3000 
B.C.E.
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Christianity
Emphasis on salvation, 
eternal life after death 
appealed to lower 
classes, women
Combo of religion & 
empire = huge impact 
on political, social 
development of Europe 
Missionary Religion
Founded by Jesus of Nazareth - Bible
Splinter group of Jews, quickly spread throughout 
Roman Empire despite persecution
Jesus, son of God, Messiah of Jewish prophecy
Devotion to God, love of fellow man - monotheistic
Jesus sent to redeem man from sin
Salvation by faith in divinity, death, and resurrection 
of Jesus.
Crucified by Roman govt 30 CE
Middle 
East, 
Jerusalem
30 C.E.
Spread 
north and 
west 
throughout 
Europe, 
Americas
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Islam
Led to Islamic Empires 
Umayyad Caliphate, 
Abbasids, Ottoman, 
Mughal
Shiite-Sunni Split
Crusades  Holy wars
Missionary religion
Founded by Muhammad- Prophet  Koran
Five Pillars of Faith:
Allah is one true God, Prophet is Muhammad
Pray Five times a day facing Mecca
Almsgiving  give to the poor
Ramadan  Fasting
Hajj  Pilgrimage to Mecca
Can not eat pork, gamble, drink alcohol, smoke
Jihad  Struggle in Gods service
Middle East, 
Mecca, 
Medina, 
Jerusalem
622 C.E.
Spread North 
Africa, 
S.E.Asia, U.S.
Significance  Beliefs, Practices, Holy Books 
Diffusion of Belief Systems
Its Greek to me!
 Impact of geography 
 City-states
 Common identity, culture in 
each
 Athens
 Political, commercial, 
cultural center
 Sparta
 Agricultural, militaristic, 
equality w/o individuality
 Trade, not agricultural.
 Est. colonies, strong military
 Communications
 Transportation
 Governance
Rise of Classical Civilizations
Rise of Classical Civilizations
Greek Achievements
Greek Achievements
Age of 
Pericles; 
Direct 
Democracy, 
Golden age
Art, architecture, sculpture, 
amphitheaters, dramas, 
math, astronomy, medicine
Philosophy:  
Socrates, Plato, 
Aristotle.
Mythology 
polytheistic 
humanistic gods
Ideal 
beauty, 
Sports, 
Olympics
Alexander the Great!
Peloponnesian War with Sparta 
(431 BCE) Athens loses power
 Macedonians from north 
conquer And unites Greek 
Peninsula 
 Followed by son, Alexander, 
unified Greece, invaded Persia
What was Alexanders Greatest 
Accomplishment?
What was Alexanders Greatest 
Accomplishment?
Alexanders Empire
Which four major civilizations did Alexander briefly unite?
Hellenic
Persian
Egyptian
Indian
The Romans: 509 BCE-476 CE
Describe the Geographical advantages of the Roman Empire
Roman Achievements
Professional 
army, 
citizenship 
for 
conquered 
people, Pax
Romana
Art, architecture, arch, 
dome, aqueducts, roads
Coliseum, 
Bread and 
Circus, 
Gladiators, 
christianity
Centralized government: 
Republic, Dictator, 
Empire, Civil Service, 
Senate, Patricians, 
Plebeians
Equal under 
Law, justice, 
12 tables of 
law
Qin Empire
Led by Emperor 
Shi Huangdi
Unified China: Centralized 
Government
Connected 
Great Wall of 
China, terra 
cotta warriors
Unified monetary 
system, weights 
and measurements
Legalist government 
 burned Confucian 
books
The Han Dynasty! 
 
Emperor 
Han Wudi 
Confucian 
style 
government
Expanded Empire, developed a 
bureaucracy, Silk Road Trade 
spread of Buddhism
Civil Service 
Exams  Social 
classes: 
Nobles, 
Scholar-gentry, 
Farmers, 
Merchants
Paper, Ship Rudders, Wheelbarrow, 
Hot air balloons, sundials, metallurgy 
Mauryan Empire
Rock & Pillar edicts, 
Buddhism spread, Big 
time traders: silk, cotton, 
elephants (much more) to 
the west
Strong military, Ashoka
converts to Buddhism: 
non-violence, moderation
Centralized government with 
bureaucracy, tax collection 
321 BCE  321 BCE   185 BCE 185 BCE
Founded by Chandragupta 
Maurya
Unified smaller Aryan 
kingdoms
Greatest extent under Ashoka
Rise of Gupta: 
220 BCE 
220 BCE 
320 CE
320 CE
Achievements in 
mathematics pi, zero, 
numerals, astronomy, 
medicine, literature
Hinduism resurgent
Women lost rights; own 
property, study religion, 
child marriages common
Profitable trade  Profitable trade 
with with
the  the 
Mediterranean Mediterranean
world. world.
375-415 CE, revival under 
Chandra Gupta
Extensive Trade:
Land Route = Silk Road     Water Route = Indian Ocean
Extensive Trade:
Extensive Trade:
Land Route = Silk Road     Water Route = 
Land Route = Silk Road     Water Route = 
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
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Pearls Pearls
Interregional Networks of People 
by 600 C.E.
 Silk Roads
 Mediterranean trade 
 Indian Ocean trade
 Meso and Andean American trading
Silk Routes
Mediterranean Trade Routes
Indian Ocean Trade