week one - Neolithic and Ancient civilizations

The text book for this World History course: Ways of the World by Robert W. Strayer has captured my interest not only by content and substance but more so by the snapshots, various maps and outlines.  I look forward to an enriching course on one of my favorite subjects as it appears that the world history I thought I knew is being revisited for accuracy as new information is uncovered and analyzed.

            First Peoples | Neolithic - meaning New Stone

The Neolithic period is said to have begun some 12,000 years ago and marked the end of the Paleolithic period –meaning Old Stone Age.  During this period of time a spanned growth in population, growth in geographical locations, identification of new sources of sustainment were made and played a critical role in the development of the human race. It is noted that the first Homo sapiens remains were discovered in the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.  Stayer also notes that other hominid or human-like species existed but proof of much their existence has been claimed by time and the elements.  It is remarkable to trace the migration of these people, to see in a chronological time line the challenges the environment posed and how that directly influenced the migration patterns.  From Africa and in an attempt to flee the cold age climates humans migrated into the Middle East, Europe and Asia.  Along the way (plains of Central Europe) leaving traces of their ways in cave paintings, bone needles, multilayered clothing, weavings, nets, storage pits baskets and pottery.   The thought process here leads us to believe that these early people were beginning to find stable sources for sustainment allowing them settle in one place for a prolonged period of time.  Not having to be in perpetual motion allowed them to discovered new sources of food and tools.  Migration into Australia marks yet another milestone in human affairs: the use of a man crafted instrument to carry people over mass bodies of water – the use of boats.  Settlement into the Americas came much later and it is evidenced by human activity in southern Chile. It was not until about 3,500 years ago that human migration reached the Pacific.  With as much as archeologist have uncovered and historians have noted.  There is still a plethora of information and knowledge to be attained and analyzed.

            First Civilizations | Ancient Civilizations

Strayer tells us that research shows “civilization was a global phenomenon, showing up independently in seven major locations scattered around the world during several millennia after 3,500 B.C.E. . . .”  One was the Middle Eastern Civilization in southern Mesopotamia – present day Iraq.  Then and almost simultaneous came the Egyptian Civilization.  The Civilization along the central coast of Peru is one less known and currently being studied. Indus Valley Civilization is located in what we now know as Pakistan.  The early Civilization of China dates to 2200 B.C.E. concurrently the Central Asia or Oxus Civilization arouse.  The final Civilization is known as Olmec and it is dated to 1200 B.C.E. in what we now know as Veracruz in Southern Mexico.