Ap Unit 1&2 Foundations
Foundations 14% of the AP Exam
Climate
Climate has been a major factor in determining where people settled. Peopled settled in areas that has climates that would accommodate agriculture and livestock.
Time Periods
• The Paleolithic Age refers to about 12,000 BC. During this time people were nomadic.
• The Neolithic Age refers to the age from about 12,000 BC to about 8000 BC. It is during this time that people settled in communities and civilization began to emerge.
• River Valley Civilizations refers to about 3500 to 1500 BC. The major River Valleys are described below.
• Classical Civilizations refers to about 1000 BC to 600 CE. The major civilizations to emerge were Zhou and Han China,
Greece and Rome, and the Gupta Empire.
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THE RIVER-VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
Each early civilization developed its own unique ways of life, but they all shared some common characteristics
Complex irrigation systems legal codes money art and written literature
More formal scientific knowledge, numbering systems, and calendars
Intensification of social inequality
COMPARISONS OF EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
CULTURE
POLITICAL
ORGANIZATION
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Cuneiform;
Extensive trade with Egypt and the Indus Valley
Epic of Gilgamesh
City-states and warrior kings
Job specialization - farmers, metallurgist,
Early use of bronze tools, merchants, craftsmen, political chariots Advanced astronomy; math Hammurabi's Code administrators, priests;
MESOPOTAMIA
Social classes; based on 60
(developed by
Pessimistic view of world, Competition among city states as
3500 BCE) perhaps due to irregular, well as frequent invasions led to Marriage contracts, veils for women; women of upper classes less equal than unpredictable flooding of the less political stability than in
Egypt
lower class counterparts rivers Polytheism - gods powerful and often cruel
Kings powerful, but not divine Concerned with decorative
Smaller nobility than
Climate
Climate has been a major factor in determining where people settled. Peopled settled in areas that has climates that would accommodate agriculture and livestock.
Time Periods
• The Paleolithic Age refers to about 12,000 BC. During this time people were nomadic.
• The Neolithic Age refers to the age from about 12,000 BC to about 8000 BC. It is during this time that people settled in communities and civilization began to emerge.
• River Valley Civilizations refers to about 3500 to 1500 BC. The major River Valleys are described below.
• Classical Civilizations refers to about 1000 BC to 600 CE. The major civilizations to emerge were Zhou and Han China,
Greece and Rome, and the Gupta Empire.
•
•
•
•
•
•
THE RIVER-VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
Each early civilization developed its own unique ways of life, but they all shared some common characteristics
Complex irrigation systems legal codes money art and written literature
More formal scientific knowledge, numbering systems, and calendars
Intensification of social inequality
COMPARISONS OF EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
CULTURE
POLITICAL
ORGANIZATION
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Cuneiform;
Extensive trade with Egypt and the Indus Valley
Epic of Gilgamesh
City-states and warrior kings
Job specialization - farmers, metallurgist,
Early use of bronze tools, merchants, craftsmen, political chariots Advanced astronomy; math Hammurabi's Code administrators, priests;
MESOPOTAMIA
Social classes; based on 60
(developed by
Pessimistic view of world, Competition among city states as
3500 BCE) perhaps due to irregular, well as frequent invasions led to Marriage contracts, veils for women; women of upper classes less equal than unpredictable flooding of the less political stability than in
Egypt
lower class counterparts rivers Polytheism - gods powerful and often cruel
Kings powerful, but not divine Concerned with decorative
Smaller nobility than