Changes

No “civilization” has been found that is older than about 3000 B.C.  By “civilization” we mean order and hierarchy in the way of life.  Some type of political system or government is usually necessary to have a civilization.  A structure similar to a city or town is necessary to bring together people, jobs, buildings or religious centers.  Usually there are different classes of people, such as rich and poor.  Some historians say there must be an agricultural surplus also:  enough food to feed the people so that some workers could spend time in jobs other than farming.  In a nutshell, a civilization must have cities, skilled (non-farming) workers, social and government institutions, writing to maintain records such as property ownership, and advanced technology.  Memorize the oldest dates for the ancient civilizations:

No “civilization” has been found that is older than about 3000 B.C.  By “civilization” we mean order and hierarchy in the way of life.  Some type of political system or government is usually necessary to have a civilization.  A structure similar to a city or town is necessary to bring together people, jobs, buildings or religious centers.  Usually there are different classes of people, such as rich and poor.  Some historians say there must be an agricultural surplus also:  enough food to feed the people so that some workers could spend time in jobs other than farming.  In a nutshell, a civilization must have cities, skilled (non-farming) workers, social and government institutions, writing to maintain records such as property ownership, and advanced technology.  Memorize the oldest dates for the ancient civilizations:

 

Mesopotamia (Mes-uh-puh-tay-mee-uh):  3500 – 500 B.C., when conquered by Persia

Mesopotamia (Mes-uh-puh-tay-mee-uh)</td><td>3500 – 500 B.C., when conquered by Persia</tr><tr><td>

Egypt: 3100 – 525 B.C., when conquered by the Hyksos (HIK-sohs)

Egypt</td><td> 3100 – 525 B.C., when conquered by the Hyksos (HIK-sohs)</td></tr><tr><td>

Indus (IN-dus) Valley: beginning in 2900 B.C.

Indus (IN-dus) Valley:</td><td>beginning in 2900 B.C.</td></tr><tr><td>

China: beginning in 2200 B.C.

China:</td><td>beginning in 2200 B.C.</td></tr><tr><td>

Mexican Olmec (AWL-mek): 1200 – 300 B.C., the earliest known American civilization

Mexican Olmec (AWL-mek):</td><td> 1200 – 300 B.C., the earliest known American civilization</td></tr><tr><td>

Peru (South America):  900 B.C.

Peru (South America):</td><td> 900 B.C.</td></tr></table>

 

History books speculate at length about “prehistory”, which predates writing.  But there is no reliable evidence to support this speculation, and not worth spending time on.  There is no reason to think that man existed for thousands of years without ever expressing himself in written form.  But in case you are asked, historians describe the period of time known as “prehistory” as the “Stone Age.”  They divide the Stone Age into two time periods: “Paleolithic” and “Neolithic”.  The Paleolithic Age is older, when man relied mostly on hunting and picking nuts and fruit to supplement his diet.  The Paleolithic Age was followed by the Neolithic Age, which consisted of the rise of agriculture.  The “Neolithic Revolution” means the “Agricultural Revolution,” when farming became dominant.  The dates of these ages are controversial, and historians have a bias for giving them older dates than proven by archaeology.

History books speculate at length about “prehistory”, which predates writing.  But there is no reliable evidence to support this speculation, and not worth spending time on.  There is no reason to think that man existed for thousands of years without ever expressing himself in written form.  But in case you are asked, historians describe the period of time known as “prehistory” as the “Stone Age.”  They divide the Stone Age into two time periods: “Paleolithic” and “Neolithic”.  The Paleolithic Age is older, when man relied mostly on hunting and picking nuts and fruit to supplement his diet.  The Paleolithic Age was followed by the Neolithic Age, which consisted of the rise of agriculture.  The “Neolithic Revolution” means the “Agricultural Revolution,” when farming became dominant.  The dates of these ages are controversial, and historians have a bias for giving them older dates than proven by archaeology.

The ancient world is the source of the most basic aspects of life, such as the seven-day week and marriage.  The Bible remains the best explanation for both, and many other aspects of the ancient world.  All four civilizations discussed in this lecture arose in or near what we now call the “Middle East.”

The ancient world is the source of the most basic aspects of life, such as the seven-day week and marriage.  The Bible remains the best explanation for both, and many other aspects of the ancient world.  All four civilizations discussed in this lecture arose in or near what we now call the “Middle East.”

<a name="meso">==Mesopotamia==</a>

==Mesopotamia==

So where did civilization begin?  In a region known as Mesopotamia, which is Greek for “land between the rivers.”  The “rivers” are the Tigris and Euphrates, located in Western Asia.  Where, exactly?  Basically, in fertile areas of Iraq northeast of the desert, known as part of the “Fertile Crescent” that extends along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (including modern Israel, Lebanon and Syria) and the fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that run southeast into the Persian Gulf.  These rivers deposited silt in the surrounding land, creating rich alluvial soil.  Today the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are not far from the location of our soldiers in Iraq.  However, our soldiers are mostly pictured in sandy areas, while the ancient people would have stayed close to the water.  Moreover, ancient floods would have changed the landscape over time.

So where did civilization begin?  In a region known as Mesopotamia, which is Greek for “land between the rivers.”  The “rivers” are the Tigris and Euphrates, located in Western Asia.  Where, exactly?  Basically, in fertile areas of Iraq northeast of the desert, known as part of the “Fertile Crescent” that extends along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (including modern Israel, Lebanon and Syria) and the fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that run southeast into the Persian Gulf.  These rivers deposited silt in the surrounding land, creating rich alluvial soil.  Today the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are not far from the location of our soldiers in Iraq.  However, our soldiers are mostly pictured in sandy areas, while the ancient people would have stayed close to the water.  Moreover, ancient floods would have changed the landscape over time.