History
Here is the section for History. Learn about the historical events that had happened.
Most of these are summaries of History Alive! Chapters.
Most of these are summaries of History Alive! Chapters.
Early Hominids
Australopithecus Afarensis
An anthropologist in Africa named the earliest known group of hominids Australopithecus. Donald Johanson decided to call the group Lucy belonged to Australopithecus afarensis. The remains of other hominids like Lucy have been found in the same area.. Scientists think that Lucy's relatives lived in Africa, about 3 to 4 million years ago. One discovery about Lucy was especially exhilarating. By studying her skeleton, scientists found out that she can walk on two feet. This gave Lucy and her relatives many advantages compared to such animals such as gorillas and chimpanzees. With their hands free, they could gather and carry food more easily. They could use their hands to defend themselves and their children. Lucy's brain was only about one third the size of ours.
Homo Habilis
Another group of hominids was found by Louis and Mary Leakey. The Leakeys were searching for evidence of early hominids and found some bones. The Leakeys named their discovery Homo habilis or Handy Man. Handy Man lived about 1.5 to 2 million years ago. Scientists found the bones of more than one Handy Man together. This means these hominids probably lived in groups. They could work together to protect themselves against animal attacks and also gather food over larger areas of land.
Homo Erectus
A third type of hominid was found in 1891 by Eugene Dubois. He and his crew were looking for artifacts and found a new type of hominid skull. Eventually, Dubois' crew saw the bones of many more hominids. Dubois named this hominid group Homo erectus or Upright Man. Upright Man was around more than any other hominid group from 1.8 million to 200,000 B.C.E. With their larger brains, Upright Man were able to make more complicated tools than Handy Man. Their greatest advantage was the ability to use fire.
Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis
In 1856, some mine workers found a skeleton. It had thick bones, a ridge above the eyes, and was very humanlike. Today most scientists thought of this group of hominids to be a distinct type of Homo sapiens or Wise Man. Scientists call this group Homo sapiens neanderthalensis or Neanderthal Man. Neanderthals lived after Upright Man, from 230,00 to 30,00 years ago.. Scientists think that Neanderthals had a sense of community. Neanderthals cared about one another and had a sense of ritual. When members of a group died, they were laid in burial mounds along with hunting tools and flowers.
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
In 1879, a young Spanish girl named Maria was exploring a cave with her father when she found an amazing discovery. She found a room filled with ancient paintings of some animals. They were the first prehistoric cave paintings ever found. The people who created these paintings were the earliest members of our own group, Homo sapiens sapiens, or Double Wise Man. They lived from 35,00 to 12,000 B.C.E.. Early modern humans left a fascinating record of their lives through their artwork.
Watch this video which talks about the hominids.
Was sUMER A cIVILIZATION?
Was Sumer a civilization? We need to know the characteristics of one to find out.
sTABLE fOOD sUPPLY
Civilizations need a stable food supply. A complicated society can thrive only if its members have the food they need to survive. Sumerians made 2 things to help them make a stable food supply. The first thing is the irrigation system where the Sumerians built networks of canals, dams, and reservoirs to give their props a regular supply of water. The second thing is the plow. A plow is a tool for turning the soil to prepare it for planting. This was a slow way to farm. The Sumerians made the first plow out of wood. One end was bent for cutting into the ground to turn soil. Farmers pushed & pulled the plow along the ground themselves, or they used animals to pull it.
Social Structure
Civilizations have a complicated organization, or social structure. A social structure includes different jobs and social levels. People at higher levels have better status than others. Archeologists found evidence that several classes of people lived in Sumer. At the top are people that include priests, land owners, and government officials. In the middle class are people that include merchants and craftspeople. Lastly, at the bottom class are slaves. The higher the level, the better home they have.
Government
All civilizations have a system of government to make life orderly. Sumerian city-states were ruled by kings which Sumerians believed were chosen by the gods to rule in their place. This thought made their kings very powerful and also helped strengthen the social order, Sumerians thought they must obey the will of the gods. Kings built temples and made sure irrigation systems were maintained. Kings had officials under them to help them with their jobs. Governors ruled over outlying towns and scribes helped record laws. The Sumerians were the first people to develop a system of written laws.
Religion
All civilizations have a religious system. A religious system has a set of beliefs, usually in a god or gods, together with forms of worship. Sumerians tried to please the gods in all things, from growing crops to settling disputes. Sumerians expressed their religious beliefs by building ziggurats. It was the king's job to build and maintain the ziggurats. The Sumerians believed that the gods lived in the ziggurats, and they made special temples at the top for them. Outside the ziggurat, they attached a long staircase so the gods could climb down to Earth. Kings & priests stood inside the towers to ask for the gods' blessings. Sumerians had many kinds of religious ceremonies.
The Arts
All civilizations have a highly developed culture, including the arts. There were many types of artists and crafters in Sumer. Sumerian metalworkers made things such as weapons and cups. They also made decorative items such as mirrors and jewelry. Sumerian architects designed temples and ziggurats. Music was another important art in Sumer in which musicians played instruments and sang during temple ceremonies. Some musicians' favorite instrument was a lyre.
Technology
All civilizations create new forms of technology. The Sumerians' most important creation was the wheel.. The earliest versions of the wheel were in 3500 B.C.E where Sumerian potters used wheels as a surface for making clay into pots. Sumerians found out that a wheel flipped onto its edge could be rolled forward. They used this discovery to create carts with wheels for farmers and chariots for the army. Before the wheel, people had to carry their goods on sledges. Wheeled carts made it much easier to transport goods over long distances. Another advancing piece of technology was the arch. Arches added strength and beauty to Sumerian buildings. They became a common feature of temple entrances and upper-class homes.
Writing
A final characteristic of civilizations is a highly developed language. The Sumerians written language was cuneiform which comes from the Latin word for "wedge." The Sumerians made cuneiform around 2400 B.C.E. Cuneiform was based on an earlier simpler form of writing that used pictographs.
Was Sumer a civilization? Sumer had all the characteristics shown. Therefore, it indeed is a civilization.
Four Empires of Mesopotamia
The Akkadian Empire
Sumer was a land of independent city-states. Then, around 2300 B.C.E.,the Akkadians conquered the land. The Akkadians were led by a king named Sargon. Sargon became the first ruler of the Akkadian Empire. Sargon was a strong king and a skilled general. He created his empire through powerful military strategies. Sargon used his military skills to win territory for his empire. After defeating the king of the city-state Uruk, Sargon controlled all of Mesopotamia, including Sumer. To keep control of his empire, Sargon used smart political strategies. Sargon died of old age. He and the Akkadians created the world's first empire.
The Babylonian Empire
For a time after the fall of the Akkadians, Sumer was once again a collection of city-states. The next ruler to unite all of Mesopotamia was a king named Hammurabi. Hammurabi was the king of Babylon, a small city-state in central Mesopotamia. The region under his rule became known as Babylonia. Hammurabi is best known for his code of laws which he wrote from 1792 to 1750 B.C.E. .He based the laws not just on him but on the word of the gods. Hammurabi's code was very detailed. It covered many situations, such as trade, payment for work, marriage, and divorce. The code spelled out punishments for stealing, causing injury, and other crimes. Yet Hammurabi's code was an important achievement.
The Assyrian Empire
The next great empire in Mesopotamia was created by people called the Assyrians. Assyria lay to the north of Babylon. They had briefly had their own empire before being conquered by Hammurabi. They rose to power again him toward 900 B.C.E., when a series of rulers began training them for war. With their trained army, the Assyrians began to expand their territory. They made entire populations conquered areas. The Assyrian spread tales of their cruelty far and wide. Creating fear among their enemies was part of their military strategy.
The Neo-Babylonian Empire
After the fall of Nineveh, the Babylonians regained control over Mesopotamia They established a new empire, the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The new empire's most famous king was Nebuchadrezzar II. A ruthless military leader, he reigned fom 605 to 562 B.C.E. He drove Egyptians out of Syria. He also conquered part of Canaan (present-day Israel), the home of the Hebrews. Many of them never returned to their homeland. As a military leader, Nebuchadrezzar knew it was important to keep his capital city, Babylon, safe. He created an inner wall and an outer wall around the city. Towers were placed on the walls for archers to stand on. Finally, a moat was dug around the outer wall and filled with water.
Geography of Greece
ISOLATED COMMUNITIES AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVEL
Communities were isolated from one another because of the tall mountains. Travel by land was especially difficult. People walked, or rode in carts pulled by oxen or mules. Only rich people could afford to ride hoses. Travelers could stop at inns on main roads, but a lot of inns only had shelter to give. People had to bring their own surviving goods with them. Traveling by boat was easier, but was still uncomfortable and more dangerous. Travelers might be attacked by pirates, robbed by dishonest soldiers, or the greatest danger the sea itself. The Greeks respected the great sea. They sailed during day and anchored during night. A wise captain would always sacrifice something for the sea god Poseidon before sailing.
Farming in Greece
Most people survived by farming. But farming wasn't easy in the mountainous land. The land was rocky and the water was scarce. There isn't any major rivers flowing through Greece and it mostly rains during the winter months. With so little flat land available, Greek farmers had to think of great ways to use their limited amount of land. Farmers either found ways to get more land or tried to grow things with their little land. Ancient Greek farmers grew food for their families. Greek farmers also raised animals. They mostly kept animals to get clothing, food or transportation. To get land, Greek settlements sometimes went to war with the victor claiming the land. Some settlements were also forced to look farther than the mainland for new food sources and other goods.
Colonies
As populations of Greek communities grew, some communities had not enough farmland to their people. A solution to this problem was starting colonies. Many Greek communities sent colonists over the sea, hoping they could grow food in new lands and send it home. Colonists prepared a lot before starting their journey. Often they start by asking the Greek gods if they were successful. Next, the colonists gathered food & supplies and made sure to take the flame from their town's sacred fire to start a sacred fire in their new home. The Greeks established colonies from 100 to 650 B.C.E. Some colonies became rich through farming and trade.
Trade
Many Greek settlements on the mainland used trade to get goods they needed besides starting new colonies. Some people traded a lot and some people didn't. The Greeks traded in the city-states, with Greek colonies, and in the wider Mediterranean region. Most goods were on ships owned by merchants. Merchants built their ships for space to hold goods rather than for speed. Navigating the ships were difficult. They didn't have compasses or charts but only the stars to guide them. The stars can tell sailors where they were, but not hazards that lay nearby. In spite of these dangers, adventurous sailors carried more and more goods, and trade flourished along the Mediterranean coast.
The Rise of Democracy
MONARCHY: ONE PERSON INHERITS POWER
From near 2000 to 800 B.C.E., most Greek city-states were ruled by a monarch. At first, Greek kings were chosen by city-state people where when the king died, another leader is selected to take his place. Eventually, kings demanded that the power goes to their children after death. The kings had many powers such as making laws, acting as judges, and conducting religious ceremonies. Kings depended on aristocrats for help during the wars. The aristocrats realized that they as a group were stronger than the king. They wanted a share of the king's power. By 800 B.C.E., kings no longer ruled most city-states.
OBLIGARCHY: A FEW PEOPLE SHARE POWER
By 800 B.C.E., most Greek city-states were ruled by a small group of rich men called obligarchs. Compared to the poor, obligarchs had very comfortable lives. They spent their days hunting and taking part in chariot races. Meanwhile, the poor had to work all day in the fields. The poor saw the difference between both's lives and thought of how unfair it was. Poor people came to hate the obligarchs. Eventually, poor people turned to leaders who promised their lives to be improved. Backed by the people, they used their soldiers to throw the obligarchs out of power.
TYRANNY: ONE PERSON TAKES POWER BY FORCE
During the mid 600s B.C.E., people in many Greek city-states turned to men who promised to change the government. Tyrants forced the obligarchs from power. Most of them were military leaders who gained people's support. Some tyrants made changes to help the poor such as cancel the debts of poor farmers. Other tyrants did not use their power to help the people. Hippias, the last tyrant in the city-state of Athens is one example. Hippias and Hipparchus ruled well at first. Then two enemies of the brothers killed Hipparchus. After that, Hippias ruled more harshly. He paid spies to report anyone who criticized him. As his rule became and more unbearable, he was finally forced to leave power. Soon Athens would try another form of government, one that shared power among all citizens.
DEMOCRACY: ALL CITIZENS SHARE POWER
Around 500 B.C.E., the people of Athens decided to try governing themselves. In a democracy, all citizens share in the ruling power. The government of Athens was a direct democracy and The United States is a representative democracy. Athens had an assembly where any free man could speak and vote on a new law or a proposal to go to war. Not all Greeks believed that democracy was a good type of government. Most city-states returned to earlier forms of government. The ideal of democracy would become one of the great gifts of ancient Greece to the modern world.
The Life of the Buddha
In 563 B.C.E.,Prince Siddhartha was born. The night before the prince was born, the queen had a dream. The queen was confused about her dream so they asked the Brahmins. The Brahmins told the king and queen that the prince would either be a ruler or a Buddha. The king wanted to prevent his son from leaving the palace because he didn't want the prince to witness suffering. When Siddhartha was a father, the king allowed him to go outside the palace.. When Siddhartha left, he saw the three stages of suffering which are getting old, sickness, and death. After witnessing these things he left his royal life to try to be enlightened. Siddhartha thought that be an Ascetic would get him to be enlightened but he became unhappy on how extreme it was so he stopped. The prince started meditating near the Bohdi tree and then became the Buddha, the enlightened one.
The Silk Road
The Silk Road was a network of more tiny trade routes that go on for miles. It went all the way to many places in China. China had traded silk and jade for glass and spices from the Romans. The Chinese also learned ideas from Rome. Zhang Qian, known as the father of the Silk Road, had found cultures in other places in China. In the Silk Road, there were two major sections of the route. Those routes were the Eastern and Western Silk Road. The Eastern had many ways of danger such as bandits and mirages. The Eastern Silk Road encountered trades for other things in Asia. The Western had other types of dangers such as mountain passes and lack of air. The Western had traders trade silk for items in Rome.
Ancient Rome
In Rome, the Romans got influenced by the Etruscans and Greek in several activities such as engineering and writing. In 509 B.C.E., there were plebeians and patricians in the Roman republic. The patricians had much power where plebeians had no power. Later on, the plebeians had more power after demanding rights. In Rome, their daily lives involved country life, law and order, housing, recreation, education, food and drink, religion and family life.
Ancient Greece
In Greece, they experienced many things. They had isolated communities and had difficulties in each way they can travel. There is also farming in Greece. since their land was mountainous, the land was rocky and the water was scarce. This lead farmers to think of ways to use a small amount of land.. Greece experienced four types of government in the city-states. They experienced monarchy, obligarchy, tyranny, and democracy. In the United States today, we use a form of democracy. Lastly, Greek had two well-known city-states, Athens and Sparta. Both had their ways of government, economy, education, and how they treat slaves and women.
Also learn about Greece in this 1 hour video.
Ancient India
India had contained many interesting locations/attractions. These would be the Brahmaputra River, Deccan Plateau, Eastern and Western Ghats, Ganges River, Himalaya Mountains, Hindu Kush Mountains, Indus River, and Thar Desert just to name a few. The first people of India settled near rivers. Indians settled at first near Indus and Saravasti River and in later B.C.E. near other rivers. In India, there is a town near the Indus River called Mohenjodaro. The city had weights and scale, the great bath, statue and beads, seals, sewer system, homes, games, and clay models. Some of these were different than some we have in the United Sates. India's first religion was Hinduism. Hinduism were people who had some beliefs They have their own beliefs about Brahman, deities, dharma, karma, and samsara. There is also another religion in India called Buddhism. The story of it was that a prince had a royal life where he couldn't see the outside of the palace. One day when he did, he gave up everything he had. He left everyone he'd loved and started the Buddha.
Ancient China
China is the third-largest country in the world. China was smaller a long time ago. China is split into two areas, Outer China and Inner China. In China, there are many locations in different parts of China. Northwestern China contains some deserts such as the Taklimakan Desert and the Gobi Deserts. North and Northeastern China contain plains. The southwestern part contains The Tibet-Qinghai Plateau. Scientists think that the first inhabitants resided in caves a long time ago. When people started farming, most settled in North China. China also had many dynasties such as the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasty. Each ended differently and had the same activities in their own differnet style.