Chapter 1 The Beginnings of Human Society Chapter 1-Guiding Questions: What historical accomplishments is each civilization known for? How did physical geography affect the growth of ancient civilizations
Chapter 1--The Beginnings of Human Society Picture Activity Page 8 This bull is one of hundreds of animals painted on the walls and ceilings of Lascaux Cave in France. The People who painted these pictures lived about 15,000 years ago. TO create their paintings, the artists traveled hundreds of yards into the dark cave. Often, they had to crawl through narrow, dangerous passages. To pain on the ceilings, they built rickety wooden platforms. Why do you suppose these people faced such dangers just to paint pictures on walls? Why do you think they painted in caves rather than on rocks outside the caves? While the people who painted these cave pictures had no written language, they left pictures that tell us something about their lives. Draw a picture that will tell people a thousand years in the future about your life.
Section 1 Geography and History Section 1-Questions to Explore 1. What tools do we use to understand the past? 2. What is the connection between the geography of a place and its history?
Chapter 1, Section 1--Before Reading Lesson Objectives 1. Describe how archaeologists use clues to learn about prehistoric people. 2. Differentiate between prehistory and history 3. Explain how geography affects civilizations Key Terms history prehistory archaeologist oral tradition Key People The Iceman of the Alps
Chapter 1, Section 1--Before Reading Warm Up Activity Ask a volunteer to place the contents of his or her pockets or backpack on a table. Have the class imagine they they live thousands of years in the future. Have students discuss how the objects serve as clues to the way people live today. Reach Into Your Background Have you ever read a detective story or watched a mystery movie? Then you know what it's like to solve a mystery by using clues. The mystery you are about to read even begins with a dead body! Was he the victim of foul play? How can people figure out how he died?
A. As you Read Chapter 1, Section 1--Guided Reading 1. What did scientists learn from the Iceman's copper ax? that he lived after people had learned to use copper 2. What other clues did scientist use to learn about the Iceman's life? evidence from his clothing and body 3. In what parts of the world did people first develop a system of writing? Southwest Asia and Africa 4. Even though oral traditions might contain stories that are not historically accurate, what can they tell us about the past? how a society lived and what it considered important 5. Why does the study of the geography of Egypt help us to better understand Egyptian civilizations? Egyptian civilization came about as a result of the Nile River and its regular flooding
Chapter 1, Section 1--Guided Reading B. Reviewing Key Terms 6. The period of time in the past before writing was invented is known as. prehistory 7. Scientists who examine objects to learn about past people and cultures are known as. archaeologists 8. The written records studied by historians often began as, or stories passed down by word of mouth oral traditions 9. The recorded events of people are known as. history
Chapter 1, Section 1--After Reading 1. Identify/Define/Describe--the Iceman of the Alps a prehistoric man whose body and possessions provided clues about how people lived 5,000 years ago 2. How do we learn what happened throughout history and prehistory? Archaeologists use clues from objects left by prehistoric people and that historians use written records to learn about ancient societies 3. Descirbe how geography can affect the history of a group of people. EX: Ancient Egyptian farmers relied on the flooding of the Nile. 4. What effect has the geography of your community had on the way people live here? connection between landforms and certain human activities.
Chapter 1, Section 1--Pictures/Maps Page 9-The Iceman The Iceman was a skilled outdoorsman. Among his belongs were a wood frame backpack, a bow, a flint dagger, and other gear suited to wilderness survival. Page 10-Putting a Face on Prehistory Experts analyzed many clues to learn about the iceman. An artist studied the Iceman's skull to make this model of his head. The Iceman's copper ax and unfinished arrows and a bow without a string suggest that he had been looking for materials to finish his weapons, when he met his death Page 10-The Tools of Survival Prehistoric peoples made tools and weapons from stone. These handaxes (1 and 3) and the sharp spear point (2) were fashioned from quartz some 50,000 years ago. CRITICAL THINKING--which tool do you think would have been best for hunting? Why? The spear point would have been the most effective hunting tool because it is sharp. The point could be part of a spear or an arrow.
Chapter 1, Section 1--Pictures/Maps Page 10-Links to Science THE ICEMAN'S FACE--Using measurements, x-rays, and computer views of the Iceman's head, a sculptor made a model of the skull. Then, with the help of other information, the sculptor added clay to the skill to show flesh. Finally, he used soft plastic and real hair to make a finished sculpture. It is an accurate model of the way the Iceman probably looked in life. Page 11-Links to Science RADIOCARBON DATING--All plants and animals have tiny amounts of substance called radiocarbon in their bodies. After they die, the radiocarbon changes into another substance. Scientists know how long this change takes. They have tests that measure how much radiocarbon is left in ancient wood, grass, cloth, and flesh. Scientists can then calculate the age of the material.
Chapter 1, Section 1--Pictures/Maps Page 12-Carrying on a Tradition This man is a griot from the African country of Mali. Griots memorize important events from a village's past such as births, deaths, hunts, and wars. Griots may spend hours or even days retelling important events. Griots pass their knowledge on to young men who have been selected to become griots themselves. CRITICAL THINKING--How are oral traditions different from written history? Oral traditions constantly change because they may vary according to who tells about the events. Events that are written down are NOT as subject to change. Page 13-Rice Fields in the Hills Whenever people farm they must discover the most efficient way to grow crops and the best way to use available land. Rice grows best in fields covered with shallow water. On these hillsides along the Yangzi in China, rice farmers have built terraces into the hillsides. Terraces catch and hold rainwater and make it possible to grow crops on hilly land
Chapter 1, Section 1--OVERVIEW Geography Studying how landforms, climate, and location affect why events have happened Archaeology Studying the remains of the past people and cultures Understanding the Past Oral Traditions Studying stories of family histories and past events passed down by word of mouth History Studying written records of human life and accomplishments