Chapter 1 Origins: The First Civilizations

Prehistory

Culture

Dating Systems
B.C.
A.D.

B.C.E.
C.E.

Prehistoric Cultures
Paleolithic - “Old Stone”
6 million – 10,000 B.C.E.

Mesolithic - “Transitional Stone”
10,000 – 8,000 B.C.E.

Neolithic - “New Stone”
8,000 – 4,000 B.C.E.

Landmarks of the first human civilizations

pictographs

cuneiform

metallurgy

Mesopotamia - "The Land between The Rivers" – 3500 B.C.E.

animism

polytheism

cosmology

ziggurat

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Hammurabi's Law Code

The Iron Age

Ancient Egypt – 3500-1085 B.C.E.

papyrus

theocracy

pharaoh

fresco

Egyptian Art

temples

pylons

hypostyle

obelisks

Egyptian Women

theocratic socialism

Egyptian Literature and Music

lyric

"Beyond the West"
Indus Valley Civilization - 2700-1500 BCE

Vedic Era - 1500-322 BCE

caste system

Hinduism

Pantheism

Brahman

Atman

nirvana

Karma

"Wheel of Rebirth"

Shang Dynasty - 1520-1027 BCE

Aristocracy of Merit

Mandate of Heaven

Spirits and Gods

yin/yang

The Book of Changes

qi ("chee")

Dao de Jing