This document summarizes Jennifer Yung's mid-term PowerPoint report on World History from the Paleolithic era to the Classical era. It covers the first migrations of Homo sapiens out of Africa, hunter-gatherer societies like the Hadza and San, the Agricultural Revolution, early civilizations in places like Sumer and Egypt, the rise of empires in places like Rome and China, and the development of major world religions from 500 BCE to 500 CE. The Classical era saw the exchange of ideas, cultures, and values between second-wave civilizations and empires.

1. Ways of the WorldPart I and IIJennifer YungMid-term PowerPoint ReportHistory 4 - Fall 2011Dr. Arguello

2. First Migrations:Homo sapiens & the Paleolithic EraFirst emerged from Africa 250,000 years ago and into Eurasia, Australia, Americas, and the PacificHunting and gathering is the way of life“Original affluent society” – wanted and needed little to obtain mobilitySociety had rules and structures but everyone had equal powerPaleolithic Era lasted for more than 95% of the time Homo sapiens inhabited the earthGlobal warming at end of Ice Age – nomadic people began settling down = increased in food supply = start of agriculture

3. The Hadza, San, & ChumashFew groups that still practice hunting and gathering lifestyleHadza of northern TanzaniaOnly about 1000 membersLive in grass huts in mobile camps and move frequently in regionLifestyle threatened by modern eraSan of southern AfricaNo formal leadersEquality is important in this societySystem of unequal gift exchange to establish social relationsChumash of Southern CaliforniaCreated tomol (planked canoe), which brought wealth and powerMarket economyPermanent and hereditary political elite

4. Agricultural RevolutionAgriculture provided foundation for population growth, settled villages, cities, states, empires, civilizations, and much moreDomestication – taming and changing nature to benefit humansIntensification – getting more for lessGlobalization of agriculture occurred through diffusion and slow migration of agricultural peoplesTransformed human journey and evolution of life

5. Agricultural SocietiesPastoral SocietiesFood producing economyAgricultural Village SocietiesEquality and freedomNo political hierarchySimilar to Paleolithic societiesChiefdomsBeginnings of inequalityPositions of power and privilegeChiefs led rituals, warfare, economic decisions, and internal conflicts

6. First CivilizationsIncluded Sumerian, Egyptian, Peruvian, Indus Valley, Chinese, & Olmec civilizations

7. Development of written language, hierarchy of class and gender

8. Rise of the state, authority positions, massive inequalities, and state oppression

9. Interaction and exchange among first civilizations – “no one stood alone”

10. First civilizations gave way to the second- and third- wave civilizationsEmpiresSecond-wave: Roman, Persian, Indian, & Chinese empiresThird-wave: Arab, Mongol, & IncaAll empires brought a vast diversity of people together in a single political systemThese empires generated important innovations like religionGave way to much larger empires, new cultural and religious traditions, technological innovations, & interactions amongst each otherMany empires failed because they focused on conquering others and not on their internal problems

11. Classical Era500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.Second-wave of civilizationsDevelopment of cultural and modern religions, social organizationEmpires established own political system, cultural values, and ways of organizing societyAllowed for exchange of ideas, cultures, and values

12. ReligionPlayed a role in influencing ideas and beliefsDevelopment of modern religions in second-wave: Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Confucianism, and HinduismThese religions changed throughout its expansion into new territory and reformed to fit into its society