This document provides an overview of prehistory and ancient history, dividing it into two main periods: prehistory and history. Prehistory is further divided into the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Metal Ages. History begins around 3500 BC and includes the Ancient period spanning Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. It then outlines some key developments in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire during this Ancient period before concluding with the fall of the Roman Empire marking the end of Ancient History and beginning of the Middle Ages in 476 AD.

1. UNIT 0. REVIEW:
PREHISTORY AND ANCIENT HISTORY

2. Before starting…
…REMEMBER THE AGES OF HISTORY
Historians divide the past into two main chronological stages:
PREHISTORY AND HISTORY.

3. PREHISTORY
(2,5 million years ago - 3.500 BC)
• Palaeolithic Period.
– It beginning was marked by the appearance of the genus Homo.
– People were nomads and hunter-gatherers.
• Neolithic Period.
– It began with the appearance of agriculture and livestock farming.
– They were sedentary.
• Metal Ages.
– It began with the mastery of metallurgy, which allowed people o manufacture
metal tools.

4. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IS IT?

5. HISTORY
(3.500 BC - present).
– Antiquity (3500 BC- 476 AD).
• Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greek and Rome.
– MIDDLE AGES (476-1492 or 1453).
– Modern Age (1492 or 1453 - 1789).
– Contemporary Age (1789 - present).
 The beginning of each of these periods was marked by a
significant historical event.
 FOR EXAMPLE: the transition from prehistory to history,
marked by the appearance of writing.

6. AGES OF
HISTORY
PREHISTORY
PALAEOLITHIC
METAL
AGES
NEOLITHIC
HISTORY
ANCIENT
HISTORY
Mesopotamia
and Egypt
Greece Rome
MIDDLE
AGES
MODERN
AGE
CONTEMPORARY
AGE

7. ANCIENT HISTORY
• Civilisations developed in the
valleys of the Nile, Tigris and
Euphrates rivers, which were fertile
areas suitable for agricultural
development.
• They knew writing.
• They built major constructions,
such as pyramids or ziggurats .
MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT

8. ANCIENT HISTORY
• The origins of Greek
civilization in the Eastern
Mediterranean.
• Creation of independent
city states, known as polis.
• New political system
arose: democracy.
• The ideal of beauty.
GREECE

9. ANCIENT HISTORY
• The Romans conquered all the
lands around the Mediterranean
Sea (Mare Nostrum).
• They spread Roman culture among
the conquered peoples. This
process was known as
Romanisation.
• Therefore, the Roman language,
laws, customs, economic and
social structures, political
institutions and art forms made
their mark in the Mediterranean
and across much of Europe.
ROME

10. THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE,
IN 476 AD, MARKED THE END OF THE
ANCIENT HISTORY AND THE
BEGINING OF THE MIDDLE AGES
(476 – 1492 or 1453).

11. • Before this important event (476), in the 3 rd century, a
widespread CRISIS began in the Roman Empire.

12. Crisis III century
• Civil wars and wars against barbarians.
• More army to protect the Empire.
• To pay the army TAXES.
• People leaved cities (do not want to pay taxes).
• Trade
• Slaves: stop military conquests and the buy of the
freedom.
• Social revolts: against the emperors and the owners of
the land in the country side.
• Religious confrontation (380 Theodosious proclaimed
Christianity official religion)

13. CONSEQUENCES
The division of the Roman empire.
Emperor Theodosius’ empire was divided among his children after his death in ad 395.
• Byzantine
Empire
• Constantinople
EASTERN
EMPIRE
• Germanic
kingdoms
• Rome
WESTERN
EMPIRE