Prehistory and Ancient Civilizations

Prehistory

• Period of human history before written records
• Divided into three ages:
  1. Stone Age: Development of tools, hunting and gathering, early human societies
  2. Bronze Age: Introduction of metal tools, early civilizations (e.g. Sumer, Egypt)
  3. Iron Age: Widespread use of iron, development of complex societies (e.g. ancient Greece, Rome)

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia: Development of writing (cuneiform), city-states (e.g. Babylon, Assyria)
• Ancient Egypt: Pyramids, pharaohs, hieroglyphics
• Ancient Greece: City-states (e.g. Athens, Sparta), philosophy (e.g. Socrates, Plato), democracy
• Ancient Rome: Republic, empire, law, architecture, governance

Middle Ages

• Fall of Rome: Decline and collapse of the Roman Empire (5th century)
• Feudalism: System of obligations and dependencies between lords and vassals
• Medieval Period: Development of Christianity, rise of kingdoms (e.g. England, France)

Early Modern Period

• Renaissance: Revival of classical learning, art, and culture (14th-17th centuries)
• Age of Exploration: European discovery and colonization of the Americas (15th-17th centuries)
• Reformation: Protestant movement, split from Catholic Church (16th century)

Modern Period

• Industrial Revolution: Transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing (18th-19th centuries)
• Nationalism: Rise of nation-states, emphasis on national identity and unity
• World Wars: Global conflicts (1914-1918, 1939-1945), impact on world order and politics

Contemporary History

• Cold War: Post-WWII rivalry between United States and Soviet Union (1945-1991)
• Globalization: Increased economic interdependence, cultural exchange, and technological advancements
• Modern Conflicts: Ongoing conflicts, terrorism, and humanitarian crises

Prehistory

• Human history before written records, characterized by a lack of written documentation
• Divided into three ages based on the development of tools and societies

Stone Age

• Marked by the development of tools from stone, hunting and gathering, and early human societies
• Lasted from approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago

Bronze Age

• Introduced metal tools, leading to the development of early civilizations
• Examples of civilizations that emerged during this period include Sumer and Egypt
• Lasted from approximately 3000 to 1200 BCE

Iron Age

• Characterized by the widespread use of iron, leading to the development of complex societies
• Examples of societies that emerged during this period include ancient Greece and Rome
• Lasted from approximately 1200 BCE to 500 CE

Ancient Civilizations

Mesopotamia

• Developed writing in the form of cuneiform
• Established city-states, such as Babylon and Assyria

Ancient Egypt

• Constructed pyramids, developed pharaohs, and created hieroglyphics
• Lasted from approximately 3100 BCE to 30 BCE

Ancient Greece

• Established city-states, such as Athens and Sparta
• Developed philosophy, with notable figures including Socrates and Plato
• Introduced democracy as a form of government

Ancient Rome

• Established the Republic, followed by the Empire
• Developed law, architecture, and governance systems

Middle Ages

• Marked by the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century
• Characterized by the feudal system, where lords and vassals had obligations and dependencies
• Saw the development of Christianity and the rise of kingdoms, such as England and France
• Lasted from approximately 500 to 1500 CE

Early Modern Period

Renaissance

• Marked by a revival of classical learning, art, and culture
• Lasted from the 14th to the 17th centuries

Age of Exploration

• Characterized by European discovery and colonization of the Americas
• Lasted from the 15th to the 17th centuries

Reformation

• Led to a split from the Catholic Church, with the emergence of Protestantism
• Lasted from the 16th to the 17th centuries

Modern Period

Industrial Revolution

• Marked by a transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing
• Lasted from the 18th to the 19th centuries

Nationalism

• Characterized by a rise of nation-states, with an emphasis on national identity and unity

World Wars

• Consisted of two global conflicts, occurring from 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1945
• Had a significant impact on world order and politics

Contemporary History

Cold War

• Characterized by a post-WWII rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union
• Lasted from 1945 to 1991

Globalization

• Marked by increased economic interdependence, cultural exchange, and technological advancements

Modern Conflicts

• Characterized by ongoing conflicts, terrorism, and humanitarian crises, with no clear end date

Explore the earliest human societies, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, and discover the emergence of ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia.