Prehistory: Paleolithic to Neolithic Era

Prehistory

• Refers to the period before written records existed
• Characterized by the development of early human societies and cultures
• Divided into three main periods:
  1. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): 2.5 million - 10,000 BCE; early humans developed tools and hunted for food
  2. Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): 10,000 - 5,000 BCE; development of more complex societies and tools
  3. Neolithic (New Stone Age): 5,000 - 2,000 BCE; development of agriculture and settled communities

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia: 3,500 - 539 BCE; Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians developed writing, cities, and empires
• Ancient Egypt: 3,100 - 30 BCE; pharaonic dynasties built pyramids, developed hieroglyphics, and expanded empire
• Ancient Greece: 8th century - 146 CE; city-states like Athens and Sparta developed democracy, philosophy, and theater
• Ancient Rome: 8th century BCE - 476 CE; expanded empire, developed law, architecture, and governance

Middle Ages

• Fall of the Roman Empire: 476 CE; marking the end of classical antiquity
• Rise of Christianity: 1st century CE; spread of Christianity throughout Europe
• Feudalism: 9th - 15th century; decentralized system of governance and economy
• Crusades: 1095 - 1291 CE; series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims

Early Modern Period

• Renaissance: 14th - 17th century; cultural and artistic revival in Europe
• Age of Exploration: 15th - 17th century; European exploration and colonization of the Americas
• Reformation: 16th century; Protestant movement led by Luther and Calvin
• Absolutism: 16th - 18th century; rise of powerful monarchies in Europe

Modern Period

• Industrial Revolution: 18th - 19th century; transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing
• Nationalism: 19th - 20th century; rise of nationalist movements and nation-states
• World War I: 1914 - 1918 CE; global conflict that led to the rise of new world powers
• World War II: 1939 - 1945 CE; global conflict that led to the formation of the United Nations and the Cold War

Prehistory

• Refers to the period before written records existed, characterized by the development of early human societies and cultures
• Divided into three main periods:

Paleolithic

• Lasted from 2.5 million to 10,000 BCE
• Early humans developed tools and hunted for food

Mesolithic

• Lasted from 10,000 to 5,000 BCE
• Development of more complex societies and tools occurred

Neolithic

• Lasted from 5,000 to 2,000 BCE
• Development of agriculture and settled communities took place

Ancient Civilizations

Mesopotamia

• Existed from 3,500 to 539 BCE
• Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians developed writing, cities, and empires

Ancient Egypt

• Lasted from 3,100 to 30 BCE
• Pharaonic dynasties built pyramids, developed hieroglyphics, and expanded empire

Ancient Greece

• Lasted from the 8th century to 146 CE
• City-states like Athens and Sparta developed democracy, philosophy, and theater

Ancient Rome

• Existed from the 8th century BCE to 476 CE
• Expanded empire, developed law, architecture, and governance

Middle Ages

• The Fall of the Roman Empire occurred in 476 CE, marking the end of classical antiquity
• Rise of Christianity began in the 1st century CE and spread throughout Europe
• Feudalism was a decentralized system of governance and economy that lasted from the 9th to the 15th century
• The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims that lasted from 1095 to 1291 CE

Early Modern Period

Renaissance

• Was a cultural and artistic revival in Europe that lasted from the 14th to the 17th century

Age of Exploration

• Was a period of European exploration and colonization of the Americas that lasted from the 15th to the 17th century

Reformation

• Was a Protestant movement led by Luther and Calvin that occurred in the 16th century

Absolutism

• Was the rise of powerful monarchies in Europe that lasted from the 16th to the 18th century

Modern Period

Industrial Revolution

• Was a transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing that lasted from the 18th to the 19th century

Nationalism

• Was the rise of nationalist movements and nation-states that occurred from the 19th to the 20th century

World War I

• Was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918 CE and led to the rise of new world powers

World War II

• Was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 CE and led to the formation of the United Nations and the Cold War

Explore the early human societies and cultures before written records, divided into three main periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras. Learn about the development of tools, hunting, and agriculture that shaped human history.