Social Scientists and early Societies

Social Scientists

• Anthropologists study the origin, physical, social, and cultural development of humans. They examine oral histories, archaeological evidence, and cultural histories. Some focus on the development of early humans.
• Geographers study how location influences people's lives, such as how climate impacts society.
• Economists study how societies answer economic questions (e.g., what to produce, how to produce, for whom to produce). They explore resource scarcity and availability.
• Archaeologists study cultural artifacts.
• Political Scientists study political systems and public policy.
• Sociologists study social behavior by examining groups, cultures, organizations, and social institutions.
• Historians research, analyze, and interpret the past.

Hunters and Gatherers

• Hunters and gatherers had defined gender roles and often equality between genders.

Neolithic Revolution

• The Neolithic Revolution marked a significant turning point in history.

• Before the Neolithic Revolution (Paleolithic Age), people were nomads, relying on hunting and gathering for food.

• The Neolithic Revolution led to changes in diet and shelter.

• Domestication of animals and planting crops (such as wheat and barley) resulted in permanent settlements and civilizations.

• Civilizations are permanent settlements and communities.

• Key characteristics of civilizations include a centralized government, organized religion, social classes, specialization of labor, art and architecture, cities, public works (e.g., roads, bridges, temples), and systems of writing.

Theme: Humans Adapt to Their Surroundings

• Humans adapt to diverse environmental factors for survival.

Neolithic Revolution Regents

• A settled existence allows for the storage of food surpluses which was not possible for nomadic hunter-gatherers.
• Stored food is essential for supporting specialists and larger settlements.
• Sedentary societies had a higher number of full-time specialists compared to nomadic societies.

Additional Points

• Terraces, bridges and canals are ways various societies modify their environment.

• Important primary source materials include primary sources, secondary sources, official records, and published records.

• Ancient civilizations (river valley civilizations) include Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, Egypt, and China.

• Key geographic factors influencing India's history include the Himalayas to the north and the monsoon cycle.

• The Hindu Kush Mountains separate the Mauryan Empire from other areas.

• The monsoon cycle impacts the Mauryan Empire with both high rainfall and droughts.

• Indus artifacts found in Mesopotamia is an example of cultural exchange between different societies.

World Religions

• Major world religions include Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism, Daoism/Taoism, Christianity, and Islam.

Hinduism

• Hinduism is a polytheistic religion established in India. Key concepts include the caste system, breaking of Samsara (cycle of rebirth) through achieving Moksha, Vedas and Upanishads are holy books, Brahman (highest universal principle), karma, and dharma (duty).

Judaism

• Judaism originated in Mesopotamia. It's a monotheistic religion, emphasizing one God, Yahweh. Key religious figures like Moses received the Ten Commandments which are the foundation of Jewish law. Jewish people migrated from Mesopotamia to Egypt and then established Israel.

Buddhism

• Buddhism rejected the Hindu caste system. It originated in India and spread along the Silk Roads to China. Key tenets include the four noble truths describing suffering and the eightfold path for overcoming it through reaching enlightenment (Nirvana).

Jainism

• Jainism originated in India, emphasising non-violence (ahimsa) and denial of material possessions.

Confucianism

• Confucianism originated in China during the Zhou Dynasty and emphasized filial piety and respect for elders and superiors. It became China's official philosophy during the Han Dynasty.

Daoism/Taoism

• Daoism/Taoism developed in China and emphasized harmony with nature and the concept of Wu-Wei (action through inaction).

Christianity

• Christianity originated in the Roman Empire and focused on the belief in one God, Jesus as the Messiah, the Holy Trinity, and the Bible as its holy book.

Islam

• Islam originated in Mecca, emphasizing belief in both Jewish and Christian scriptures. Muhammad is regarded as a prophet. Allah is god.

Classical Period: Empires and Golden Ages

• Examples of golden ages include the Han Dynasty (China), Gupta Empire (India), Age of Pericles (Greece), Pax Romana (Rome), and Classical Maya.

China: Qin Dynasty

• Qin Shi Huangdi ruled the Qin dynasty. He instituted legalism (strict adherence to policies).
• The Qin dynasty was notable for its strong central government, but it collapsed after Shi Huangdi's death.

China: Han Dynasty/Han Empire

• The Han Dynasty was a golden age in China. The Han Dynasty created gunpowder and traded along the Silk Roads.
• Trade with the Romans is also a notable aspect of the Han dynasty.

Silk Roads

• Silk was a highly sought-after commodity, creating a complex system of trade along the Silk Roads.
• The Silk Roads facilitated cultural exchange, like the spread of Buddhism from India to China. Trade routes ran east and west, facilitated by both land and sea routes.

India: Mauryan Empire

• The Mauryan Empire conquered extensive territories and employed war elephants.
• Ashoka converted to Buddhism after a violent conflict.
• The Mauryan Empire became the basis of a Buddhist empire, creating the edicts of Ashoka.

India: Gupta Empire

• The Gupta Empire experienced a golden age featuring peace, prosperity, and advancements in mathematics and science.
• Universities flourished, and both Hindu and Buddhist traditions thrived.

India Geographic Features

• India's geographic features (such as its isolation) contributed to its political unity and internal peace, which allowed the spread of ideas.

Mayans

• The Mayans had a social class structure and developed city-states.

Greece

• Greece's mountainous terrain created city-states (poleis).
• Athens was known for its direct democracy.
• Sparta was a militaristic society governed by monarchy.

Hellenistic Culture

• Alexander the Great spread Greek culture throughout previously independent areas.
• Alexandria became a major center of Hellenistic culture.
• Greek became a dominant language in the region.

Romans

• The Roman Empire controlled much of the Mediterranean. The Roman empire traded with the Han Dynasty.
• The Roman Empire developed from a Kingdom to a Republic to an Empire, featuring a Pax Romana epoch of peace and prosperity under Augustus Caesar.
• The Romans widely used Latin as one of their languages.

Important Trade Networks

• Trade networks, including the Silk Roads, the Indian Ocean trade network, and the Mediterranean trade networks facilitated cultural exchange.