Western Civilization Home Work

HY 1010, W estern Civilization I 1 Cou rse Learning Outcomes for Unit I Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 1. Analyze how early and contemporary Western cultures define Western Civilization. 2. Analyze the political, cultural, and social contexts out of which the West developed. 5. Analyze W estern written and visual materials of a historical nature. Reading Assignment Chapter 1: Origins , to 1200 B.C.E. In order to access the resource below, you must first log into the myCSU Student Portal and access the America : History and Life database within the CSU Online Library. Locate the following article in the CSU Online Library: Dale, G. (2013). 'Marketless trading in Hammurabi's time': A re -appraisal. Journal Of The Economic & Social History Of The Orient, 56 (2), 159 -188. doi:10.1163/15685209 -12341299 Unit Lesson Early Periods of Human History Unit I marks the earliest periods of human history. Archaeological evidence provides confirmation of humanity’s activities in the time before humanity learned to record events. One of these early periods is the Pale olithic era, or Old Stone age , noting the earliest use of stone tools (McKay et al., 2014) . These stone tools have been found with human remains dating back 1.5 million year s, last ing until the Neolithic age . Additionally, the Paleolithic era witnessed a major advance about 750,000 years ago with the use of fire, allowing for cooking and warmth to protect against winter. Scientists learned about this age by studying campfire remains deep inside caves, undisturbed for millennia. Further, scientists noted that the burial of the dead began about 70,000 years ago. The other early period is the New Stone age , or Neolithic era, a period of approximately four millennia starting 12,000 years ago (McKay et al., 2014 ). While technology had not advanced beyond stone tools, other advances emerged. Pottery emerged. Agriculture and the domestication of animals allowed people to grow their own food and create a stable, lasting supply. Technology marched forward at a more rapid pace as people could stay in one area for extended periods and concentrate on other tasks. The last ice ages created many changes. Acros s the globe, the seas fell as the ice grew, allowing the sea between Siberia and Alaska to be traversed fairly easily. Geologists and archaeologists theorize that this shallow land -bridge facilitated a great migration from Asia into Alaska perhaps 50,000 y ears ago. However, a second wave occurred between 18,000 and 16,000 years ago, leading to more stable habitation. Aging Artifacts With carbon -14 dating, scientists and scholars can date the origins of any carbon -containing artifact. Ordinary carbon (this carbon, carbon -12, is in plants, paper, wood, and so forth) has an atomic weight of 12, holding six UNIT I STUDY GUIDE Origins HY 1010, W estern Civilization I 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title protons and six neutrons in its atomic nucleus. On the other hand, carbon -14 has eight neutrons and six protons. The atom reestablishes its atomic balance through radioactive decay, shedding these extra neutrons. The regularity of atomic decay is the principle upon which atomic clocks are built. Isotopes for different elements all have a different decay rate, called a half -life . The half -life of carbon -14, f or example, is 5,730 years. Scientists thus can determine the time of death or date of manufacture for objects by measuring these isotope ratios, most accurate between 100 years and 40,000 years. Obsidian hydration measures the erosion of obsidian artifac ts, which are usually jewelry and ornamentation. It is accurate for up to 35,000 years. Thermoluminescence (TL) gauges the growth of crystals that appear when relics such as ceramics , stones , or pottery are subjected to high temperatures. It can measure a ges up to 1,000,000 years. Early Civilizations Domestication of agriculture facilitated settlement in one place for extended periods. The Fertile Crescent region, stretching from the Persian Gulf and arcing across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, became the site of some of the earliest known permanent settlements in the world. Jericho, Jordan, at 12,000 years of age , is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement known. Forging metals also began as early as 6,000 years ago, when humanity began to lear n to forge copper. W ith the Bronze Age dawning around 1200 BC, humans learned about creating alloys as they began blending copper and tin to create the much stronger bronze. Many early civilizations arose within the valleys near major rivers. Tribes and villages rose and fell, nurtured by steady water and fertile soils for crops. Civilizations arose along the Nile River in Egypt, the Tigris - Euphrates River Valley in Mesopotamia, the Indus and Ganges rivers in India, and the Yangtze River in China. The Su merians emerged approximately 5,000 years ago and expanded into five major city -states. The city - states were not just cities and neighborhoods, but they were built to be fortresses, with large walls and defensive towers to keep their citi zen s safe. One suc h city, Uruk, covered more than 1,000 acres with walls stretching six miles along its perimeter. Simple sun -dried bricks were the composition of most buildings within. Massive temples were at the heart of each city. These temples, known as ziggurats , wer e not dissimilar to pyramids but were instead built one progressively smaller layer on top of another and all dedicated to a particular local god for divine protection. Their system of government was theocracy, believing their gods ruled them through their kings. Most Sumerians, about 90 %, were farmers. They lived in the cities for protection and farmed common plots just outside the city walls. There were also skilled craftsmen who produced woolen textiles, pottery, and metals. The wheel emerged by 3 ,000 BC ; this was a major advance for transportation but also as an engine for commerce and spreading ideas . Slavery was a constant for many ancient societies, including class -based Sumer. Around 2 ,340 BC, Sargon of Akkad led his armies to defeat and annex the Sumerians. The Akkadians would control lower Mesopotamia until their power crumbled around 2 ,100 BC. Afterward, the region reverted to the relatively independent city -sate system. The Amorites arrived two centuries later. Hammurabi became the most famous to future generations. His reign lasted from 1 ,792 BC until 1 ,750 BC. He constructed new city walls and temples. He also established the first system of codified laws in the region, greatly influencing others throughout the Middle East. Posted on an obelis k of stone at the heart of each of his cities, these 282 laws explicitly expressed to everyone what the laws were. It was the law of revenge, of even scores. This was the origin of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” law s (McKay et al., 2014, p. 19 ). The different classes faced different penalties for their crimes, all carefully spelled out. Upper -class offenders were always punished far less harshly than members of lower classes. The upper classes faced only the lightest of punishments f or crimes agai nst the lowest of Amorite societ y, b ut the same act in reverse would lead to the most horrible retribution. The law demanded also that public officials be responsible for solving crimes. If, for example, they could solve a murder, they would compensate the victim’s grieving families. HY 1010, W estern Civilization I 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Egypt cannot be defined without the Nile River. In ancient times, Egyptians were mostly farmers, totally dependent on the river’s annual floods for their livelihoods and their very survival. Originally, Egypt was two separate kingdoms: Lower Egypt, which included the delta at the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and Upper Egypt, which controlled the Nile River southward. The Egyptian King Menes unified these two kingdoms by 3,100 BC. The early period after unification from 3 ,100 -2,700 BC is called the Thinite period. Afterward, the Old Kingdom emerged, lasting from 2 ,700 -2,200 BC. The Egyptians created a powerful merchant fleet and expanded into the seas from the Nile as far south as Sudan , toward the East and the Red Sea , and through the Mediterranean into the Levant, making them one of the great powers of the period. The pharaohs , their rulers, were considered divine. The pharaohs insisted that they were descended from gods and demanded their worship and total obedience. With the Old Kingdom, the examples of their unquestioned power still stand thousands of years later. As monuments to their divinity, pharaohs insisted on the construction of the pyramids as their burial chambers. The Old Kingdom saw the largest pyramid constru ction in Egyptian history. The pyramid of Khufu, the largest, was finished in 2 ,540 BC. The titanic monument swallowed up 13 acres, stood at a height of 481 feet, and ran 756 feet long on each side. The Egyptians believed that their pharaohs would live aga in through resurrection, but they would be reborn into their old bodies. Priests work ed to save the earthly remains of their kings through mummification. Organ s would be carefully removed and stored and the skin dried for preservation. This ordeal would ta ke ten weeks to complete. For all of its power, the Old Kingdom collapsed by 2 ,200 BC. Reference McKay, J. P., Hill, B. D., Buckler, J., Crowston, C. H. , Weisner -Hanks, M. E., & Perry, J. (201 4). A history of western society : From antiquity to the enlightenment (11th ed. , V ol. 1). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Suggested Reading The following textbook is optional. It has additional readings that correspond with the topics covered in the course textbook, and you may find these sources interesti ng. You will not be tested on any information from this textbook: McKay, J. P., Crowston, C. H., W eisner -Hanks, M. E., & Perry, J. (201 4). Sources for western society : From antiquity to the enlightenment (3rd ed. , V ol. 1). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Learning Activities (Non -Graded) Please introduce yourself to your fellow classmates in the Student Break Room discussion forum. Feel free to share an introductory comment, upload a photo, or share a link to a YouTube video or podcast. (It does not have to be a photo of yourself ; you could share a picture of your pet, or something you like that relates to your introduction.) Th is is a non -graded Learning Activit y, so you do not have to submit it. If you experience difficulty in mastering any of the concepts, contact your instructor for additional information and guidance.