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1. Before 1200: Patterns in World History

Before civilizations

Paleolithic era

Initial migration

300,000 years ago: homo sapiens emerged in Africa
100,000 - 60,000 years ago: migrated into Eurasia, Australia, Americas, later Pacific Islands
ended around 1200 when first humans migrated to present-day New Zealand
by now, every major landmass except Antarctica has humans

Hunting and gathering

all humans except those in Pacific Islands used hunting and gathering
assisted only by stone tools (Paleolithic era = Old Stone Age)
represents over 95% of time that humans have occupied Earth
foraged for resources
gathering wild foods
scavenging dead animals
hunting live animals
fishing

Societies

multitude of separate/distinct societies with unique cultures, histories, languages, identities, stories, rituals
small - 25-50 people
relationships were deeply personal
understood in terms of kinship
seasonally mobile/nomadic
move frequently, regular patterns
depended on wild plants/animals
egalitarian
belief that all people are equal/deserve equal opportunities
lacked class or gender inequalities
life expectancy was low
less than 35 years on average
population growth was slow
cultural creativity very much existed
numerous technological innovations
oral traditions (like Dreamtime stories of Aboriginal peoples of Australia)
cave paintings/sculptures

Age of agriculture

most fundamental transformation in human history
Agricultural Revolution, Neolithic (New Stone Age) Revolution
12,000-4,000 years ago, occurred separately in Asia, Africa, Americas
deliberate cultivation of particular plants, taming/breeding particular animals
took place over centuries/millennia
foundation for everything else
resources opened possibilities for making human societies
no single/common outcome
several distinct kinds emerged early on, all endured into modern times

Pastoral societies

herders, nomads
Central Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Sahara, eastern and southern Africa
did not occur in Americas because of lack of domesticatable animals in Western Hemisphere
exception: few pockets in Andes with llamas and alpacas
farming was difficult or impossible (arctic tundra, certain grasslands, deserts)
depend on domesticated animals
turn grass/waste into meat, fiber, hides, milk
transport
warfare
walk to market
moved seasonally to follow changing patterns of vegetation for animals’ food

Relationship between herders/farmers

enduring theme of Afro-Eurasian history
frequently conflict
pastoral peoples attracted to wealth/sophistication of agrarian societies
sought access to richer grazing lands, food crops, manufactured products
sometimes peaceful exchange of technologies, ideas, products, people
this kind of relationship formed Mongol Empire

Permanently settled farming villages

retained social/gender equality of hunting/gathering
many flourished well into modern era
organized into kinship groups/lineages
incorporated large number of people beyond immediate/extended family
intriguing alternative to states/kingdoms/empires so often highlighted
usually oppressiveness of organized political power in human history
what they did:
pioneered human settlement of vast areas
adapted to variety of environments
maintained a lot of social and gender equality
created cultural, artistic, religious conditions
interacted continuously with neighbors

Chiefdoms

emerged in all parts of world
flourished everywhere in Pacific islands
North America: eastern woodlands, where lots of big earthen mounds show their organizational abilities
inherited positions of power/privilege
more distinct inequality
however, chiefs/”big men” could rarely use force to compel obedience
instead relied on:
generosity/gift giving
ritual status
personal charisma
derived from senior lineage
trace descent to first son of imagined ancestor
religious and secular functions
led important rituals/ceremonies
organized community for warfare
directed economic life
tried to resolve internal conflict
collected tribute from commoners
stuff like:
food
manufactured goods
raw materials
redistributed to subordinates (warriors, craftsmen, religious specialists), kept enough to maintain prestige and imposing lifestyle
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Go to "Civilizations"
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Paleolithic era
Initial migration
Hunting and gathering
Societies
Age of agriculture
Pastoral societies
Relationship between herders/farmers
Permanently settled farming villages
Chiefdoms
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