Chapter 1

In this course, we argue that history is a record of changes in human society over time, an account supported by documents and criticism. The history of western civilizations, a vast subject, does make sense. The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fit together to form a pattern of lasting truths and provide worthwhile and remarkable knowledge of how we got where we are. Why study history, especially western civilizations? Our text says historians think "that identifying patterns and mechanisms of change will allow a better understanding of the present and a greater possibility of plotting prudent strategies for coping with the future."

The Western Civilizations course lays a foundation for further study of the arts, humanities, and sciences and of practical fields, such as the armed forces, business, civil service, engineering, medicine, communications, journalism, law and teaching. It offers a basis for responsible citizenship and social action. In short, the study of western civilizations teaches information that a well-rounded individual should know.

The period known as the Stone Age lasted about two million years ago to four thousand years ago. It was subdivided into Paleolithic (Old Stone Age-to 10,000 years ago) and the Neolithic (New Stone Age).

The Paleolithic age is characterized by the production of stone tools that were used in scavenging meat from dead animals and later hunting. Homo sapiens proved to be particularly good hunters and may have caused or helped to cause the extinction of mammoths about 11.000 years ago.

The diet of Stone Age people probably consisted more of forged vegetable foods than of meat. Human use of fire can be traced back to 1 to 1.5 million years ago, but conclusive evidence of cooking (in the form of clay pots) can only be found as far back as 12,500 years ago.

The domestication of plants and animals were a series of changes in food production that occurred independently in various parts of the world. Changes in the global climate were probably the cause of these transformations. The first stage of the long domestication of plants was semi-cultivation, in which people would scatter the seeds of desirable food-producing plants in places where they would be likely to grow. The next stage was the use of fire to clear fields and specialized tools to plant and harvest grain.

Domestication of animals proceeded at the same time as domestication of plants. Human hunters first domesticated dogs: sheep and goats were later domesticated for their meat, milk, and wool. As with plants, domestication of animals occurred independently in various parts of the world, and the animals domesticated were those that suited the local environment. In most parts of the world the domestication of plants went along with the domestication of animals as animals were used for pulling and plows and supplied manure for fertilizer.

Agricultural and ecological crisis

Most researchers agree that humans made the transition from hunter-gatherer to agricultural or pastoralist economies because the global warming of the Holoence period (beginning 9000B.C.E.) brought with it environmental changes that reduced the supplies of game and wild food plants. The agricultural revolutions brought about a significant increase in the world’s human population from 10 million to 5000 B.C.E. to between 50 and 100 million in 1000 B.C. E.

Chapter 1 Discussion Questions:

1. Why study history? "Why study western civilization," in particular?

2. Discuss the significance of the Code of Hammurabi. Does the Code of Hammurabi sound harsh, fair or lenient?

3. What function did the Epic of Gilgamesh serve in ancient Mesopotamia?