| A | B |
|---|
| Paleolithic(Old Stone) Age | Simple tool use(primarily rocks and sticks for hunting/warfare). Developed into Homo Erectus, and later Homo sapiens sapiens. Spread of human species. |
| Mesolithinc(Middle Stone) Age | 12,000- 8000 BC: tool complexity increased exponentially. Animal domestication allowed for creation of food surplus and hence large population growth. |
| Neolithic Revolution | i.e. invention of agriculture. Began in Middle East as early as 10,000 BCE. and gradually spread. Permanently settlements arise, specialization in specific trades come into existence. Also fosters huge increase in global population. |
| Prehistoric | i.e human patterns before the invention of writing. Spans all three previous eras (Pal., Meso., Neo.) |
| Metalworking | Common in Middle East by 3000 BCE. Allowed for creation of better farming tools and weaponry. |
| Civilization | Characterize civilizations. Elaborate trading and extensive political territories. First civ. along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. Many of their accomplishments fundamental developments to society today. |
| Catal Huyuk | Neolithic village in southern Turkey. Studies of it shed much light on the cultural, political, and economic dynamics of the Neolithic period. |
| River Valley Civilizations | All sprang up alongside banks of major rivers to help with irrigation. Began in Middle East. Developed basic tools, intellectual concepts such as writing and mathematics, and political forms that would last for thousands of years. Most were in decline by 1000 B.C.E. |
| Tigris-Euphrates Civilization | Valley of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in area called Mesopotamia. Started from scratch, imitated no one. Suceeded b/c of (primarily) the Sumerians. |
| Sumerians | Most influential people in Tigris-Euphrates region. Developed cuneiform alphabet, astronomical sciences, religion, and tightly-organized city states. Also developed fertilizers to improve agriculture and adopted silver to create early commercial exchange. Eventually conquered by Akkadians. |
