Part 1 reading notes

Prologue:

• The story of human beginnings
• Food revolution
• The emergence of civilizations
• Nomadic people and what caused them to be nomadic

Chapter 1:

• Gathering and hunting people. gathering people served a greater purpose than hunters and were usually women (foragers and food collectors).
• Neolithic- New stone age
• 12,000 years ago- humans started to deliberately cultivate plants. 
• We need to understand the importance of the Paleolithic and Neolithic era to fully understand the human past. 
• Africa- where it all began
• Technological innovations- creation of new tools
• Migrating seasonally 
• Clovis men- hunted very large mammals and may be the reason for their extinction.
• Last phase of the human migration was to the Pacific through the use of canoes and navigation skills. 
• Men and women made the journey together.

First human societies

• Paleolithic societies were small- about 25-50 people
• nomadic
• men and women were regarded as equal
• women gathered about 70% of the food
• most marriages were monogamous-although polygamy was ok
• they had rules and structure
• venus figurines- emphasis on women's reproduction
• Change of climate allowed for nomadic people to finally settle down
• Societies became more complex
• Rise of agriculture
• Using what they found but also changing their environment 
• Animals were also altered- "domestication"
• Larger populations as a result of their new found agricultural way

*"Agricultural Revolution occurred separately and independently in many parts of the world"

• The spread of agriculture was something that took a very long time
• Some people chose to not embrace the agriculture way of life
• First signs of human modified plants (corn)
• Spread of disease due to living near animals (farmers and herders)
• Many costs as well as benefits
• The stone age was coming to an end
• First evidence of the creation of beer and wine
• Pastoral societies- dependent on their animals
• Women's work was very important to these societies
• Very different gender roles: men left to go live with their wife, descent was traced through the female. 
• Agricultural societies started to organize themselves politically

Chapter 2:

• First civilizations started forming around the world
• Earliest emerged around 3500B.C.E - 3000B.C.E.---3 places
• "Cradle" of Middle Easter Civilization: Sumerian's, first written language.
• Nile Valley: Egyptian Civilization. Pharaohs and pyramids, unified states.
• Central Coast of Peru: Norte Chico. "quipu". 
• Olmec Civilization: Gulf of Mexico. May have created first written language in the Americas. "Mother Civilization"

*Civilizations traced their roots the the Agricultural Revolution.

• Geography played a major role on how successful these civilizations would be
• Led to growing populations which led to more competitive societies
• Hierarchies and class came about during this time
• Upper class: avoided physical labor, wealthy in land, occupied top positions
• Free commoners: lower level officials, farmers or servants.
• Slaves: prisoners of war or females (Egypt and Indus valley had less slaves than Mesopotamia)
• Hierarchy of gender began: men superior to women. Women seen as weak due to heavier work that involved newer farming "technology", such as animal drawn plows.
• Growing population = more women were pregnant more often. 
• Assyrian law: respectable women wore veils, slaves and prostitutes were not allowed to wear veils.
• Egypt allowed women greater opportunities: right to own slaves, own property...

Mesopotamia vs. Egypt:

• Strong relationship between environment and culture
• Egypt was more lucky in its geographical location than Mesopotamia
• Egypt was organized and ran in a more successful way

Final thoughts:

• The evolution of first humans is truly and amazing and interesting subject.
• They went from gathering and hunting to organizing civilizations, inventing language and writing. They formed societies with hierarchy and classes
• Women were once considered just and valuable and important as men in society...we should go back to that
• The authors thoughts on the exact definition of civilization and wether these people should be considered that...definitely something to think about.