Unit 1 Foundations: Cram Packet

Foundations 14% of the AP Exam

Climate
Climate has been a major factor in determining where people settled. Peopled settled in areas that has climates that would 
accommodate agriculture and livestock. 
Time Periods
• The Paleolithic Age refers to about 12,000 BC. During this time people were nomadic. 
• The Neolithic Age refers to the age from about 12,000 BC to about 8000 BC. It is during this time that people settled in 
communities and civilization began to emerge. 
• River Valley Civilizations refers to about 3500 to 1500 BC. The major River Valleys are described below. 
• Classical Civilizations refers to about 1000 BC to 600 CE. The major civilizations to emerge were Zhou and Han China, 
Greece and Rome, and the Gupta Empire.

THE RIVER-VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
Each early civilization developed its own unique ways of life, but they all shared some common characteristics 
• Complex irrigation systems 
• legal codes 
• money
• art and written literature 
• More formal scientific knowledge, numbering systems, and calendars 
• Intensification of social inequality

COMPARISONS OF EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
MESOPOTAMIA (developed by 3500 BCE):

• Culture: Cuneiform; Extensive trade with Egypt and the Indus Valley; Epic of Gilgamesh; Early use of bronze tools, chariots; Advanced astronomy; math based on 60; Pessimistic view of world, perhaps due to irregular, unpredictable flooding of the rivers; Polytheism - gods powerful and often cruel; Kings powerful, but not divine 
• Political Organization: City-states and warrior kings; Hammurabi's Code; Competition among city states as well as frequent invasions led to less political stability than in Egypt
• Social Structure: Job specialization - farmers, metallurgist, 
  merchants, craftsmen, political 
  administrators, priests; 
  Social classes; 
   
  Marriage contracts, veils for women; 
  women of upper classes less equal than 
  lower class counterparts