Unit 1 Introduction

Unit 1: Food First

Farming and the Emergence of Complex Societies (10,000-1,000 BCE)

In this unit, you will learn how the study of history allows us to learn about the past and its impact on contemporary and future societies. We will study how the domestication of plants and animals led to a change from a hunting and gathering society to a more sedentary lifestyle. It will become evident that a variety of agricultural societies developed based on the technology and resources that were available, leading to cultural interchange among the communities and an increased pace of technological change. Finally, you will be able to demonstrate and explain how agriculture was the catalyst in the emergence of complex societies.

Unit Essential Question:

How did the emergence of agriculture lead to increasingly complex human social organizations and the appearance of what we call civilizations?

Standards:

8.4.9.A: Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural and economic development throughout the world.
8.4.9.B: Contrast the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and sites which are critical to world history.
8.4.9.C: Analyze how continuity and change have impacted world history
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organization
8.4.9.D: Analyze how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have influenced the history and development of the world.
8.4.12.A: Evaluate the role groups and individuals have played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development throughout world history.
8.4.12.B: Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and sites which are critical to world history.
8.4.9.C: Evaluate how continuity and change have impacted world history
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organization
8.1.9.A: Compare patterns of continuity and change over time, applying context to events.
7.3.9.A: Explain the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.3.12.A: Analyze the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities

Unit Key Vocabulary:

pre-history, historian, artifact, archaeology, anthropology, technology, culture, hominid, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, bipedalism, agriculture, subsistence, agrarian society, domestication, Paleolithic Period, Neolithic Period, Neolithic Revolution, nomads, hunters and gatherers, resources, job specialization, migration, BCE, CE, cultural diffusion, class system, stratification, urbanization, surplus, barter economy, traditional economy, civilization, polytheistic, artisan

Resources:

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