Ap World History Outline
Terry Wei
Traditions and Encounters
AP World History Review
Chapter 1: Prehistory
The first chapter of Traditions and Encounters sets the stage for the drama of world history by presenting the major milestones in the development of humans from their earliest appearance on earth to the dawn of civilization. This chapter addresses the physical evolution of the species and their migrations throughout the globe as well as the revolutionary transformation from all humans surviving by hunting and gathering to the majority living in agricultural societies. The results of this remarkable transformation include * An unprecedented population explosion due to the increase in the food supply * Permanent settlement in villages and, later, in cities * The specialization of labor, which led to the development of craft industries and other professions * The opportunity to accumulate wealth and the resulting emergence of social class differences * The development of fertility-based religions and the increasing elaboration of religious institutions I. The evolution of Homo sapiens A. The hominids 1. Australopithecus a. Appeared in east Africa about four million to one million years ago b. Walked upright on two legs; well-developed hands c. Stone tools; fire later 2. Homo erectus d. 2.5 million to two hundred thousand years ago, east Africa e. Large brain; sophisticated tools; definitely knew how to control fire f. Developed language skills in well-coordinated hunts of large animals g. Migrated to Asia and Europe; established throughout by two hundred thousand years ago B. Homo sapiens; evolved as early as two hundred thousand years ago 3. Brain with large frontal regions for conscious and reflective thought 4. Spread throughout Eurasia beginning more than one hundred thousand years ago, 5. Ice age land
Traditions and Encounters
AP World History Review
Chapter 1: Prehistory
The first chapter of Traditions and Encounters sets the stage for the drama of world history by presenting the major milestones in the development of humans from their earliest appearance on earth to the dawn of civilization. This chapter addresses the physical evolution of the species and their migrations throughout the globe as well as the revolutionary transformation from all humans surviving by hunting and gathering to the majority living in agricultural societies. The results of this remarkable transformation include * An unprecedented population explosion due to the increase in the food supply * Permanent settlement in villages and, later, in cities * The specialization of labor, which led to the development of craft industries and other professions * The opportunity to accumulate wealth and the resulting emergence of social class differences * The development of fertility-based religions and the increasing elaboration of religious institutions I. The evolution of Homo sapiens A. The hominids 1. Australopithecus a. Appeared in east Africa about four million to one million years ago b. Walked upright on two legs; well-developed hands c. Stone tools; fire later 2. Homo erectus d. 2.5 million to two hundred thousand years ago, east Africa e. Large brain; sophisticated tools; definitely knew how to control fire f. Developed language skills in well-coordinated hunts of large animals g. Migrated to Asia and Europe; established throughout by two hundred thousand years ago B. Homo sapiens; evolved as early as two hundred thousand years ago 3. Brain with large frontal regions for conscious and reflective thought 4. Spread throughout Eurasia beginning more than one hundred thousand years ago, 5. Ice age land