View source for Unit I and II (8000 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.)

[[File:Bingmayong Gisela-Brantl 02.JPG|right|300px]]This time period covers units one and two, but will be taught and assessed as a single unit. It is very important for later units that you learn the material in this first time period well. You will learn about the discovery of agriculture, the development of metal technology, and the rise of civilizations. After learning about the first major civilizations that emerged in river valleys, you will study the classical civilizations of India, China, and the Mediterranean region (Greece and Rome). You will learn many major belief systems and religions in this unit, and understand how they support and influence political, social and gender structures. After comparing the ways in which these classical civilizations fell, you will see that at the end of this time period civilization is defined more by religious zones (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, etc) than by political empires.

===Agriculture, Metals, and Civilization===

::The [[Neolithic Revolution]]

::[[The Bronze Age]] (Sample Article)

::[[The Use of Metals in History]]

::[[Civilization: Its Meaning and Controveries]]

::[[Empires]]

===River Valley Civilizations===

::[[River Valley Civilizations: Egypt]]

::[[River Valley Civilizations: Mesopotamia]] 

::[[River Valley Civilizations: Indus]]

::[[River Valley Civilizations: China]]

===Classical Civilizations===

::[[Classical Civilizations: South Asia]]
:::[[Classical Indian Society]]
:::[[Classical Indian Political Structure]]
:::[[Classical Indian Economy]] 
::[[Classical Civilizations: East Asia]]
:::[[The Zhou Dynasty]]
:::[[The Qin Dynasty]]
::::[[Qin ShiHaung Di]]
:::[[The Han Dynasty: Society]]
:::[[The Han Dynasty: Political Structure]]
:::[[The Han Dynasty: Economy]]
:::[[The Han Dynasty: Culture]]
::[[Classical Civilizations: Greeks]]
:::[[Classical Greek Society]]
:::[[Classical Greek Political Structure]]
:::[[Classical Greek Economy]] 
:::[[Classical Greek Culture]]

::[[Classical Civilizations: Roman]]
:::[[Classical Rome: Society]]
:::[[Classical Rome: Political Structure]]
:::[[Classical Rome: Economy]] 
:::[[Classical Rome: Culture]]

::[[The Decline and Fall of the Han]]
::[[The Decline and Fall of the Romans]]
::[[The Decline and Fall of the Gupta]]

::[[The Silk Roads]]

===Classical Belief Systems and Their Social and Political Implications===
:[[Ancestor Worship]]

:[[Hinduism]]

:[[Buddhism]]

:[[Confucianism]]

:[[Daoism]]

:[[Legalism]]

:[[Polytheism]]

:[[Judaism]]

:[[Christianity]]

===Course Theme Summaries: Units I and II===

::[[Interaction between Humans and the Environment:Units I and II]]
::[[Development and Interaction of Cultures: Units I and II]]
::[[State-building, Expansion, and Conflict: Units I and II]]
::[[Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems: Units I and II]]
::[[Development and Transformation of Social Structures: Units I and II]]