World History: 1. The Origins of Civilization, Lessons 3–5

The mark of human genius is here, full-blown, with its immense and eternal mystery, and with all its potential for hope in the success of the adventure of modern man.

Over many thousands of years, they spread out to populate, or become inhabitants of, almost every land area of the world.

The evidence suggests that these early people believed that the natural world was filled with spirits, a belief known as animism.

To domesticate means to change the growth of plants or behavior of animals in ways that are useful for humans.

The shift from hunting to farming was so important that historians call it the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution. A revolution is a complete change in ways of thinking, working, or living.

Domesticated plants, or crops, became a reliable source of food.

Nomads are people who move from place to place with their herds.

Each way of life had costs as well as benefits.

Some families were able to raise a surplus, or more than needed to feed themselves.

Specialization occurs when people spend most of their time working at a single job or craft.

Over time, some families accumulated more food and possessions than others.

An economy is the system that a community uses to produce and distribute goods and services.

A civilization is a complex society that has cities, a well-organized government, and workers with specialized job skills.

A resource is a supply of something that can be used as needed.

One role of government is managing society's resources so that people get those things they need to survive.

A third common feature of a civilization was an established religion, or a set of shared spiritual beliefs.

Social classes are groups of people that occupy different ranks or levels in society.