Lecture 1: Key Notes: 1- Darwin's Theory of Evolution Man evolved from animals (note: from a historical point of view, evolution does not necessarily mean becoming a man); 2- Climate, temperature, plants and animals are all necessary conditions for the survival of species and the reasons for the evolution of animals; 3-3 million to 2 million years ago, the formation of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa and the change of vegetation led some animals to migrate westward and become the ancestors of gorillas and chimpanzees. Those who stayed or went to the East became the ancestors of mankind. 4-3.5-1.20 thousand years ago, the earth experienced an ice age, after which the climate became warmer, unwilling to change and chasing large animals to the north, becoming the ancestors of Oroqen and Inuit. Those who stayed behind to adapt to climate and environmental changes created human beings. 5- Crustal changes-Division of labor among apes-Walking upright (benefits: liberating hands, making tools, broadening horizons and increasing brain capacity)-Climate warming-agricultural production-inevitability of settlement-population increase.

The second lecture:

Civilization: With agriculture, food is guaranteed, more and more cultivated land is available, and the output is increasing. People settle down, live a more stable life, can raise more children, and the survival rate is gradually improved. In this way, the population is increasing. In order to feed these people, people must cultivate more land, so agriculture appears in more areas. Therefore, agriculture is an expanding force and needs more and more land. P23

Formed a complex and huge isomorphism. In this isomorphism, there are leaders, troops, full-time judges or local officials, wizards and, of course, farmers. So the country was formed, and the king followed. This is an early country. Therefore, with the development of agriculture, a new form of social organization will inevitably appear, and its name is "country". The emergence of a country, the emergence of rulers, the division of occupations, villages and cities, and perhaps writing ... all these are collectively called "civilization". P25

The country is a complex social organization and a symbol of civilization. P25

In a relatively small area, there are many civilizations at the same time, and the distance between them is not far. In such a region, civilization is easy to communicate, there is competition and cooperation, there is learning and struggle, forming a mechanism and a driving force. Cruel competition will stimulate every civilization to constantly change itself and learn from others, so as to strive for a better chance of survival. Civilization exists in such a mechanism, otherwise it will be destroyed. P27→ Two river basins, crossroads, and the intersection of civilizations.

Two rivers civilization

The earliest in the world: there are words left about 5500 years ago.

City-State Period → Allard Empire → Ur Dynasty → Babylon → Chaldeans → Assyrian Empire → New Babylonian Dynasty → Persia perished in 539.

Persia → Greece → Rome → Arabs (from the 7th century)

Sumer's contribution: words, tools (cars, wheels, horse stools, etc. ), religion, law (code of hammurabi-pursuing justice and protecting the weak; Basic principles: homomorphic revenge; Grade difference; Protect business; Welfare thought

Assyrian civilization: martial, fierce and cruel; Sculpture and urban construction are developed.

New Babylonian civilization: urban architecture, glazed walls, gorgeous and incomparable. The hanging garden is beautiful and the irrigation is advanced.

Egyptian civilization

It lasted for two thousand years and remained unchanged for a long time: the climate-the northern Mediterranean, the western desert, the eastern Red Sea and the southern stepped waterfall → formed a distribution area; The Nile regularly floods, bringing fertile soil → rich products and developed agriculture.

The emergence of a unified country: around 3 100 BC.

Pharaoh: The Greeks called the best ruler Pharaoh. With the power of God, there is infinite power and magic.

The most powerful: the 12 dynasty was very important and was regarded as the culmination of the glory of ancient Egypt. During the "Middle Kingdom" period, the central power was not as strong as that in the ancient kingdom period, the central government existed, but it could not monopolize the power, and the local power was also great, forming a balance, which was called "the feudal period of Egypt" by western historians. People in China are puzzled by this name. How can it be a "feudal period"? Because China's "feudal society" seems to have a strong royal power. This term is related to the western concept of feudalism. In the western concept, "feudalism" refers to the decentralization of power, so the decentralized power should be "feudalism". The "Middle Kingdom" lasted for about 300 years, and the central and local governments were divided, so it was called the "feudal period". This is the golden age of Egypt. Culture and society are highly developed and prosperous, which is also the mature period of economic development and the commanding height of ancient Egyptian civilization. P38

The second mid-term is different from the first: internal division leads to foreign invasion.

New kingdom: unprecedented autocracy, learned to fight.

Assyria conquered Egypt in 67 1 BC. Assyria is the most brave and good at fighting in the two rivers region. Although it ruled Egypt for only eight years, it caused great damage to Egypt. Although the Egyptians quickly resumed their rule, the Egyptian country was already crumbling. In 525 BC, Persia destroyed Egypt, and then Egypt was merged into the Persian Empire, marking the end of the ancient Egyptian country. Later, the Greeks replaced the Persians and the Romans replaced the Greeks. The ancient Egyptian civilization disappeared, and other civilizations entered and became the dominant civilization. Finally, the Arabs ruled Egypt, which was already in the 7th century. P40

Now, Islamic culture is the dominant culture in Egypt, and Egypt is an Islamic country. P40