Origins of Western Civilization: Cultural Anthropology & Human Pre-History
An exploration of human innovation in pre-history, this course looks at the origins of agriculture, the first uses of bronze and iron tools, and explores some of civilization's oldest cities and empires!
Susan Lanigan
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(243)
What's included
8 live meetings
6 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 6 - 9
Humans who lived 12,000 years ago didn't have it easy. Food was scarce, and everything was a threat. So how did they manage to start farming, building cities, and inventing languages? This course explores what everyday life was like for humans in pre-history, and trace how their decisions led to the society we live in today! Each week we will discuss a different topic, starting with the first generation of humans who began to move away from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle into the cultivation of crops and the domestication of animals. We will explore the world's first cities (tiny compared to modern standards!) and take a closer look at the Three-Age model of Stone, Iron, and Bronze. Lesson topics are as follows, and are broadly chronological: 1. Paleolithic Era: Human Life Before Agriculture 2. The Neolithic Revolution (AKA Farming is Harder Than it Looks!) 3. Civilization's First Cities: From Çatalhöyük to Babylon 4. Making Metals: The Use of Bronze in Mesopotamia 5. Mesopotamian Cultures: The First Urban Settlements 6. Saxons & Vikings in Bronze Age Europe 7. The Iron Age: The Use of Modern Metals & the Invention of Writing 8. Course Review & Wrap Up The class is listed as 45 minutes, but depending on class size and level of discussion, may take up a full hour.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2016
4.8
243reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a practicing bioarchaeologist, and wrote my Master's thesis on the subject of paleopathology of Neolithic populations in North Africa -- people who lived during this transitional period from human pre-history into the agricultural age. The lifestyles of these ancient populations influence us in many ways today, including what we eat, where we live, and even how tall we are!Reviews
Live Group Course
$140
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
45 min
Completed by 27 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
2-14 learners per class
