Our early ancestors made amazing breakthroughs in thought and tool-use, populated much of the world, and learned to farm.

Where did agriculture begin? You’re just starting this unit, so you may not know. That’s ok! Make a prediction on a blank map—you’ll have a chance to revise later in this lesson.

Farming was adopted in many places, but there’s a fierce debate on how and why it happened and whether it was a good thing.

Two leading world historians discuss the connections between the shift to agriculture and the rise of states.

Using the Ancient Empires and Agriculture Thematic map, and the knowledge you’ve learned in this lesson, it’s time to go back and review the map you created earlier in the lesson.

A full-color thematic map of the Ancient Empires and Agriculture in 300 BCE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

People built bigger, more complex communities and networks of exchange in this era. But with new developments came new challenges. Then new solutions. Then new problems.

Orient yourself in time and space as you begin this lesson, by using maps to make predictions about the communities and trade routes you will study.

A full-color political map of the world in 300 BCE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A black and white version of the world in 300 BCE, that can be cropped to specific regions and easily printed.

A full-color thematic map of the Ancient Empires and Agriculture in 300 BCE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

For most of human history, we lived in small villages and towns—not large states. Before long-distance trade, these villages and towns formed networks of interconnection with each other.

Farming was a major development, but not all humans began farming at the same time. In this article, we look at the lives of the pastoralists, nomads, and foragers.

For thousands of years, complex societies interacted in at least two regional trade networks. Then 500 years ago, they connected as one global network that still exists today.

Between 1500 BCE and 500 BCE, a new technology swept through Afro-Eurasia. It would reshape warfare, trade, the environment, and human social relationships.

The Silk Road—which was not really one road—connected towns, cities, states, and empires across Eurasia through vibrant trade networks, moving goods, ideas, and diseases.

The shift to farming led to the development of cities and states in some regions. These societies developed similar structures and strategies, but there were variations.

Cities forever changed the way humans lived. They connected the people living in them to one another, to surrounding farmland, and to people in other cities.

During the Classic Period of Mesoamerica, huge cities arose in the Yucatan and the Mexican Highlands. These cities challenge assumptions about ancient urbanization.

What are states? Why did they emerge at different points in human history? Two historians help us answer these questions for two different regions of the world.

Humanity’s ways of understanding the world have changed over time, but our diverse belief systems share many characteristics.

Silent conversation? Huh? It’s amazing how much can be said without spoken words!

The Confucian ethic promoted a sense of balance and hierarchy. Its ideas were useful to individuals. But the Chinese state also adapted them for use in laws and practices.

Daoism is a Chinese belief system that emphasizes harmony with the natural order as a way of living and understanding the world.

Buddhism emerged in northern India as a challenge to Vedic beliefs, and it became very popular in China around the seventh century CE.

Legalism was a philosophy that sought to establish order by imposing strict laws and strict punishments. It co-existed with Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism in China.

Belief systems can tell us a lot about how people thought and how they lived. In this activity, you’ll explore the history and teachings of four different belief systems.

Judaism was the first monotheistic faith. Its ideas influenced many later belief systems. Though never a large community, Judaism spread over a large geographic area.

Christianity emerged among a Jewish population living under Roman rule. Its universalist message appealed to many communities. Today there are 2 billion Christians worldwide.

Hinduism developed through the intellectual work of Brahmins and the practices of practitioners. About a billion people follow this faith today, mostly in South Asia.

Muhammad founded Islam in the seventh century. The Islamic community expanded rapidly, adapting to local culture as it spread. Today there are 1.8 billion Muslims globally.

Belief systems change over time. They also change when people come into contact with each other and share ideas. This process is called syncretism.

There are many definitions of empire, but some familiar elements are shared by most of them. There’s a reason for that: It starts with working on our “control issues”.

Gods, family, and taxes: An emperor’s guide to controlling subjects and legitimizing authority.

It’s time review the map predictions you made earlier in the unit, and examine a series of new maps to help you think about the spread of belief systems.

A full-color political map of the world in 300 BCE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color political map of the world in 100 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color thematic map of the Spread of Buddhism and Christianity in 100 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

Lots of changes happened in Era 4. Both within individual communities, and across wide networks. Societies and systems collapsed, rebuilt, and were transformed.

How did physical features like oceans, rivers, and deserts help shape networks of trade? Make a prediction on a blank map—you’ll revise at the end of this era.

A black and white version of the world in 800 CE, that can be cropped to specific regions and easily printed.

A full-color thematic map of Medieval Trade Routes in 1450 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

Empires are built to keep different people together under one government. That’s not easy to do, as pretty much every empire in history found out!

The Silk Road didn’t collapse after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It continued to tie together local networks and boost economic production across Asia.

By 1200 CE, Oceania had become a web of far-flung communities. Despite long distances and great diversity, they used sophisticated maritime technology to stay connected.

Consulting maps about the spread of religions and reflecting on what you’ve learned in Era 4, it’s time to go back and review the map you created in the first lesson.

A full-color political map of the world in 100 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color political map of the world in 800 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color political map of the world in 1200 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color thematic map of the Spread of Buddhism and Christianity in 100 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

A full-color thematic map of the Spread of Islam in 800 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.