Origins of Civilization: Chapter One

Origins of Civilization

Chapter One: Dawn of Humanity

The sun rose on a warm day in the plains of Africa. A band of nomads woke up and mingled around their camp. Soon, they would go out and hunt. The food was plentiful at this time of year. Their leader rounded them up for the hunt. The children gathered the weapons for the adults and they set out. A leader blew a goat horn and the band of 30 nomadic hunters set out.

They charged across the plains and found a group of animals. A man stabbed one, who fell to the ground. The adults and some of the older children slaughtered as many animals as they could. They did this all day, every day. At sunset, they would feast on the carcasses.

Nobody thought this brutal except one boy, a weakling of the tribe. Or so everybody thought. This boy would turn out to be revolutionary in the landscape of society. He brought to the world something never seen before: religion. Everybody else was so concerned with hunting, with surviving. He did not mind eating animals, he just thought it was the work of someone else. In secret, he prayed to the gods, gods of which he had created, in the eyes of the non-believers. But he believed in them. The gods of the hunt, the moon, the sun, the day, the night, the sky, the river, the mountains in the far off lands, gods which would shape the future of society in ways unprecedented.

But over time, his followers grew. From the few, to the dozens, to the scores, to the hundreds. A new religion was forming. It spread over the land, even after the boy grew old and died. But it grew. And soon after, it would branch off and become the basis for other polytheistic faiths. And even more would develop the same way this one did, without the help of another faith. In all corners of the world, people prayed to their gods, creating faiths based on the culture of their tribes. This one boy was just a small example.

In one corner of the world, in a place that shaped the future of civilization, many years later, a new empire was being developed. In a land between two rivers, known as Mesopotamia, the annual flood washed over the soil. This was a large one, and would bring good crops. A band of nomads spoke amongst each other. This would be the perfect spot for a new city.

And so they built it. And more after it. And Mesopotamia grew into amazing empires. And in one city, a city called Sumer, the future was taking shape.

People gathered around a man holding a tablet. On it were peculiar writings, which nobody knew would shape the future of time. The man spoke to them about his discoveries and visions of the movement of hours, minutes, and seconds. 60 seconds in a minute. 60 minutes in an hour. 24 hours in a day.

At first, people were uncomfortable with this. But this new timetable was accepted by the kings of Sumer. And, as you may know, it is now used by virtually everyone.

Sumer was in a region appropriately called the Fertile Crescent. This once-great region gave birth to some of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. Plagued by countless wars, the Crescent has declined in greatness and is now known for its futility and endless conflict.

In another corner of the Crescent, in a land called Israel, one of the most influential religions was taking shape. When the Jews triumphantly returned to their Holy Land, Judaism flourished even more. Although persecuted by kings, this religion was one of the most important in history. But why? Because of its God. Judaism had only one God, now known as HaShem by its most devoted followers. This was probably only the second major monotheistic faith, a fact that would alter history. The first was most likely Zoroastrianism, which originated in Iraq, similar to Judaism. This one did not flourish, however, in the way that many others did.

In the heart of the Holy Land, a temple was being built by the Hebrews. One of the most sacred sites in the world at the time, this would become one of the most important places on Earth to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Once it was finally completed, it would stand for only a century or two, before a brutal ending.

But let us look at somewhere close by, but very different-the Nile. On the floodplain, Egypt was developing. The Pharaoh ruled the great society with an iron fist. And Egypt was influential as well. They were champions of women’s rights, excellent architects and mathematicians, and would shape the future of society.

As the pharaoh rode on his boat down the Nile, people gathered and cheered. They threw flowers into the river for their leader.

But in another corner of the world, in the Indus Valley, yet another religion formed. Amazingly, this one has survived for thousands of years, and amassed over one billion followers. It was known as Hinduism.

In a temple, deep in the heart of the Indus Delta, a group of children prayed to the gods. Hinduism is not just one of the oldest religions, it is the only major polytheistic religion that is practiced today. Monotheism has come to dominate modern culture. And it all started with the Hebrews, nomadic farmers who refused to be persecuted by evil kings, and never gave up in their quest for freedom to pray to their God.

But, all great things must come to an end. And so does this chapter. But with this chapter goes peace, and many other things as well. As the East was flourishing, in the West, across the Atlantic, in a land known as Mesoamerica, a new empire was growing powerful like never before.

The Mayans united on a summer day. All 20 of their city-states agreed to join together. They had always been bonded by their religion, culture, and language, if not their leadership. This unity seemed like a good idea to many.

But the one thing they had not thought of was who would rule. For democracy had never been seen in Mesoamerica. 20 leaders were unsure what would happen next. All except one, who decided who would rule-him. He and his followers gathered together in the night and charged down a road, to another city-state. They plundered  everything, killing the leaders and upsetting the balance of peace. Word would soon travel to everyone in the Empire that was destined to fall before it even formed.

And so this chapter ends. The first chapter in this series has drawn to a conclusion. What will happen next? Well, the Mayans are on the brink of war. The East is flourishing. Greek city-states are developing. Romulus and Remus were just rescued by a wolf. Deep in the Himalayas, a prince known as the Buddha was born. The future of the world will be decided in Chapter Two.