Humanities Study Guide

Humanities Study Guide

Chapter 2: Ancient Civilizations

Overview In this chapter we go back to the beginning of human culture to understand how the humanities developed in the most basic civilizations. We’ll move quickly through time, as artifacts are fewer and far between up until the Ancient Greek and Roman eras. Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, you will be able to • Identify and describe the earliest human art forms • Discuss the architectural contributions of various ancient civilizations • Identify the main parts of Greek theater and art • Describe the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophies • Identify the significant contributions of modern literature 2.1 The First Humans There is some speculation about the origin of the first humans. Some scientists believe that the first humans were descendants of chimps and evolved into the people we know today. Many religions teach that a divine creator made the first humans. Either way, the first humans on Earth formed social structures of kinship networks and families, and they began expressing themselves through art. Sc lpture Sculptures are the oldest form of human art that has been discovered. One titled Venus of the Fels Cave is thought to be the absolute oldest ever recorded. It is a figure of a Venus made of ivory that was unearthed in a cave in Germany in 2008. Most sculptures from these times are depictions of mammals, birds, or women. The most common sculptures are those of stone women, with often exaggerated features. There have also been ancient sculptures discovered in India, of bronze, dancing girls that were created between 3300 - 1700 BCE. Early societies in the region of China used jade to carve sculptures -- usually dragons or other culturally significant creatures. Paintings Caves in southwest Europe are home to some of the humanities' first paintings and engravings. The images often show animals and may have been ritual worship sites. Ancient Egyptians also used paintings in their tombs and temples. The paintings in tombs were often designed to help guide the spirit into the afterlife.

© 2020

Achieve

Page 17 of 62