1. What motivates humans? Class discussion on human motivation (why do humans do what they do?) with an introduction to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
2. Introduction to PERCI and PERCI notes on Early Human Societies (Scavengers/Hunter-Gatherers, Pastoral Nomads, and Agriculturalists.
PERCI is an acronym that stands for Political, Economic, Religious, Cultural, and Intellectual. We use these categories as a framework to better make sense of the different groups we study. It also allows us to compare and contrast groups over time and space.
POLITICAL - Who makes decisions in this society? How are the leaders chosen? How is government structured? Is the government centralized or decentralized? Does the government have absolute power?
ECONOMIC - What economic activities do people practice? What type of trade is conducted? How is wealth accumulated and passed down?
RELIGIOUS - Is the religion monotheist or polytheist? Is god abstract or animist? Who are the holy people and what is their role?
CULTURAL - How is the culture structured (social classes)? What social and gender roles are a part of society? What are the key beliefs and values of the culture, and how are they manifested? What is the language and writing system?
INTELLECTUAL - What knowledge did this group innovate? What inventions and breakthroughs were made by this group. On what is their knowledge based?
3. Crash Course World History Video: Agricultural Revolution VIDEO LINK Video Questions - Why did foragers/hunter-gatherers settle near the shores of bodies of water? - What were the advantages of the hunter-gatherer diet? - Define "independent innovation." What were the staple crops in different parts of the world? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of the agricultural diet? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of the pastoral (herding) diet? - Why was pastoralism (herding) practice more often in the Eastern Hemisphere rather tha the Western Hemisphere? - Describe the theories about why the Agricultural Revolution occurred. - Explain the effect of the Agricultural Revoultion on human societies and the natural environment.