I.

OBJECTIVE:

1. Analyze the significance of cultural, social,

political and economic symbols and practices
UCSP11/12HBS-Ie-12-Ie-14

A. Topic: 1. Significance of Cultural, Social, Political and Economic Symbols and

Practices
B. Resources: Understanding Culture Society and Politics Significance of Cultural, Social,
Political and Economic Symbols and Practices First Edition, 2020

II. PRESENTATION
A. Discussion

HUMAN CULTURAL EVOLUTION

It is a saying that “human has no contentment”. As the environment changes, we

continuously grow and find ways to make maximize our effort as we live. It is very evident in
the different stages of human cultural evolution: Palaeolithic Period, Neolithic Period, and
Age of Metal. The term “Palaeolithic” was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865. It is
derived the from Greek word, palaios, which means "old"; and, lithos, "stone", In short, the
Palaeolithic Period, which happened 2.5 million years ago, is also known as "Old Stone Age".

In the Palaeolithic period, the Earth was extremely cold and ocean levels were much lower
than they are now. Due to the cold climate, much of the Stone Age is also called the Ice Age.

During these years, people were nomads and able to use simple tools and weapons made of
unpolished stone. The caves served as their shelter.

Similarly, this was the time when people discovered to use the fire, through the use of stone,
for their protection against cold temperature and to cook their own food.

Human beings in this time were grouped together in small societies such as bands, and
subsisted by gathering plants and fishing, hunting or scavenging wild animals. Also in this
era, according to study of Dr. Jesus T. Peralta of NCCA, respect is given to age, and
individual prowess and ability are recognized. There are no leaders that could be said to be
above everybody else and whose commands are obeyed without question. In some cases, one
who is known for good decisions is consulted when a problem arises; or well-known hunter
will be asked to lead a hunting group.

Likewise, the term “Neolithic” also comes from the same archaeologist and from the Greek
word “neo” which means new and “lithos” meaning stone or in short, the “New Stone Age”
which was happened for about 10,000 B.C. In this period, the Cro Magnon disappeared and
the new people who are considered the modern man appeared.

The Neolithic Revolution is also called as the First Agricultural Revolution. During this
period, there was a wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting
and gathering to of agriculture and settlement kind of society which eventually led to
population increase. People depend on domesticated plants and animals. They learned to
create such crafts as pottery and weaving. They likewise developed boat as means of
transportation and for fishing as well.
From being nomads during the early stage, human began to develop a sedentary type of
society of which they built-up villages and towns.

Furthermore, they were never contented of their accomplishments. They kept on discovering
things for their own convenience. So, they discovered metals, and they gradually abandoned
stone as the basic element for their instrument and tools.

This period was known as Age of Metals (4000 B.C – 1500 B.C). The used of metal such as
bronze, copper, and iron produced a new historical development from the cradle civilization
of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia including the India, and China which later spread throughout
Asia.

There were three stages distinguished within this Age due to the different types of metals
that were used: The Copper Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age; copper was the first
known metal, it is of a low hardness and it was used to make ornaments; bronze is an alloy
of copper and tin and it is harder and stronger than copper. Several eastern Mediterranean
peoples discovered this metallurgy and progressed rapidly.

During this age, agricultural tools were developed with bronze, such as plows and sickles,
military weapons like swords, spears and shields, as well as household utensils like jars,
bowls and cups. Likewise, a more developed social, cultural, political, and economic system
were improved. Tribes, empires, and state were recognized at this point.

EARLY CIVILIZATION and RISE of the STATE

Ancient State and Civilization

One of the earliest states and civilizations was found in the Fertile Crescent which is known
as the Mesopotamian civilization. The word Mesopotamia is a Greek word for “Land between
two rivers” which is often referred to as the cradle of civilization. It is the region of the
Western Asia located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. It is known as the Fertile
Crescent where the first evidence of agriculture was also found. Here the first human
civilizations were taking the earliest steps from hunter-gatherer society into settled
community.
Moreover, it is in Mesopotamia that the history writing appeared as early as over 5,000 years
ago. This invention was so important that it marks the end of the Prehistory, and the
beginning of history. One of the first writing systems, the Cuneiform, is one of the most
important civilizations in the history of Mesopotamian culture.

Every city in Mesopotamia had its own government, rulers, warriors, patron god, and
functioned like an independent country. Mesopotamian cities were Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh.
There is a temple at the center of each city called a ziggurat (a massive, tiered, pyramid-
shaped structure).

There was also what we called Mesopotamian warrior-gods (2.400-2.500 B.C.) who govern
and protect the people under its government. Military commanders eventually became
monarch creating a new structure of government called a Dynasty. It is a series of rulers
descending from a single-family line. The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years. In the
year 2350–2150 B.C, Babylonian Empire overtook Sumerians around 2000 B.C., and they
built capital, the Babylon, on Euphrates River.

Another ancient states and civilizations was the Egyptian civilization. It emerged more than
5,000 years ago along the River Nile in the north-east of Africa. The Ancient Egyptians lived
near the River Nile because of its fertile land suitable for growing crops and domestication of
animals. Each year, water from the Nile rose and flooded the area. When the water went
back, it left mud that made the fields fertile.

Egyptians called their king a pharaoh. The pharaoh was all- powerful: He passed laws, He
ruled the country, He owned most of the land, and He controlled trade and led the armies.
Egyptians believed that the pharaohs were gods.

Modern State and Civilization

In the European continent, several states and civilization grew tremendously over centuries.
In England, around 1500s, most of the people lived in small villages. They paid tithes to their
feudal landlords. Henry VII won the War of the Roses in England, which led into what is
known as the Tudor dynasty, and begun the development of the English nation-state.

In Spain in the year 1492, Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella took Spain back from
the Muslim. It became the era of Spain as a global power.

In France, Louis XIV of France created an absolute monarchy. France became the dominant
power in Europe. When The French Revolution broke out, it created the modern French
nation-state, which sparked nationalism around Europe.

In 1914, when various nation-states started to claim their power and superiority over all the
nations in the world, the World War I begun until 1918. In 1919, Treaty of Versailles ended
the World War I. It divided several multinational empires that led to the creation of several
new nation-states.

In 1939, the World War II started until 1945. The end of World War II led to the formation of
United Nations in 1945.
The State of the People: Democratic State In the recent decade after the two World Wars,
people are becoming more active in their government and state affairs, in which people
become the source of political power and government rules. This evolution in the government
is known as the process of democratization, or simply democracy – the rule of the people.

Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime, including substantive

political changes moving in a democratic direction. It may be the transition from an
authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system
to a semi-democracy or transition from a semiauthoritarian political system to a democratic
political system. What is a democracy?

Moreover, a democracy is a form of government where the citizens of the nation have the
power to vote. There are several different types of democracies; (1) a representative
democracy is a system where citizens choose government representatives among their
citizens, (2) direct democracy is when the citizens form a governing body and vote directly on
issues, (3) constitutional democracy limits the powers of government through the nation’s
constitution.

B. Activities:
Activity 1:Direction: The ICEMAN and the ALPS (this activity is adapted from
slideshare.net accessed May 25, 2020)
In 1991, hikers in the Alps found a dead body and notified the authorities. They thought
that person might have died on a recent hike, but extensive scientific testing revealed the
body to be around 5,000 years old! Since the “Iceman” was frozen for all this time, his body
clothing, and tools were all preserved intact, giving us a rare glimpse of what it must have
been like to live in the Neolithic Era.

The discovery of the Iceman has also given us a mystery to solve. The autopsy’ revealed many
signs of violent death. When archaeologists inquire about the past, the examined evidence
and put it together to tell their story. What story does it tell?
1. Based from the activity, what is the significance of human material remains and
artifactual evidence in interpreting culture, social and political processes?
___________________________________________________________________________

2. As compared to our lives today what differences do we have from these men who lived
5,000 years ago in terms of biological and cultural features? Use the reconstructed
picture of the iceman below.

Activity 2: Direction: “A Better Me in My Society” As a millennial and a Filipino youth,

how will you respond and adapt to this changing world where people and society have
indeed developed and became more advanced than before? However, consider some
circumstances that are hooked on it.
Activity 3: Directions: ARTICLE READING 101 Read the article entitled “A Settled Life”.
Analyze how the ancient cultural and socio-political features developed and impact
our present period. Then, be able to answer the succeeding guide questions

A Settled Life (By: Dr. Senta German)

When people think of the Neolithic era, they often think of Stonehenge, the iconic
image of this early era. Dating to approximately 3000 B.C.E. and set on Salisbury Plain in
England, it is a structure larger and more complex than anything built before it in Europe.
Stonehenge is an example of the cultural advances brought about by the Neolithic
revolution—the most important development in human history. The way we live today,
settled in homes, close to other people in towns and cities, protected by laws, eating food
grown on farms, and with leisure time to learn, explore and invent is all a result of the
Neolithic revolution, which occurred approximately 11,500-5,000 years ago. The revolution
which led to our way of life was the development of the technology needed to plant and
harvest crops and to domesticate animals.

Before the Neolithic revolution, it's likely you would have lived with your extended
family as a nomad, never staying anywhere for more than a few months, always living in
temporary shelters, always searching for food and never owning anything you couldn’t
easily pack in a pocket or a sack. The change to the Neolithic way of life was huge and led
to many of the pleasures (lots of food, friends and a comfortable home) that we still enjoy
today.(Stonehenge, c. 3,000 B.C.E., Salisbury Plain, England)

Neolithic Art. The massive changes in the way people lived also changed the types of art
they made. Neolithic sculpture became bigger, in part, because people didn’t have to carry it
around anymore; pottery became more widespread and was used to store food harvested
from farms. This is when alcohol was first produced and when architecture, and its vivid
interior and exterior decoration, first appears. In short, people settle down and begin to live
in one place, year after year.

It seems very unlikely that Stonehenge could have been made by earlier, Paleolithic,
nomads. It would have been a waste to invest so much time and energy building a
monument in a place to which they might never return or might only return infrequently.
After all, the effort to build it was extraordinary. Stonehenge is approximately 320 feet in
circumference and the stones which compose the outer ring weigh as much as 50 tons; the
small stones, weighing as much as 6 tons, were quarried from as far away as 450 miles.
The use or meaning of Stonehenge is not clear, but the design, planning and execution
could have only been carried out by a culture in which authority was unquestioned. Here is
a culture that was able to rally hundreds of people to perform very hard work for extended
periods of time. This is another characteristic of the Neolithic era.

Source: Dr. Senta German, A Settled Life :https://www.khanacademy.org 2020

 Guide Questions: I have analyzed… I think that…
Example: What does the Stonehenge is Example The Stonehenge tries to showcase
trying to tell this modern era? that even before they had already their
cultural advancement, which, in this
modern age can further develop such as the
technologies.
a. Vividly envision the Stonehenge. Imagine
how they built it. Could you say that early
people were physically fit and prepared as
we are today?
b. How did ancient humans end their
“being nomads”?
c. Looking at the “lens” of Stonehenge, how
will you describe the kind of sociopolitical
way?
bd. Why Neolithic Revolution is is
considered as the most important
development in human history?

EVALUATION
DIRECTIONS: Read the following items carefully. Write the letter that corresponds to your
answer on a separate sheet of paper

1. During the earliest stage of human cultural evolution, people were nomadic, so they hunt
and gather foods. As they learn to make a sedentary lifestyle in the Neolithic period.
Which
statement tells the accomplishment of human in the Neolithic period?
A. Live in a cave C. Used metals to upgrade tools
B. Used unpolished stone tools D. Domesticate plants and animals
2. The Age of Metal produced a new historical development from the cradle civilization of
Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia including the India, and China which later on spread
throughout Asia. Which type of metal were the earliest known by human?
A. Aluminum B. Bronze C. Copper D. Iron
3. There are three notable stages in the human cultural evolution. Which statement tells
the
correct timeline of these evolutions?
A. Age of Metal, Neolithic Period, Paleolithic Period
B. Neolithic Period, Paleolithic Period, Age of Metal
C. Paleolithic Period, Age of Metal, Neolithic Period
D. Paleolithic Period, Neolithic Period, Age of Metal
4.From being nomads during the early stage, human began to developed a sedentary type of
society of which they built-up villages and towns. In which era has these evolutions
happens?
A. Age of Bronze B. Age of Copper C. Neolithic Period D. Paleolithic Period
5. The most significant evolution in Paleolithic period is when people discovered the use of
fire. In the Neolithic period is when human learned to domesticate plants and animals,
which is known to be the First Agricultural Revolution. In the Age of Metal is the discovery
of people in using metal as their tools, thus, the Age of Metal is identified as:
A. Agricultural Revolution C. Stone Revolution
B. Metal Civilization D. Rise of Civilization
6. How were the first modern humans (Homo sapiens) different from any other hominid
species?
 A. They lived outside of Africa C. They used and controlled fire
B. They had large brains D. They used symbolic thought
7. In the history of human social evolution, what group of people was skillful at hunting
and butchering animals?
A. Australopithecus B. Home erectus C. Homo habilis D. Homo sapien
8. In the history of human civilization in which people started to develop their society,
where did the world’s first Civilization develop?
A. Mesopotamia B. Crete C. Egypt D. Eastern China
9. From the different kind of government in various societies, what is a form of government
where the citizens of the nation have the power to vote?
A. Aristocracy B. Bureaucracy C. Democracy D. Capitalism
10. .In the context of European historical society, which of the following DOES NOT
happened during pre -1500’s?
A. Henry VII wins the War of the Roses in England, begins the Tudor dynasty, and
starts the development of the English nation-state.
B. The era of Spain as a global power begins.
C. The hundred year’s war started.
D. The French Revolution
11.In the history of war, the nations started to claim their power and
supremacy over the nations. Which treaty ends the World War I and breaks
several multi-rational empires?
A. Treaty of Saint-Germain en Laye C. Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine
B. Treaty of Versailles D. Faisal-Weizmann agreement
12.Democracy is a type of government in which the people elect their leader in
the government position. Direct democracy is the system in which...
A. Citizens choose their representatives in free and fair elections.
B. Citizens are allowed to debate with their representatives in open public meetings.
C. Citizens represent themselves in the decision-making process.
D. Senior political leaders are known as 'Directors'.
13.Which statement most accurately describes how geography affected the
growth of the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia?
A. River valleys provided rich soil to grow plentiful crops.
B. Large deserts provided many mineral deposits.
C. Access to the Atlantic Ocean provided trade routes.
D. Lage Savannah areas provided protection from invaders.
14.Which geographic feature was common to the development of civilizations in
ancient Egypt, China, India, and Mesopotamia?
A. river valleys
B. rain forests
C. deserts
D. mountains
15.In the context of ancient civilization, which factor led to the development of
civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia?
A. political harmony
B. favorable geography
C. religious differences
D. universal education
 ANSWER SHEET

Name:_____________________________________________ Section: ____________________