World History 6th edition by William J. Duiker
ISBN-13: 9780495569015
ISBN-10: 0495569011
FOR SEVERAL MILLION YEARS aft er primates fi rst appeared
on the surface of the earth, human beings lived in
small communities, seeking to survive by hunting, fi shing,
and foraging in a frequently hostile environment. Th en
suddenly, in the space of a few thousand years, there was an
abrupt change of direction as humans in a few widely scattered
areas of the globe began to master the art of cultivating
food crops. As food production increased, the population
in those areas rose correspondingly, and people began
to congregate in larger communities. Governments were
formed to provide protection and other needed services to
the local population. Cities appeared and became the focal
point of cultural and religious development. Historians refer
to this process as the beginnings of civilization.
