Chapter 5 – Art of the Earliest Times

Prehistoric Art

  • Prehistoric – means before written records.
  • Culture – the ideas, beliefs and living customs of

people.

  • Paleolithic period – Old Stone Age 30,000 –

10,000 B.C.

  • People during the Paleolithic period were

hunters and gatherers.

  • Art of this period included: cave painting and

sculpture. Artwork was based upon animals

and hunting.

  • Neolithic Period – New Stone Age 10,000 –

3,500 B.C.

  • People began to raise livestock and grow crops.
  • Art of this period include: Crafts, pottery,

possibly weaving they could spin fiber for garments, and architecture.

  • Megaliths – large stone slabs used in or as

monuments.

  • Post-and-lintel system – a method of

construction in which a cross beam is placed across the opening of two uprights.

  • Id

Cave PaintingStonehenge

Art of Ancient Egypt

  • Societies – large human groups whose

members share a common purpose and similar ideals.

  • Ancient Egypt formed along the banks of the

NileRiver around 3,000 B.C.

  • Pharaoh – the ruler that was considered to be

a living god.

  • Hieroglyphics – Egyptian early form of picture

writing.

  • Egyptians identified gods with forces of nature.
  • Mummification – used to preserve the body for

the afterlife.

  • Architecture they created pyramids which were

tombs for the pharaohs.

  • Art created for the Egyptian religion based

upon the belief in the afterlife. Examples: pyramids, tombs, temples, tomb painting, and stele.

  • Ka – person’s spirit
  • Stele – a painted or carved upright stone or

wood slab used as a monument.

  • Painting style of the Egyptians – figures appear

from the side both arms and legs must be seen. Egyptians thought Ka would appear how it was seen in the tombs in the afterlife. If something could not be seen it would not exist in the afterlife.

  • Id

PyramidKing Tut’s Death Mask

SteleHieroglyphics

Ancient Chinese Culture

  • Chinese civilization emerged about 2600 B.C.

along the Yellow RiverValley.

  • Chinese culture is the oldest continuous culture

in the history of the world.

  • Dynasties – periods of time named for ruling

families or emperors. The history and art of China is identified upon dynasties.

  • Hu – a large bronze vessel.
  • Art of the Chinese culture includes paintings on

silk, sculpture, and crafts. They also cast in bronze.

  • Id

Silk Painting

Ancient Indian Culture

  • Harappan Indian civilization lasted from 2,500

B.C. – 1,500 B.C. along the IndusRiverValley.

  • Art of the Indian civilization included: clay

pottery, bronze articles, and cotton cloth. Most important contribution was using cotton cloth for clothing.

  • Urban Planning – a plan of arranging the

buildings and services of a city to best meet its people’s needs.

Mesopotamian Culture

  • Mesopotamian was ruled by the Sumerians and

the region stretched between the Tigris and EuphratesRiver. The culture began between 3,500 – 3,000 B.C.

  • Cuneiform – a form of picture writing systems

developed by the Sumerians.

  • Ziggurat – a stepped mountain made of brick

covered earth which held temples.

  • Art of the Mesopotamian civilization included:

architecture (ziggurat) and animal

sculptures.

  • Id

Ziggurat

All Ancient Cultures Civilizations

  • Religion based upon forces in nature.
  • Ruled by a king or leader.
  • Capable of growing food.
  • Had forms of language.