Difference between revisions of "Three Age Theory"
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The Three Age Theory was developed in 1816 by Christian Thomson, the newly appointed curator of the Danish National Museum of Antiquities. Alternatively called the Three Age System, the Three Age Theory was a system that sought to organize ancient artifacts. Artifacts were divided into three groups; those made of stone, those made of bronze, and those made of steel. Thomsen deduced that humans first had stone technology, then made bronze tools, and finally created iron tools. All civilizations followed this pattern. He called these times the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. His theory was the first scientifically based theory of cultural evolution. The Three Age Theory greatly impacted the archeological field because archeologists could deduce the age of the objects by looking at the layers. According to the theory of Superposition, the older objects would be below the newer objects, so the stone tools would be at the bottom, followed by the bronze tools, which in turn were followed by the iron tools. | The Three Age Theory was developed in 1816 by Christian Thomson, the newly appointed curator of the Danish National Museum of Antiquities. Alternatively called the Three Age System, the Three Age Theory was a system that sought to organize ancient artifacts. Artifacts were divided into three groups; those made of stone, those made of bronze, and those made of steel. Thomsen deduced that humans first had stone technology, then made bronze tools, and finally created iron tools. All civilizations followed this pattern. He called these times the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. His theory was the first scientifically based theory of cultural evolution. The Three Age Theory greatly impacted the archeological field because archeologists could deduce the age of the objects by looking at the layers. According to the theory of Superposition, the older objects would be below the newer objects, so the stone tools would be at the bottom, followed by the bronze tools, which in turn were followed by the iron tools. | ||
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Conflict can arise when a civilization in one age interacts with a civilization in a more advanced age. Usually, when these two civilizations meet, the civilization in the more advanced age is victorious. For example, the Native Americans were still in their Stone Age when the Europeans, an Iron Age civilization, reached the shores of America. Because of the Europeans were part of the advanced Iron Age, they had better tools and were more powerful than the Native Americans. | Conflict can arise when a civilization in one age interacts with a civilization in a more advanced age. Usually, when these two civilizations meet, the civilization in the more advanced age is victorious. For example, the Native Americans were still in their Stone Age when the Europeans, an Iron Age civilization, reached the shores of America. Because of the Europeans were part of the advanced Iron Age, they had better tools and were more powerful than the Native Americans. | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 3 September 2011
Three Age Theory
The Three Age Theory was developed in 1816 by Christian Thomson, the newly appointed curator of the Danish National Museum of Antiquities. Alternatively called the Three Age System, the Three Age Theory was a system that sought to organize ancient artifacts. Artifacts were divided into three groups; those made of stone, those made of bronze, and those made of steel. Thomsen deduced that humans first had stone technology, then made bronze tools, and finally created iron tools. All civilizations followed this pattern. He called these times the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. His theory was the first scientifically based theory of cultural evolution. The Three Age Theory greatly impacted the archeological field because archeologists could deduce the age of the objects by looking at the layers. According to the theory of Superposition, the older objects would be below the newer objects, so the stone tools would be at the bottom, followed by the bronze tools, which in turn were followed by the iron tools.
"Conflict"
Conflict can arise when a civilization in one age interacts with a civilization in a more advanced age. Usually, when these two civilizations meet, the civilization in the more advanced age is victorious. For example, the Native Americans were still in their Stone Age when the Europeans, an Iron Age civilization, reached the shores of America. Because of the Europeans were part of the advanced Iron Age, they had better tools and were more powerful than the Native Americans.
Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/archaeology/overview/notepads_laptops_03.shtml
(insert source (Compiled by Rosei Beniretto and Clay Elliot Published in Houston, Texas by St. John's School 2011-2012)
