World History Early Humans From the Paleolithic Period to the Neolithic Revolution

Presentation Outline: 1.Evolution 2.Creation myths 3.Monogenesis 4.Polygenesis 5.Stone Age (Paleolithic) 6.New Stone Age (Neolithic)

1. Evolution The consensus from the scientific community is that humans evolved from primates to homo sapiens (human beings) over the course of a few million years.

2.Creation myths Many indigenous and non- scientific communities have traditionally believed that humans were created by a God, gods, or other deities. Muslims, Jews, and Christians believe that God created the first man, Adam, and then from his rib created Eve. Can you think of other creation myths?

3. Monogenesis (Out of Africa Theory) Most modern anthropologists have concluded that humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other parts of the world.

Q: How is this evidence interpreted? Archaeological Evidence: “Lucy” 6 Louis & Mary Leakey Richard Leakey, 1979 “Lucy” skeleton Footprints in Olduvai Gorge, eastern Africa

4. Polygenesis Many racial scientists in the 19 th and 20 th centuries rejected the monogenesis theory and believed that each race originated in its own region or homeland. Why would many people choose to believe this despite little archaeological evidence?

5. Stone Age (Paleolithic period) 2.6 million to 10,000 B.C.E Earliest evidence of human activity Called the Old Stone Age

ToolsSocial OrganizationArtReligion Used primitive tools such as stone to carve hunting weapons, cut food, and use in art Organized into clans or large extended families Nomadic hunter and gatherers who moved to chase their food supplies Women and men participated equally in decision- making and shared duties Archaeologists have discovered cave drawings of early humans depicting hunting scenes Paleolithic humans buried their dead and had some belief in the afterlife, though they did not believe in any one particular god

6. New Stone Age (Neolithic period) 10,000 B.C.E to about 3,000 B.C.E Often called the New Stone Age period First evidence of permanent human settlements Coincided with a warming of the earth and the increase in human and animal populations

Horticulture transition During the transition from the Paleolithic to Neolithic period, humans began planting and growing single crops (wheat, rice, potato, etc.) This was labor intensive and did not involve a plow or any irrigation system

ToolsSocial OrganizationArtReligion More sophisticated tools could be used in farming Permanent settlements were built close to farming sites Women were no longer needed to gather food as it could now be grown Gender inequality emerges More sophisticated tools led to the creation of more sophisticated art including pottery Neolithic humans built monuments to their creators and gods

Ancient city of Catal Huyuk (Turkey) 6000 B.C.

Agriculture and the Domestication of Animals During the late Neolithic period in Egypt and Mesopotamia, full- scale agriculture emerges, aided by the animal labor (plow) and irrigation