World History: A Look Into the Past

Understanding History History is the story of the past and is all around us. Oral tradition is passing on history by word of mouth. An artifact is an object made by someone in the past.

Sources are the most important tools. A historian can use primary and secondary sources to identify the purpose and name of artifacts. Primary sources are materials that were created during the time under study. These can be written things such as magazine articles, or non-written things such as toys, tools, or pictures.

Secondary sources are records of the past that are based on studies of primary sources, such as a book written about the 1950s.

Iceman of the Alps Archaeology is the study of the remains of past cultures. Archaeologists carefully excavate historical sites. They use tests like carbon dating and instruments to preserve these artifacts.

Discovery in the Alps Iceman discovered in Alps by hikers. Carbon dating test on artifacts accompanying the Iceman estimated to be 5,300 years old. Iceman lived during a period called prehistory. Prehistory is the time before writing. Our understanding of prehistory is often based on the work done by archaeologists.

Archaeologists first make a detailed map of the location. Photographs are taken to show where each artifact is found. Iceman carried black fungus (sulfur and iron) fire starter and birch fungus medicine, as well as a variety of handmade tools.

X-rays showed broken ribs so archaeologist believed that the Iceman was injured before he was covered with ice. The Iceman was actually killed by an assassin’s arrow while eating a meal. The Iceman’s clothes and tools helped archaeologists hypothesize what his life may have been like. Archaeologists and historians can sometimes make conclusions about life in past cultures by looking closely at information about one or two individuals.

Early Cultures and People Life Long Ago Scientists do not agree when or where human life began. Based on archaeological finds in East Africa, some scientists believe that human life began over 2 million years ago. Tools such as sharpened stones are some of the first examples of human developed technology. Technology is the use of skills and tools to meet practical needs.

Stone tools were the most common technology until about 12,000 years ago in a period called the Old Stone Age. Old Stone Age technology began 40,000 years ago, around 38,000 BCE. The technology of fire building made it possible for people to survive in colder climates.

Life in the Old Stone Age This also marked the time when people began to work more closely together and develop cultures. Hunter-gatherers settled in areas such as the Border Cave in South Africa. Border Cave is near a grassy river valley where animals would graze and could be hunted. Small arrowhead like blades suggests that bows and arrows were used to kill animals for food.

Remains of seeds show that wild plums, oranges, and starchy plants were gathered for foods and medicine. People lined their caves with grass bedding for comfort and built fires for heat, light, and cooking. Seashells were found in an ancient burial site. Seashell decorations and cave paintings have survived to show that Old Stone Age people appreciated beauty. This demonstrated caring for a fellow human being as well as traveling 50 miles to the shore of the Indian Ocean.

Agriculture Changes the World About 12,000 years ago when the earth's climate began to warm, the number of plants and animals began to soar. Archaeologists believe that some of the hunter- gatherers built permanent homes and started to experiment with agriculture. Agriculture is raising crops and animals for human use. The period beginning about 12,000 years ago and ending roughly 6,000 years ago is called the New Stone Age.

Agriculture provided a way for people to live in large groups without the need to travel great distances to gather food. People had to domesticate plants and animals. To domesticate means to train something to be useful to people.

Catal Huyuk Catal Huyuk was one of the earliest cities built over 8,500 years ago and housing about 5,000 people. Homes were built of brick and plaster with entry doors from the roof. One out of every three buildings in the city was probably a temple demonstrating the importance of religion.

A storage area was attached to the house and held pots filled with grain. These pots held the food surplus, an extra supply of food. Enough crops could now be harvested for the city for an entire year.

Specialization, or people training to do particular kinds of work, became possible. Now some people farmed while others specialized in making tools, bricks, or pots. Since farmers now had a surplus of food, they could trade with other people for their items. These changes created the first civilizations. A civilization is a culture that has developed systems of specialization, religion, learning, and government.

The people of Catal Huyuk started to work with copper. Trade, the exchange of goods, started among the people of this time. Many people traveled great distances to trade.