The Peopling of the World Prehistory-2500 B.C. Human Origins in Africa

Time Line of Earth 4.4 Billion years ago – Earth is formed 3.5 billion years ago – First cell is formed. 204 million years ago – First dinosaurs appeared. 65 millions years ago – Dinosaurs disappear. 4 million years ago – hominids appear. (human-like) 200,000 years ago – Neanderthals appear. 40,000 years ago – Cro-Magnons appear.

Prehistory People today learn about the past by using written records Since the invention of writing only took place about 5000 years ago, knowledge of events before the written word are a little harder to learn about. The events of the world in the time period before the written word is called Prehistory. Scientist who learn about events of prehistory are called archaeologists. Archaeologists work in archaeological digs to find artifacts that existed thousands of years ago. Some examples of artifacts are: jewelry, bones, tools and items made by prehistoric people. Scientists that study the culture of these people are called Anthropologists. Anthropologists re-create a picture of early peoples behaviors and customs. Paleontologists are the scientist that date the artifacts that the archaeologist and anthropologist put together.

Dating Artifacts Radiocarbon Dating is an effective form of dating artifacts. The rate of decay in artifacts is accurate up to 70,000 years ago. Amino Acid Dating is an effective way to date artifacts up to almost 2 million years ago.

Carbon Dating

Early Finds in Africa In the mid 1970’s, archaeologists found fossilized footprints of a human like creature that existed up to 3.6 million years ago. This find was in east Africa. In North Africa another amazing find by Donald Johanson was made when they found a near complete human skeleton that they named Lucy and was dated to about 3.5 million years ago. These two finds were called Australopithecines which made up a new class of people from that era.

Divisions of the Stone Ages Paleolithic Stone Age- Paleo means old and Lith means stone, therefore Paleolithic refers to the Old Stone Age. The Paleolithic Stone Age lasted from about 2.5 million years ago to about 8,000 B.C. Neolithic Stone Age-Neo means new so the Neolithic means New Stone and lasted from about 8,000 B.C. to about 3,000 B.C. Both stone ages were periods of time when tools and weapons were made primarily of Stone

Homo habilis vs. Homo erectus Humanoid fossils were found in a valley in east Africa The being was called homo habilis because it means “man of skill”, and close to where the fossils were found there were tools made of stone. Homo habilis existed around 2.5 million years ago

Homo erectus A new group of human like creatures appeared about 1.6 million years ago. The new species of creature was named Homo erectus which mean upright man. Homo erectus was different from Homo habilis because Homo erectus began to use intelligence to develop technology . Basically this new group of people used tools for specific needs and tasks. Homo erectus were the first people to use fire for their needs, and cooperate with each other Scientist believe that Homo erectus were the first to begin using some sort of spoken language.

Homo Sapiens Homo erectus eventually evolved into Homo sapiens, which means wise men. In 1997 through DNA testing scientist discovered that Neanderthals and Cro Magnons are not related to modern humans and not ancestors of modern humans.

Neander Valley

Neanderthals In 1856 while working in the Neander Valley in Germany, workers found fossilized bone fragments that belonged to a well developed and muscular framed being. Neanderthals existed between 200,000 years ago and 30,000 years ago. Evidence shows that Neanderthals tried to control and explain the world they lived in. Evidence even shows that Neanderthals even had a type of religion. Neanderthals sought shelter, hunted game, cut meat with knives made of stone, and survived extremely cold temperatures.

Cro Magnons

Cro-Magnons About 40,000 years ago another group of human like people appeared The Cro-Magnons were more advanced hunters than the Neanderthals which allowed them to increase in population at a faster rate than did the Neanderthals. The Cro-Magnons had over 100 tools which consisted of over 100 tools made of wood, stone, and bone. A type of verbal language was believed to have existed with the Cro-Magnons which allowed them to cooperate much easier than did the Neanderthals. Probably the most telling characteristic of the Cro-Magnons was their paintings that were usually created with mud, charcoal, and animal blood. These paintings were the first hieroglyphics drawn on cave walls. Another reason that Cro-Magnons were believed to be successful was because of cooperation between groups. This made the task of gathering food easier, which let do more food and healthier members of their tribe.

Time Line 4 million B.C. 2.5 million B.C. 1.6 million B.C. Human-like beings – hominids appear in Africa 2.5 million B.C. Homo Habilis appears - Paleolithic Age begins 1.6 million B.C. Homo erectus appears – Africa, Asia, Europe 200,000 B.C. Neanderthals appear – Europe, SW Asia 40,000 B.C. Cro-Magnons appear – Europe 8,000 B.C.- Ice Age ends and Neolithic Age begins 8,000 B.C.- Agriculture begins in Africa and Asia

Hunters and Gatherers, Section 2 In the beginning of human existence, humans were hunters and gatherers who followed herds of game which was their source of food. Because of this groups were nomadic and moved from place to place following their source of food. These early groups of people would also eat various plants and berries, and eventually found out that if they would leave seeds behind, when they returned to an area those seeds would have produced new plants. This was the very beginning of farming. 8,000 B.C

Development of Farming Scientist conclude that the climate around the world began to warm all at once. Because of the warming, plants were able to grow, and wildlife had to move less, therefore people began to settle into specific areas and began to grow their own food. The domestication of animals soon followed the beginning of agriculture. Since many people had not lived so close to each other, the development of groups of people living close together had its challenges as well. Failed crops affected many people at once. Drought had an adverse affect on many. Disease also had the opportunity to spread quickly like never before. Even though these farming villages had many problems, like diseases, drought, natural diseasters, some eventually grew into great cities.

Farming started where? Africa – Nile River Valley, wheat, barley, crops China – rice, millet Mexico and Central America – corn, beans, and squash Peru - tomatoes, potatoes

Sumer – First Civilization

Sumer The first civilization was in Sumer, now part of Iraq – Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia. The ability to farm and stay in the same place led to the development of civilizations, which had: Advanced cities – large populations Complex institutions – government, church, schools Specialized workers, artisians, metalworkers, teachers, farmers,priests, record keeping, scribes and cuneiform (system of writing – means “wedge shaped.” Advanced technology: Bronze, weapons, tools, plow.

Bronze Age Sumerian artisans found that is copper and tin were melted together, Bronze would be formed. 3,000 B.C – lots of skilled metalworkers made bronze spearheads – rather than copper and stone. Changed the way of life for the citizens of Sumer. Ur: largest city in Sumer, 30,000 people. Roads, ziggurat – massive temple, surrounding wall made of sundried mud bricks, cemetery. Jobs, Trade, and barter within and around the city.

Ziggurat