Define what you think ancient history is and why it is important to you?

Prehistory

History Time period AFTER writing was developed Uses written evidence to tell how people lived in the past Examples: Scrolls, Textbooks, Government Documents, Primary sources, Secondary Sources

Prehistory: Time period BEFORE writing was developed Example: Cave Drawings

When did prehistory begin? There are many theories: 40,000 B.C. when first modern “humans” roamed the earth 1,000,000 years ago 6,000 – 8,000 years ago (c. 4,000 – 6,000 B.C.)

How do we learn about Prehistoric Times? Oral Traditions – stories passed down by word of mouth. Many oral traditions are legends/myths – they are not true. People were trying to answer questions about things they saw in nature and they came up with stories to tell their ancestors.

How do we learn about Prehistoric Times? Artifacts – objects made by human beings During the Stone Age, people made weapons and tools primarily out of stone. They also used bone and wood.

Archaeologists at Work

How do we learn about prehistoric times? Cave Paintings Paintings on the walls of prehistoric caves Usually tell a story

What can Cave Drawings tell us about life during Prehistoric Times

The Stone Age: First period of prehistoric times Period of time when people made weapons and tools out of stone, bone, and wood The Stone Age is divided into three periods – Old Stone Age, Middle Stone Age, and New Stone Age

The Old Stone Age: Paleolithic Period People were nomads – traveled from place to place in search of food Hunting and Gathering was the main source of food Men were the hunters Women were the gatherers

The Old Stone Age Developed a spoken language Invented clothing Used caves or rocky overhangs for shelter Learned to build and control fire

What was fire used for during the Old Stone Age?

What was fire used for? Cooking Ward off animals Warmth Light Religious ceremonies

The Middle Stone Age: Mesolithic Period Characterized by the use of more advanced tools A lot of times the Old and Middle Stone Ages are grouped together

The New Stone Age: Neolithic Period Began around 8000 B.C. People began to practice farming Permanent Settlements

The New Stone Age People changed from being hunters and gatherers to being farmers. People not only learned how to grow their own food, but also how to domesticate, or tame animals. This provided a dependable source of meat, milk, wool, and hides.

DO NOW! Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of farming society to a hunting and gathering society.

The New Stone Age People also learned how to domesticate plants and animals – adapt wild plants for human use

The New Stone Age: Farming led to the development of civilization – a society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes People no longer had to be nomads, they could settle in one location

Word of the Day Civilization

The New Stone Age:

II. Characteristics of Civilization Population Growth – food surpluses allowed families to have more children Cities and towns were built Public buildings – food storehouses, buildings for worshipping gods, buildings for selling and buying goods

II. Characteristics of Civilization Job Specialization – people specialization in one specific type of job. Artisans – a worker who is specially skilled in crafting items by hand Make items such as baskets, leather goods, tools, pottery, or cloth

II. Characteristics of Civilization Government – Kept order in society and provided services Social Classes – groups of people with similar backgrounds, incomes, and ways of living

III. Many civilizations developed near rivers. Why? Advantages? Source of water – for irrigation Source of trade/travel Disadvantages? Disease Flooding

IV. Copper Age Began around 6600 B.C. in some parts of the world People discovered they could get copper from certain rocks

V. The Bronze Age Around 3000 B.C., people learned they could mix copper with tin to create bronze – Beginning of the Bronze Age. Bronze was much harder and was used to make weapons, tools, helmets, and shields more durable

Timeline of Prehistoric Times New Stone Age Bronze Age Copper Age Old Stone Age 10000 B.C. 8000 B.C. 6000 B.C. 4000 B.C. 2000 B.C. 8000 B.C. 6600 B.C. 3500 B.C. Writing Develops/End of Prehistory Farming Begins