Human Pre-History CHW3M

Evolution The idea that plant and animal life has developed gradually through natural processes Most closely associated with Charles Darwin Neo-Darwinism suggests that evolution did not happen gradually/continuously, but in short bursts

Natural Selection There is variation among individuals of the same species Some individuals will have characteristics that give them an advantage over others Those individuals will survive longer and have more offspring, to whom they will pass on those characteristics Those characteristics will be represented disproportionately in future generations, eventually leading to an overall change in the species

Homonids Humanlike creatures distinguished from apes by Upright bipedalism Larger brain size First appeared over 4 million years ago

Homonids Why do you think upright bipedalism was an important development in human history?

Some key ancestors Australopithecus About 4 million years ago

Some key ancestors Homo Habilis Around 2 million years ago

Some key ancestors Homo erectus About 1 million years ago

Australopithecus Homo Habilis Homo Erectus

A Homonid Timeline How long have modern Homo Sapiens been around?

Modern Humans Developed about 200,000 years ago Behavioural modernity (culture) reached about 50,000 years ago Ex: Lascaux cave painting about 16,000 years old

Who is this Neanderthal? A very late homonid A close relative, but not an ancestor Lived around the same time as modern humans, and even shared territory Likely interbred with humans

Neanderthals Homo Sapiens Neanderthalis Shorter than humans (5 - 5 ½ ‘ tall) Similar brain size Much stronger with thicker bones Disappeared about 25,000 years ago

Similarities Both made tools Both made clothing Both conducted religious ceremonies Both lived in communities and had an organized social life

Another way to look at Human development The Stone Age Paleolithic (2 million – 10,000 BCE) Mesolithic (10,000 – 8,000 BCE) Neolithic (8,000 – 5,000 BCE) Bronze Age (about 2,000 BCE) Iron Age (about 1,000 BCE)

But back to the Stone Age Cro Magnon people were Homo Sapiens who migrated into Europe Made clothing, shelter, etc.

Civilization Developed in at least six different locations First: Mesopotamia Close Second: Ancient Egypt Third/Fourth: India/Crete Fifth: China Sixth: Central America

Let’s look into the Stone Age a little more… Read pages 18 – 24 Briefly describe how people lived during the Stone Age (18 – 21) Explain what the Neolithic Revolution was, and why it was important (22 -23) At what point did the earliest civilizations develop? (23) What are some criteria scholars argue may be necessary components to a civilization? (24) Why did the first civilizations develop where they did? (24)