Pre-history: Early Humans World History Mr. Williams-Clark

Age of the cave men

The Land Before Time… There was a supercontinent known today as Pangaea It came together about 300 million years ago and broke apart about 175 million years ago. The first evidence of hominids (humans) was in East Africa.

The Paleolithic Age VOCAB: PALEOLITHIC – relating to the earliest period of the Stone Age People used stone to make tools In Greek Paleolithic means “old stone” Lasted from 2.5 million years ago to circa 8000 B.C.E.

Out of Africa Migration The earliest humans came from this part of Africa and then migrated around the world. Humans migrated around the world, mixing cultures and causing CULTURAL DIFFUSION The skeleton remains of Lucy, the oldest hominin remains.

Cultural Diffusion the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another due to increased population. Apple Pie German England Chinese Scotland

The American Language and it’s Cultural Diffusion Japanese Karaoke, Karate, Ninja French Café; small restaurant café = coffee German kindergarten = children’s garden

Surviving the Paleolithic Age VOCAB: NOMADS – people who move from place to place as a group to find food for themselves Traveled in groups of 20- 30 members. Survived by hunting and gathering The first families were smaller groups that worked together to survive.

Finding Food Men hunted large animals Men used clubs or drove animals off cliffs to kill them. Women stayed close to camp, located near a stream or water They looked after children Searched in nearby woods for berries, nuts and grains

The Invention of Tools VOCAB: TECHNOLOGY – tools and methods to perform tasks (*make tasks easier) Sticks, stones and tree branches served as 1st tools; Later, people made devices from flint, a hard stone Over time made better tools like spears and bows and arrows to kill large animals easier By the end of Paleolithic Age people made smaller & sharper tools, i.e., needles from animal bones.

Early Humans Cro-Magnon – First modern human (homo sapiens) Neanderthal – early human that were closely related to modern humans; became extinct about 40,000 years ago. Cro-Magnon was robustly built and had a straight forehead; Neanderthals were shorter with sloping foreheads.

Human Migration Out of Africa

Guiding Questions Climate – the weather of a certain area over a period of time. What was life like during the Paleolithic Age? What would you eat? How would you know if something was safe to eat or not?

Fire Sparks Changes Produced fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together Discovered iron pyrite sparks when struck against rocks. Provided light when it was dark, warmth in the cold Helped chase away animals Cooked food was possible and food tasted better Iron pyrite, also known as fool’s gold Homo erectus was the first humans to manipulate fire.

Changing to Survive Climate affected how Paleolithic people lived. Types of shelter caves and rock overhangs tents and huts from animal skin, brush and wood. Used woolly mammoth bones to build frames for shelter People in warmer climates needed little clothing or shelter. People in colder climates need more clothing and better shelter.

Language and Art Words were invented during the Paleolithic Age. Before Paleolithic Age, people communicated with sounds and physical gestures New technology and more complicated experiences required new words People expressed themselves through art by painting on the walls of caves. Used crushed yellow, black, and red rocks combined w/ animal fat to make paint Painted scenes of lions, oxen, panthers, horses, boars, bison, deer and other animals.

The Ice Ages The Ice Ages were long periods of extreme cold that affected all of Earth. The most recent Ice Age was about 100,000 years ago Thick sheets of ice moved across large parts of Europe and North America. Ocean water levels lowered & exposed a strip of dry land connecting the continents Asia and North America

How Ice Ages Affected Humans Humans had to adapt to the extreme cold for many areas of their lives. They adapted their diets by enriching meals with fat. They built sturdier shelter Learned to make warm clothing using animal furs. Paleolithic people used fire to help them stay warm in the icy environment. The last ice age lasted from about 90,000 years ago to about 9000 to 8000 BCE