Lecture 1.1 AP World History

Key Concept 1.1 Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth I. Archeological evidence indicates that during the Paleolithic era, hunting-foraging bands of humans gradually migrated from their origin in East Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas, adapting their technology and cultures to new climate regions.

Paleolithic Age “Old Stone Age” Foragers Enrichment Activity Nomadic Hunter- gatherer society Nomadic Slow population growth Survival techniques Lived in large enough tribes to defend themselves Housing and clothing Cave paintings at Lascaux Belief in the afterlife

Key Concept 1.1 Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth I. A. Humans used fire in new ways: to aid hunting and foraging, to protect against predators and to adapt to cold environments.

Use of Fire There is a debate about whether we migrated out of Africa with fire or whether it developed in Europe due to colder climates Cooked foods are easier to digest We developed larger brains Created social interaction as we began to eat around the fire

Evidence of fire Charred wood and bones in caves Organized hearths Suggests more permanent dwellings Organized hearths Mostly found in Europe

Key Concept 1.1 Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth I. B. Humans developed a wider range of tools specially adapted to different environments from tropics to tundra.

Ancient Tools Tools varied from location to location due to available resources You won’t find tools made out of reindeer antlers in Africa Most tools were stone at first, but we began using bones towards the end of the Paleolithic Age

Key Concept 1.1 Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth I. C. Religion was most likely animistic.

Animistic Religions Worshiped nature based gods Polytheistic Varied by region Most had an Earth mother diety

Key Concept 1.1 Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth I. D. Economic structures focused on small kinship groups of hunting-foraging bands that could make what they needed to survive. However, not all groups were self-sufficient; they exchanged people, ideas and goods.

Economic Structure Basic needs were met through hunting and gathering Some exchange did take place, but it was limited and there was no set exchange system in place.

Resources http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/eras/era2.php http://www.pnas.org/content/108/13/5209.full http://history-world.org/stone_age.htm