Prehistory What are we doing? We are studying the first developments of humankind Why are we doing it? It is important to understand the foundations of communication and human life to understand how the world got to the way it is today

Learning Targets Define Prehistory and the time span it covers Analyze how the use of simple tools advanced humankind beyond all other mammals Interpret early forms of communication Understand the early developments that lead to civilization

What is Prehistory? What do you consider history? Why do you call it history? How do you know about it?

Historical Record Our “historical record” starts when human beings began using language and started writing things down

Sooooo….. Prehistory is = The period of time between the dawn of man and the first known uses of written communication

The Prehistoric period Major accomplishments Tool manufacture and use Communication Verbal Written? Domestication of animals And plants? Finally: agriculture The “First Wave”

The Paleolithic period “old stone age” c. 500,000 BCE - c BCE Basic features Hunting and gathering Remarkable art (and religion?) Simple tools of chipped stone Simple shelters Fire c. 150,000 BCE? Language

The Neolithic period Began in Middle East around 6000 BCE to c BCE Basic features Food production Polished stone tools and weapons? More settled, less nomadic lifestyles “permanent” villages Population increases Development of a more complex (and satisfying?) social order

Timeline Events Harnessing the power of fire The first use of stone tools Building of simple shelters The use of complex tools Language The first “settled” communities Building of permanent shelters Domesticated animals Domesticated plants Agriculture

Human evolution

Homo erectus

The mysterious Neanderthal The subject of one of prehistory’s most intriguing questions

Cromagnon First “man” who really resembles us Lived at the same time as Neanderthal

The peripatetic (nomadic) life c

Homo faber B. C. Early stone tools A. Homo habilis B. Homo erectus C. Neanderthal A.

Eating What was the more productive? The hunter? Or the gatherer?

Lets find out for ourselves! Phase 1: Read: Hunter-Gathers to Farmers Phase 2: Play “Hunter or Gatherer?” Phase 3: Watch Stone AgeStone Age

Extraordinary art!

Cave art (cont.) What general theme is evident here?

Cave artists

Paleolithic religion?

Farming Agricultural Revolution Lets read about the types of crops and animals that w were farmed!

Settling down Prerequisite to civilization

Jericho Jordan River valley c BCE

Catal Hüyük Modern Turkey c BCE

Catal Hüyük (cont.)

Jig-Saw Comparing Early Farming Civilizations

The first writing?

Neolithic religious life Webquest