Prehistory is the time before written records were kept. STANDARD WHI.2a The student will demonstrate knowledge of early development of humankind from the Paleolithic Era to the agricultural revolution by a) explaining the impact of geographic environment on hunter-gatherer societies. b) listing characteristics of hunter-gatherer societies, including their use of tools and fire. A first-hand, or eyewitness, account of an event. More accurate than a secondary source. Ex: Artifacts, human remains, written records from the time. A second-hand source of information. Not as accurate as a primary source. Ex: Textbook, hearing information from others than an eyewitness. Prehistory is the time before written records were kept. Because these people didn’t write down their history we have to do our best to figure out what happened.

Archaeology: The study of past societies through the examination of items left behind. Artifacts are those things that people left behind. They can include: Tools and Weapons Art and Sculpture Pottery Jewelry Human Remains Ancient Ruins

The study of human life and culture The remains of ancient plants and animals. By studying fossils archaeologists and anthropologists can learn about what people ate, what animals they had around, and their way of life. Carbon dating can be used to date organic artifacts, or things that were once alive All living things contain a radioactive isotope of Carbon called Carbon 14 which they absorb from the sun while they are alive. Carbon 14 has a half-life of about 5000 years. That means it takes about 5,000 years for half of the Carbon 14 in something to break down or disintegrate. If scientists know how much Carbon 14 something has left, then they can determine the age of the artifact by calculating the number of years the carbon has been decaying.

Hominids: Living creatures that walk upright on two feet. The first hominids, Austrolopithecus, emerged in East Africa in the Great Rift Valley between 3-4 million years ago. Second stage in early human development, Homo erectus, which means “upright man,” emerged about 1.5 million years ago. These were the first hominids to leave Africa and migrate into Europe and Asia.

About 250,000 years ago Homo sapiens emerged. Homo Sapiens means “Knowing Man.” This group split into two distinct groups: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens Found in the Neander Valley in Germany. Thought to have lived between 100,000 and 30,000 years ago. Used stone tools and buried their dead. It is thought they had some primitive religious beliefs. May have been killed off by Homo Sapiens Sapiens. Neanderthals Homo Sapiens Sapiens

Appeared in Africa between 150,000-200,000 years ago Modern Human Beings Appeared in Africa between 150,000-200,000 years ago Began to migrate outside of Africa 100,000 years ago. Replaced the Neanderthals by 30,000 B.C.. By 10,000 B.C. Homo Sapiens Sapiens could be found throughout the world due to migration. During the last ice age between 100,000 B.C. and 8000 B.C. the water level in the oceans dropped, revealing a land bridge connecting Asia and North America.

Paleo: Old Lithic: Stone Paleolithic= Old Stone Age, so called because early man used stone to make his tools and weapons. Paleolithic people lived in small family groups called clans. These clans got their food by hunting and gathering. Paleolithic clans were nomadic, meaning they moved from place to place in search of food and shelter. Paleolithic inventers made use of simple stone tools. They learned to make and control fire, which allowed them to cook and to protect themselves against cold environments. It is believed that Paleolithic clans were also responsible for developing the first oral, or spoken, language. They also are known for their pictographic cave art and statues. Paleolithic men and women were equally responsible for providing food. Men hunted, and women gathered and cared for the young.

Since gathering was more reliable than hunting, it is possible that Paleolithic societies may have been matriarchal, or dominated by females. There is much evidence of women being presented as symbols of life and fertility. Many ancient religions looked upon the earth as a motherly being since the earth provided life. It is thought that early man often drew or made representations of his desires. Fertility statues, for instance, were created with the hope that one’s wife would bare many children. Paintings of successful hunts decorated cave walls, as men wished for fortunate hunts.

Use of Fire Early man learned to use fire to adapt to his environment. To adapt means to change one’s behavior because of the environmental conditions. Ice Ages Fire was very important during the ice ages, which were periods of extreme cold that gripped much of the planet. Cave Art Man has created art for a very long time. There is some argument as to what this art was for. Was it art as art, or art as a form of religion?

Neo: New Lithic: Stone Neolithic: New Stone Age. The Neolithic Agricultural Revolution marked the change from the Paleolithic period to the Neolithic Period. The most important feature of this revolution, or change, was the discovery of farming (agriculture). Systematic Agriculture had two parts: Farming and animal domestication. In addition to growing his own food, Neolithic man learned to tame some animals for hunting and others to raise as livestock (cows, sheep, etc.). Systematic agriculture provided man with a steady food supply. In time, individual farmers began producing a surplus, which is an abundance of food. As a result, not all peoples had to be farmers. Job specialization: Some people became weavers (and produced finer clothing); others made pottery for food storage. All began to develop and use more advanced stone tools.

Variations on Agriculture As agriculture spread different areas began to grow different crops that were suited to their environments. These places where people began to settle down, grow crops, and start villages became known as the Cradles of Civilization. Most of these areas were in river valleys. This first was Mesopotamia, located in Southwest Asia between the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys. Other river valleys include The Nile in Egypt, the Indus Valley in India, and the Huang-He Valley in China. In time, villages spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Found in ancient Palestine near the Dead Sea Found in ancient Palestine near the Dead Sea. It was in existence by 8000 B.C.

Found in Anatolia (Modern Day Turkey) Its walls enclosed 32 acres and up to 6,000 people. Key features: Agriculture, artisans/craftsmen, trade.

What it may have looked like at completion: A monument begun in the Neolithic age and finished in the Bronze Age, Stonehenge is located on the Salisbury Plain in England What it may have looked like at completion: More images on the next slide…

As villages turned into cities, men took over the work of farming. Men became the primary food-providers. As such, the role of women changed to that of family caregiver. Society transformed into a male-dominated (patriarchal) institution in most cultures. Copper The first metal used by ancient man was copper. This was a natural metal that could be cast into tools. Bronze Age Later, copper was mixed with tin to make bronze. Bronze was the metal of choice for a long time.

Government (monarchy) and written laws Agricultural surplus. . . . Advanced civilization. Culture: The way of life of a group of people POLITICS Rise of cities. ECONOMY Public works projects (temples, roads, etc.) POLITICS Government (monarchy) and written laws SOCIAL Writing (first was cuneiform in Sumer); art & architecture SOCIAL Complex religion; priests take an active role. ECONOMY Job specialization and social classes.