Ch. 1 Sec. 1 Outline World Studies Early Humans Ch. 1 Sec. 1 Outline World Studies

Before History The time before the written word is called prehistory. It is difficult for historians to know what happened before writing because there wasn’t a conscious effort to save it. A lot of what we know about prehistory are based on theories developed by looking at artifacts.

How we know about prehistory? Archaelology Studying the objects left by humans to determine how they lived. Dig in the earth to uncover artifacts like tools, weapons, art and housing Anthropology Studying human life and culture by studying fossils (surviving biological remains) in order to create a picture of their daily lives.

How do they do it? To locate artifacts and fossils, archaeologists and anthropologist excavate at historical sites around the world to uncover fossil remains, buildings, burial grounds, and any other object that can inform them of life and society of that time.

pottery, tools, and weapons Social and Military Bones, skin, plant seeds pottery, tools, and weapons Tells how people lived Tells how people ate Pottery and other cooking tools Seeds found in ancient toilet Hand Axe 250,000 years old Flute 35,000 years old

If you were an archaeologist or anthropologist: If you discovered this, what would it tell you?

How do they date the artifacts? Knowing when something is from is vital to understand history. If you date it incorrectly, it could have a major impact on history. RADIOCARBON DATING – all living things absorb radioactive carbon (C-14) from the atmosphere. When it dies, it slowly loses C-14. By measuring the amount left in an object, you can determine its age (up to 50,000 years old) AKA – Carbon Dating

Dating older objects If an object is older than 50,000 years, scientist can make a relatively precise measurement using thermo luminescence. In this technique, scientist measure the soil around a fossil and measure the amount of light given off by the electrons trapped. Used with pottery, stones, gems, etc…

Additional ways to acquire info: Microscopic and biological analysis of organic remains, left on items can give scientist even more information. For example, blood found on a tool can tell us what type of animals were alive and provide DNA for humans. Organic remains on a dinosaur tooth can tell you what the dino ate.

Early Development Hominids were humanlike creatures. They walked upright and changed slowly over time. They existed millions of years ago

Early Hominids Lucy - Australopithecus Homo Habilis – Handy Human The earliest hominid discovered was Lucy. About 3.5 million years old Small head (small brain cavity) No evidence of use of tools Homo Habilis – Handy Human 2.5 to 1.6 million years ago May have used tools (handy) Homo Erectus – Upright Human 1.8 million to 100,000 years ago Arms and legs in modern human proportion Probably the first to leave Africa

Homo Sapiens: Around 200,000 years ago, Homo Sapiens, or “wise human” roamed the earth Charateristics of Homo Sapiens: Larger brain Mastered fire Two early humans came from Homo Sapiens: Neanderthals German orgins Lived between 100,000 and 30,000 B.C. Located in Turkey and other European countries Made clothes Homo Sapiens Sapiens “wise, wise human” First to have an anatomy similar to people today First appeared in Africa between 150,000 to 200,000 years ago. “Out-of-Africa” theory has Homo Sapiens Sapiens moving to other parts of the world

How did people get here? “Out-of-Africa” theory – about 100,000 years ago, Homo Sapiens Sapiens left Africa for other parts of the world. They replaced the previous populations that are no longer around. AKA – Replacement Theory Multiregional model – development from earlier hominids to anatomically (physically) modern humans in different locations in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Homo Sapiens Sapiens replace Neanderthals 30,000 B.C., Neanderthals had been replaced by Homo Sapiens Sapiens (possibly due to conflict). Homo Sapiens Sapiens begin to move about the world, populating, and establishing roots for our existance. All human beings today belong to the same subgroup of humans. Whether you are European, Asian, Austrailian, African, or Aboriginies (original inhabitants) we all come from the same orgins.

The Paleolithic Age One of the basic features that distinguishes humans from other species is the ability to make tools. The term Paleolithic Age is used to designate the early period of human history (approximately 2,500,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C.) in which humans used simple stone tools.

Survival People survived on hunting and gathering for their daily food. Because of this, they had a close relationship with their environment and understood what animals to hunt and plants to eat. Plants Wild Nuts Berries Fruits Wild Grains Green Plants Animals Buffalo Horses Bison Reindeer Fish Shellfish

Life in the Paleolithic Age: Using stone tools allowed for early humans to survive. They used hard stones, like flint, to chip away at another stone, to shape it for use. Hand axes were the most common. Early humans also figured out how to attach a wooden handle to a stone to make it easier to use. They also attached poles to spear points, that placed in fire to make harder, to make weapons that could kill large animals.

Improved Technology: As more and more generations passed, Paleolithic hunters developed better tools. The invention of the spear, and later the bow and arrow, made hunting much easier. Harpoons and fishhooks, made of bone, increased the catch of fish. Sharp tools could be used to cut up plants, dig roots, and cut branches to build simple shelters. They used tools to scrape the hides of animals for clothing and shelter. There is evidence that by the end of the Paleolithic Era, bone needles were used to create nets, sew hides, and weave baskets.

Nomads: Since the humans in the Paleolithic Age were hunters and gatherers, they had to always find food (they didn’t grow food). They followed the food (animal migrations and vegetation cycles). They were nomads (didn’t have a set home – moved from place to place to survive).

Roles of Men and Women in Paleolithic Age: The main job of both men and women was to find food. Women gathered nuts, berries, roots, and grains. Women bore and raised the children. Teaching the children what was edible. Women trapped small animals and kept the camp safe. Men were the hunters, going far distances looking for game to kill. It is believed that both men and women held equal responsibility for survival. It is likely they made joint decisions.

Adapting to Survive: To avoid cold, many Paleolithic humans found shelter in caves. Others learned how to make simple structures made of wood and animal hide. If wood was scarce, they might use large mammoth bones as the structure support.

Fire, Fire, Fire!!! The use of fire provided light, heat, and protection. Homo Erectus were the first people who learned how to make fire (500,000 years ago). Fire was also used to hunt, scaring wild animals to run towards the hunters. Fire allowed for food to be cooked. Cooked food tasted better, lasted longer, and was easier to chew and digest. Because of fire, and cooked food, nutrition improved.

Fire and Ice!!! The ability to make fire became crucial to survival during the Ice Age. About 100,000 B.C. started the most recent Ice Age, ending about 8,000 B.C. Sheets of thick ice covered large parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Sea levels lowered and people were able to cross land bridges to other continents.

Cave Art: Art is everywhere. Paleolithic humans depicted art scenes on cave walls. They would burn animal fat to see in the dark caves. Lascaux, France, Altamira, Spain, southern France are some of the most famous examples of Cave Art. Artist painted with their fingers and twigs. They also blew paint through hollow reeds. Mixed mineral ores with animal fats to make red, yellow, and black paint. Very few humans appear in the cave art, mostly animals. When humans do appear, they usually appear as stick figures. Some believe cave art was to help appease the gods and help in the hunt. Others think they were just for pleasure.

Examples of Cave Art: Southern France Lascaux, France Altamira, Spain In 1994, Jean-Marie Chauvet, and his friends, discovered paintings in a cave There paintings were nearly twice as old as the others and more advanced Discovered in 1940 A storm uprooted a tree that revealed a cave Children playing nearby discovered the paintings inside Altamira, Spain A little girl discovered a cave on her grandfather’s farm in 1879 Evidence that the paintings were done at different times Earlier art was crude and the later are more detailed A little girl discovered a cave on her grandfather’s farm in 1879 Evidence that the paintings were done at different times Earlier art was crude and the later are more detailed A little girl discovered a cave on her grandfather’s farm in 1879 Evidence that the paintings were done at different times Earlier art was crude and the later are more detailed