Human Origins Theory of Evolution Creationism Elaborated in 1859 by Charles Darwin Humans belong to the same species as apes. Archaeologists, Paleontologists, Geologists, and Anthropologists have been able to reconstitute, although partially, human evolution Humans created by God No scientific evidence for it.

Prehistory The span of time before recorded history Chronology (ca. 2,500,000 – 3,000,000 BCE) Starts with the appearance of homo habilis and ends with the appearance of writing and the first states.

Development of Hominids Animals adapt themselves to environment Hominids adapt environment to themselves Use of tools Language Complex cooperative social structures 4

Australopithecus “the southern ape” – despite name a hominid Discovery of skeleton AL-288-1, north of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Nicknamed “Lucy” 40% of SWF, 3’5”, 55lb., bipedal, Brain 500 cc (modern human: 1400 cc), limited speech but opposable digit Estimated date of death: 3.5 million years ago 5

Homo Habilis Ca. 2, 500,000-1,800,000 BCE First use of primitive tools and weapons More evolved language

Later Hominids 7 Homo Erectus, “upright man” Larger brain capacity (1000 cc), improved tool use, control of fire Homo Sapiens, “consciously thinking human” (appears ca. 200,000 BCE) Largest brain, esp. frontal regions most sophisticated tools and social organization Migrations of Homo Erectus and Homo Sapiens

Global spread of hominids and Homo sapiens 8

The Natural Environment By 13,000 BCE Homo sapiens in every inhabitable part of the world Archaeological finds: Sophisticated tools Choppers, scrapers, axes, knives, bows, arrows Cave and hut like dwellings Use of fire, animal skins Hunted several mammal species to extinction Climactic change may have accelerated process 9

Paleolithic Era (“Old Stone Age” ca. 2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE) Evidence: Archaeological finds Extrapolation from modern hunter-gatherer societies Nomadic existence precludes advanced civilization Groups of Division of labor along gender lines 10

Relative Social Equality Nomadic culture precludes accumulation of land- based wealth More likely determinants of status: age, hunting skill, fertility, personality Possible gender equality related to food production Men: protein from hunting Women: plant gathering 11

Big Game Hunting Evidence of intelligent coordination of hunting expeditions Development of weaponry Animal-skin disguises Stampeding tactics Lighting of fires, etc. to drive game into kill zones Requires planning, communication 12

Creativity of Homo sapiens Constructed flexible languages for communication of complex ideas Increased variety of tools – stone blades, spear throwers, sewing needles, barbed harpoons Fabricated ornamental beads, necklaces and bracelets The bow and arrow – a dramatic improvement in humans power over nature “Venus” figurines Cave paintings 13

Neolithic Era (“New Stone Age” ca. 10,000 BCE – 3,5000 BCE) Distinction in tool production Chipped vs. polished Men: herding animals rather than hunting Women: nurtured vegetation rather than foraging Spread of Agriculture Slash-and-and burn techniques Exhaustion of soil promotes migration Transport of crops from one region to another 14

Origins and early spread of agriculture 15

Agriculture and Population Growth 16

Social Distinctions Accumulation of landed wealth initiates development of social classes Individuals could trade surplus food for valuable items Archaeological evidence in variety of household decorations, goods buried with deceased members of society at Çatal Hüyük 17

Neolithic Culture Farmers closely observed the natural world – an early kind of applied science Elements of natural environment essential for functioning Archaeological evidence of religious worship: thousands of clay figurines, drawings on pots, tool decorations, other ritual objects Fertility: Venus figurines 18

Age of Metals Ca. 3,500BCE humans learn how to work copper. Age of Metals begins! Ca. 2, 5000 BCE humans learn how to make Bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze Age (ca 2,500-1,200 BCE) Ca. 1,200 BCE humans enter the Age of Iron

Beginnings of Urbanization Jericho: concentration of wealth, building a wall Craft specialization Social stratification Governance Cultural workers Development of the city – a gradual process 20