- Prehistory - The Origin of Humans

A Selection of Views Judeo-Christian Creation Theory (Adam & Eve) Big Bang Theory Salish Origin Theory Evolution

Human Evolution Evolution as a THEORY suggests that a large variety of species on earth have all evolved from a common ancestor.

Charles Darwin (Darwinism)

Charles Darwin English Naturalist Published a book called “On the Origin of Species” Theory of Evolution: Darwin believed that all species evolved across millions of years and this evolution is constantly happening. This theory is based on the thought that the plant and animal life that exists on earth have changed or adapted over time in response to the environment. Natural Selection – the process by which the strongest plants and animals adapt to their environment and survive. Natural Selection – the process by which the strongest plants and animals adapt to their environment and survive. Some species were able to survive the changes, others were not – Survival of the Fittest.

Scopes “Monkey Trial” United States in 1925 theory theories One of the biggest challenges to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution took place in the United States in There was a large movement against the theory. Many people believed that it contradicted Christian ideas and values. So, the state of Tennessee passed a law which prohibited the teaching of these theories.

The Freedom of Speech But in 1925, The American Civil Liberties Union convinced Mr. John Scopes, a High School teacher in Tennessee to teach Darwin’s theory in class. The said that the law threatened their first amendment right of the Constitution: The Freedom of Speech.

Clarence Darrow, one of the greatest lawyers, defended Scopes.

10 Jul 1925, Dayton, Tennessee, USA --- An Anti- Evolution League holds a book sale at the opening of the Scopes "Monkey" Trial in which biology teacher John T. Scopes is being prosecuted for teaching evolution in his class --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

John Scopes was found guilty and had to pay a fine of $100. The justification was that he had broken a law which had been passed by the state of Tennessee.

Prehistoric Man According to Charles Darwin

HOMINIDS – “Human-like”  We may have shared a common ancestor with the apes and chimps up to 7 million years ago!  Hominids - first humanlike species  Oldest found in 1994 – Ethiopia  4.4 million years old  Different from apes:  Bipedalism (walking on two feet)  Larger brains

Early Discoveries of Hominids

Australopithecus Lived years ago Walked on 2 feet. Small brain ( cc) Undeveloped system of communication. Teeth and jaw much larger than humans today.

Donald Johanson In 1973, Donald Johanson discovered fossils in Ethiopia that were dramatic and almost unbelievable; The bones of a year old hominid (prehistoric man). These bones led him to believe that they were from a woman who walked on 2 feet.

Lucy Lucy (in the sky with diamonds) Lucy had a small brain and was only about a meter tall (4ft.)

The Stone Age Descendants of the Australopithecines lived in the period called the Stone Age. There are three stages to this age: Paleolithic – 2,000,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE (Old Stone Age) Mesolithic – 10,000 BCE – 8,000 BCE (Middle Stone Age) Neolithic – 8000 BCE – 5,000 BCE (New Stone Age)

The Paleolithic Era - Old Stone Age - Humans found shelter in caves. During this time period, men hunted and women gathered.

Homo Habilis Lived million years ago. Eastern Africa Handy Man; used stone tools Brain measured 650 cc Average height: 5’0’’ (100 pounds)

Homo Erectus Man who stood upright Lived about years ago Large teeth Low forehead Brain measured cc fire First to use fire

Homo Sapiens “Man Who Thinks” Homo Sapiens Sapiens Homo Sapiens Neanderthalis

Lived approximately years ago. Lived in cold climates Average height of men: 5’6’’ Buried their dead Their brains were larger than ours. Homo Neanderthalenis

Homo Sapiens Sapiens (us) Cro Magnon Man Tools made of bones and horns years ago Brain 1350 cc Cave paintings, religion, domesticated animals.

Sapiens vs. Neanderthalis Homo sapien sapienHomo Sapiens Neanderthalis

AustralopithecusHomo Habilis Homo Erectus NeanderthalHomo Sapiens

Stone Age

The Agricultural Revolution aka Neolithic Revolution

There was a period of time in prehistory which would change mans way of life forever. It was a time when man stopped following animals in order to get food and they started living a sedentary lifestyle. Agricultural Revolution! This was known as the Agricultural Revolution!

Two important terms to know: Nomad Nomad: a lifestyle where man hunts and follows animals in search of food. Sedentary Sedentary: a lifestyle where man builds permanent houses and starts to domesticate animals. He also starts to plant his own seeds. It is no longer necessary to move!

Effects of the Agricultural Revolution An increased food supply Permanent villages developed Time not spent looking for food was used to develop skills like making pottery, baskets, jewelry and clothing. Craftspeople began to trade with other villages. Trade led to the development of transportation Government and religion developed as leaders emerged in villages

“Necessity is the mother of invention” The Agricultural Revolution was not avoidable because the population grew so hunting increased. Therefore, certain animal populations started to get smaller. So, man had no choice but to put animals in captivity so that they would reproduce and provide a continual supply of food.

The development of 2 very important concepts came from the Agricultural Revolution… Communitiesand…..CIVILIZATIONS!

The Great Leap Forward Cause and Effect Lived in groups Worked together, shared jobs Better hunting results, More food Longer lives, Population increase Safer, protected one another Hunting from scavengers to hunter gatherers Advanced up the food chain Safer, healthier food Lived longer, Population growth Speech Development of culture Ideas, laws, religion Communicated ideas, shared knowledge Tool Making Weapons for hunting Tools for building and cooking Better able to gather food at a quicker rate Built more tools and shelters

The Great Leap Forward Cause and Effect Fire Heat – Shelter – Light Cooked food Fewer illnesses Population growth Ward off predators

Crash Course in World History #1

Cave Drawings Early artists made them by carefully blowing paint around hands that were pressed tightly against the cave walls and ceilings. The oldest is at least 40,000 years old. Cave painting found in Lascaux, France - Some of these paintings are believed to been made more than 16,000 years ago

Colors: reds and yellows - from ground, colored earth dark shading: charred bone and soot green was made from manganese oxide Some of the paintings of animals are 10 or 15 feet long