Chapter 2 Pre-Historic People

Pre-Historic People in TV and Movies

Pre-Historic People The period of time before the invention of writing was called Prehistory. The climate of the Earth changed- Ocean water froze into glaciers and land bridges were formed. Many important discoveries were made that made it possible for the rise of civilizations.

Pre-Historic People Important concepts people learned during this time How to obtain food How to make tools How to make fire How to make shelter How to make clothing How to communicate

Pre-Historic People Until 1.75 million years ago, people lived only on grassland of eastern and southern Africa Earth’s climate changed. It became colder. People migrated (made one’s way) across land bridges to Europe and Asia and later into the Americas.

Pre-Historic People The first age in which people lived was the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age People obtained their food by hunting and gathering. People lived in small bands where they would work together and share food. The band stayed at a campsite until the available food supply was used up and they moved on. They were nomads.

Pre-Historic People Life became easier when people learned to make tools. The first tools were made from sticks and stones. People then learned to shape the stones to make better tools for hunting and other useful tasks.

Pre-Historic People People learned to make fire by rubbing 2 sticks or stones together to make sparks. Fires were used for heat, weapons, clean out overgrown areas, protection, and for cooking.

Pre-Historic People Early people camped out in the open Found shelter by digging pits, in overhanging rocks, and piled up brush By about 100,000 years ago people were living in caves most of the time

Pre-Historic People People used animal skins for protection against the weather. They learned how to fasten the skins together to make clothes. Wearing and making clothes made it possible for people to live in areas that were cooler and wetter than before.

Pre-Historic People Before they learned to talk, made sounds and made gestures toward objects to express meaning Soon, sounds and hand gestures were not enough and language was developed It made it possible to work together, share ideas, and pass on beliefs and stories

First People on Earth Homo Habilis – Skillful man Homo Sapiens – Man who thinks 2 kinds of Homo Sapiens- Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons Life span was short due to sicknesses, injuries, and other dangers- 25 years was considered very old!

Neanderthals Appeared 300,000 to 200,000 years ago Found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa Good hunters, used pitfalls to catch large animals Good builders, made framework houses and improved their cave dwellings with drainage ditches Buried their dead

Cro-Magnons First modern human beings Appeared about 100, 000 years ago Found in North Africa, Asia, and Europe Skilled tool makers Invented a burin which resembles a chisel Better hunters- invented spears, and axes Made rafts and canoes Cave painters