1. Human Origins

2. What defines a human?

3. Important Dates Earth formed  4.6 billion years ago First single celled life appears  3.5 billion years ago First dinosaurs appear  240 million years ago Dinosaurs disappear/First mammals appear  65 million years ago First human ancestors appear (Australopithecines) “Lucy”  4 million years ago Modern humans appear (Cro-Magnons)  40,000 years ago

4. Lucy

5. Hominids Hominid= any primate of the family Hominidae, which includes modern man (Homo sapiens) and the extinct precursors of man LINK

6. Skulls Skulls of: 1. Gorilla 2. Australopithecus 3. Homo erectus 4. Neanderthal 5. Steinheim Skull (Archaic Homo sapiens- 350,000- 250,000 yo) 6. Anatomically modern Homo sapiens

8. Paleolithic Age or “Old Stone Age” Paleo= Old Lithic= Stone 2.5 million years ago

9. How did humans live? 1. Nomadic (wandered from place to place) 2. About 1 million years ago, early humans left Africa and spread throughout the world Our common ancestor left around 50,000 years ago (population possibly as low as 200) Common ancestor remained in Africa because other hominids farther north were a threat Common ancestor evolved faster and “pushed out” other hominids Interbred with Neanderthal

10. As Hominids Evolve Start in Africa Less hair- skin is white (similar to shaved ape) Skin becomes darker over time Skin then lightens as hominids move away from the equator LINK

12. How did humans live? Hunter-gatherers Groups of 20-30 people Invented tools (spears, digging sticks) Later  knives, fish hooks, chisel-like cutter, bone needle Long distance running is an adaptation used for hunting before the use of tools Invented clothing, art, sculptures

13. Hunter-Gatherers

14. Neolithic Age or “New Stone Age” What is revolution?  Big change Neo= New Lithic= Stone From 8,000-3,000 BCE

15. Neolithic Revolution Agricultural Revolution Approximately 8,000 BCE (10,000 years ago) humans began to shift from hunting-gathering to farming Agriculture first developed in the Middle East  Fertile Crescent Human began to domesticate animals  Dogs- China  Sheep/Goats-meat, milk, and hair

16. Neolithic Revolution

18. Fertile Crescent

19. Why did humans throughout the world shift from hunter-gatherers to agriculture? Climate got warmer (last Ice-Age ended 10,000 years ago, right before the Neolithic Revolution) Population increased and needed more food

20. Other changes that followed the Neolithic Revolution Food surplus (extra food) Disease Settled lifestyle  Towns develop Trade Women lose status  women provided most of the food as gathers, but after the Neolithic Revolution they raised children Population boom Technology increases Inequality (rich vs poor)/ Slavery War/Crime More work (farming)