1. Human Pre-History
CHW3M

2. Evolution
The idea that plant and animal life has developed gradually through natural processes
Most closely associated with Charles Darwin
Neo-Darwinism suggests that evolution did not happen gradually/continuously, but in short bursts

3. Natural Selection
There is variation among individuals of the same species
Some individuals will have characteristics that give them an advantage over others
Those individuals will survive longer and have more offspring, to whom they will pass on those characteristics
Those characteristics will be represented disproportionately in future generations, eventually leading to an overall change in the species

4. Homonids Humanlike creatures distinguished from apes by
Upright bipedalism
Larger brain size
First appeared over 4 million years ago

5. Homonids
Why do you think upright bipedalism was an important development in human history?

6. Some key ancestors
Australopithecus
About 4 million years ago

7. Some key ancestors
Homo Habilis
Around 2 million years ago

8. Some key ancestors
Homo erectus
About 1 million years ago

9. Australopithecus
Homo Habilis
Homo Erectus

10. A Homonid Timeline
How long have modern Homo Sapiens been around?

11. Modern Humans Developed about 200,000 years ago
Behavioural modernity (culture) reached about 50,000 years ago
Ex: Lascaux cave painting about 16,000 years old

13. Who is this Neanderthal?
A very late homonid
A close relative, but not an ancestor
Lived around the same time as modern humans, and even shared territory
Likely interbred with humans

14. Neanderthals Homo Sapiens Neanderthalis
Shorter than humans (5 - 5 ½ ‘ tall)
Similar brain size
Much stronger with thicker bones
Disappeared about 25,000 years ago

15. Similarities Both made tools Both made clothing
Both conducted religious ceremonies
Both lived in communities and had an organized social life

16. Another way to look at Human development
The Stone Age
Paleolithic (2 million – 10,000 BCE)
Mesolithic (10,000 – 8,000 BCE)
Neolithic (8,000 – 5,000 BCE)
Bronze Age (about 2,000 BCE)
Iron Age (about 1,000 BCE)

17. But back to the Stone Age
Cro Magnon people were Homo Sapiens who migrated into Europe
Made clothing, shelter, etc.

18. Civilization Developed in at least six different locations
First: Mesopotamia
Close Second: Ancient Egypt
Third/Fourth: India/Crete
Fifth: China
Sixth: Central America

19. Let’s look into the Stone Age a little more…
Read pages 18 – 24
Briefly describe how people lived during the Stone Age (18 – 21)
Explain what the Neolithic Revolution was, and why it was important (22 -23)
At what point did the earliest civilizations develop? (23)
What are some criteria scholars argue may be necessary components to a civilization? (24)
Why did the first civilizations develop where they did? (24)