1. Unit 1: The Beginnings of Civilizations 4 Million B.C.-200B.C.
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2. Chapter 1: The History of the World: Pre-history – 2500B. C
Chapter 1: The History of the World: Pre-history – 2500B.C. Human Origins in Africa Aim: Why is it important to study human remains and artifacts?
Do Now: Write down 3 tools and/or inventions and describe how they have changed our lives.

3. Shared Understandings
What is Culture?
Culture- the way of life of a group of people. Culture includes common practices of a society, its shared understandings, and its social organization. It is learned by observation and imitation.
By overcoming individual differences, culture helps to unify the group.
Components of Culture
Common Practices
Shared Understandings
Social Organization
• what people eat
• clothing and adornment
• sports
• tools and technology
• social customs
• work
• language
• symbols
• religious beliefs
• values
• the arts
• political beliefs
• family
• class and caste structure
• relationships between
individual and community
• government
• economic system
• view of authority

4. Archaeologists Paleontologists Anthropologists
Study past societies through their material remains such as ruins, tools, and pottery that are from past human cultures
They build an understanding of the history, customs, and living habits of early civilizations
The study of fossils and the history of human life
They:
1. Describe different
kinds of creatures
2. Create a more
complete story of life
on Earth
3. Develop new ideas
about evolution
Study the origin of humans and their physical, social and cultural development
They are concerned on how the past relates to the present

5. Australopithecines 1st to grow the opposable thumb
First humanlike creature to walk upright

6. Homo Habilis “Man of Skill”
Traits
million BC
Brain size = 700 cubic cm
Achievements
Made tools from lava rock
Use tools to cut meat and crack bones
What did tools do for
Homo Habilis?
Made the task of survival EASIER

7. Homo Erectus “Upright Man”
Traits
,000 million BC
More intelligent and adaptable
Brain size 1,000 Cubic cm
found in Africa, Asia, and Europe
Achievements
Used intelligence to develop technology
gradually became skillful hunters and invented more sophisticated tools for digging, scraping, and cutting.
The first to use fire.
May have developed the beginnings of spoken language

8. Homo Sapiens “Wise Men”
Scientists have traditionally classified Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons as early groups of Homo sapiens. However, in 1997, DNA tests on a Neanderthal skeleton indicated that Neanderthals were not ancestors of modern humans. They were, however, affected by the arrival of Cro-Magnons, who may have competed with Neanderthals for land and food.

9. Neanderthal Traits Achievements 200,000 – 30,000 BC
Brain size 1,450 cubic cm
Powerfully built
Heavy slanted eyebrows
Found in Europe and Southwest Asia
Achievements
Tried to control and explain the world
Developed religious beliefs
First to have ritual burials
What does this funeral points out about their beliefs?
They believed in a world beyond
the grave.

10. Cro Magnons Traits Achievements Identical skeleton to modern humans
found in Europe
Achievements
Made many new tools with specialized uses
Studied animals’ habits
Planned their hunts
Advanced skill in spoken language
Created art

11. How it all began…
Homo Sapiens (modern humans) appeared in Africa 100,000 to 400,000 years ago.
Then migrated to
Europe
Asia
Australia
The Americas

14. How did they find their food?
Early human societies met their needs by hunting animals and gathering other foods like edible plants.
These hunters and gatherers were also known as nomads.

15. Nomads
Nomads: People who depend on wild plants and animals to survive. They followed where the food supply went and gathered seeds and nuts.

16. HUMAN LIFE IS SPLIT INTO
TWO PERIODS!
TO BE CONTINUED…